SBS Viceland / SBS 2 (from 21 Aug)

[TV.Cynic]

THE DEATH COAST

Sunday, 28 June at 9.00pm -

Episode Six: Beyond The Breakers
Following the trail of a cache of precious gemstones, Jeff and the team move further beyond the breakers, in search of The Neptune. With stormy weather closing in, a puzzling find may lead them one step closer to a privateer’s long-lost treasure.

Saturday, 4 July at 9.00pm

Episode Seven: The Sunken Legend
A powerful hurricane forces Jeff’s team into a secluded cove, where they investigate The Lombrac, a legendary 18th-century ghost ship. As the divers recover intriguing clues from the murky depths, Jeff zeroes in on the site of a 300-year-old mystery that may finally be solved.

ALONE NETHERLANDS

Monday, 29 June - Thursday, 2 July (10 parts)

Monday, 29 June@ 5.50pm Series One, Episode One: The Landing

By helicopter and boat, all participants are taken to the far reaches of a remote lake in Norway, close to the Arctic Circle. Immediately upon arrival, they each explore their terrain: where can they build a safe shelter, and how will they get food here in the time ahead?

Tuesday, 30 June@ 5.45pm Series One, Episode Two: The Wilderness

Finding food in this environment proves to be a huge challenge. Berries and mushrooms grow, but they don’t provide enough energy, and the participants need that to build a shelter. Hunger begins to gnaw.

Wednesday, 1 July@ 5.45pm- Series One, Episode Three: The Rain

The weather turns. The rain comes pouring down and these shelters are not made for all this wetness. Staying dry and warm under these conditions is hard work and requires knowledge and skill.

Thursday, 2 July@ 5.50pm- Series One, Episode Four: The Storm

A huge storm rages over the area. Meanwhile, the food situation remains a problem: catching fish is difficult for some of the adventurers, and they cannot survive for long on berries and mushrooms alone.

Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo (Season 2)

Monday, 29 June@ 9.00pm - Series Two, Episode Eleven: Puzzling Finds

Riddles don’t just live in books, they’re all around us. From a hollow nickel hiding Cold War secrets, to an ancient chess piece that reappears after centuries, and even a mysterious underwater circle carved by an unlikely artist…these puzzling finds remind us that history likes to keep us guessing.

Tuesday, 30 June@ 9.00pm - Series Two, Episode Twelve: Digging Up Trouble

Some discoveries come with consequences. Gold that ruins lives, a cursed wreck beneath the sea, and a hidden safe linked to a famous burglar, show how the past can be as dangerous as it is tempting.

Wednesday, 1 July@ 9.00pm- Series Two, Episode Thirteen: Heavy Metals

From James Bond’s legendary submarine car uncovered in a storage unit, to a rock-and-roll guitar with a past as loud as its sound, and locomotives resting side by side on the ocean floor, these heavy-metal marvels prove history’s strongest secrets can’t stay buried.

Thursday, 2 July@ 9.00pm- Series Two, Episode Fourteen: Wild Discoveries

A species thought lost forever is spotted again. A dog plays an unexpected role in recovering the World Cup trophy. And a puppy from the Ice Age emerges intact after 18,000 years. These stories reveal just how unpredictable the natural world can be.

Friday, 3 July@ 9.00pm- Series Two, Episode Fifteen: Lost In Battle

From a live WWII bomb discovered decades later, to a Civil War cigar hiding secret orders, to a Viking sword unearthed by a child, these finds reveal how the remnants of war can resurface when least expected.

[LiamP]

"SBS2 with bite": SBS unveils multichannel revamp | TV Tonight

SBS2 officially relaunches at 5am AEST on Friday 21 August 2026.

[TV.Cynic]

The Name You Know, The Lineup You’ll Love – SBS2 Returns

SBS Viceland rebrands as SBS2 on Friday 21 August, bringing the channel back under the SBS banner with a refreshed look and an expanded slate of the distinctive stories audiences love.

Aimed squarely at 25-54 audiences who are culturally curious and seeking programming that is smart, surprising, sexy and different, SBS2 is entertainment with real bite.

The rebrand marks the next chapter for the channel following the conclusion of SBS’s longstanding branding partnership with VICE Media. It also creates a clearer destination for younger, digitally engaged audiences across broadcast and streaming.

As audiences come to SBS for some of the biggest sporting and cultural moments of 2026, including the FIFA World Cup™ and Tour de France, SBS2 is preparing to return with an even bigger appetite for bold stories, surprising discoveries and television that sparks conversation.

While the name may be changing, the reason people watch isn’t.

Some might call it a facelift. Anne Hathaway would call it a tight braid.

SBS2 will continue serving up the distinctive mix of exclusive documentaries, sport, comedy and entertainment audiences already know and love, while broadening its appeal amongst audiences 25-54 through a richer mix of premium drama series, entertainment, fandom-driven content and shared viewing experiences.

The kind of television that makes viewers sit up, lean in and occasionally ask: “Can they show that?”

The answer is yes. It’s SBS.

SBS Acting Head of Network Programming, Natalie Edgar said: “SBS2 is about building on everything Australians already love about the channel while broadening its appeal for contemporary audiences.

“In an increasingly competitive media landscape, Australians have a strong connection with the SBS brand and our distinctive approach to storytelling.

“Bringing the channel back under the SBS banner creates a clearer destination for audiences across broadcast and streaming, while giving us greater opportunity to connect viewers with the stories, characters and cultural moments they won’t find anywhere else.

“Whether it’s premium drama, thought-provoking documentaries, live sport, entertainment or the next great obsession, it will be a place for audiences who are curious, passionate and looking to be entertained.”

Fresh look. Same appetite for great television.

The SBS2 launch slate is packed with compelling characters, big ideas, passionate fandoms, modern relationships and the kind of stories that make people immediately message a friend and say, “You have to watch this.”

Just like the channel, the schedule has also had a glow up. Designed to give audiences consistency, SBS2 will deliver a curated weekly rhythm that promises destination viewing. No more decision paralysis – Monday nights become entertainment-led, Tuesdays are dedicated to iconic films, midweek brings factual storytelling and Fridays will offer something a little more spicy.

Leading the line-up is the highly anticipated The Vampire Lestat, the new season of Interview With The Vampire, a series fans can sink their teeth into, alongside a slate spanning premium drama, documentaries, comedy, live sport and entertainment.

Fair warning: your watchlist is about to get longer.

Cult favourites to your new obsession

Some people are into starships. Some can talk about Quentin Tarantino films for three straight hours.

SBS2 doesn’t judge.

From celebrating 60 years of Star Trek with The Centre Seat: 60 Years of Star Trek to deep diving into the global Alone franchise, a Quentin Tarantino season and The Hunger Games franchise, SBS2 is home to the stories people genuinely love getting lost in.

We are also ready to turn your curiosity into obsession with addictive dramas lined up including The Dropout, Fleishman Is In Trouble and Minx.

People worth following

Behind every great story is someone worth following.

The SBS2 launch line-up features an eclectic mix of journalists, comedians, actors, scientists and storytellers, including Orna Guralnik (Couples Therapy), Sean Bean (Original Gangsters), David Duchovny (Secrets Declassified), Adam Hills (The Last Leg), Raven-Symoné (Scrabble) and Mayim Bialik (Celebrity Jeopardy!).

SBS favourite Danny Estrin of Voyager also swaps the Eurovision stage for the driver’s seat in Precious Metal: A Love Story, uncovering the stories, memories and passions hidden behind some of Australia’s most beloved cars.

Ideas worth exploring

The world isn’t getting any simpler. Luckily, curiosity never goes out of style.

From artificial intelligence and the future of work to hidden histories, engineering marvels and the forces shaping modern life, SBS2 continues to serve up stories that entertain while making audiences see the world a little differently.

The launch slate includes The Future with Hannah Fry, Will AI Take My Job?, Engineering By Catastrophe, History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren and more.

Up close and unfiltered

SBS2 continues a long-standing SBS tradition of exploring intimacy, relationships and human connection through titles including Couples Therapy, The Naked World and Secrets of the Bunny Ranch.

Thoughtful, revealing and occasionally provocative, these are stories that go beyond the surface.

Live and loud
Live cycling. Stand-up comedy. Movie marathons. Special events. The occasional excuse to stay up far later than intended.

With La Vuelta, RAW Comedy, Asian All Stars Comedy Gala and a calendar of themed programming events, SBS2 is built for viewers who love shared cultural moments as much as discovering something unexpected.

Across drama, documentaries, comedy, entertainment, sport and culture, SBS2 is for audiences who are curious, passionate and always looking for their next fixation.

It’s the same fearless SBS spirit, now with an even bigger appetite.

Additional content announcements will be revealed in the lead-up to launch.

The change to SBS2 will take place at 5am AEST on Friday 21 August 2026.

[JohnsonTV]

@TV.Cynic

Raven-Symoné (Scrabble)

This confirms SBS 2 will show the 2024 revival of Scrabble game show. Raven-Symoné hosted the first season. From Wikipedia:

[ElCapitanCranky]

SBS2 needs to get back to what SBS is known for…Soccer, Body appendages and Subtitled content

[JayJay]

Weird how the new logo for SBS 2 hasn’t been announced yet.

[classique]

The content slate sounds fine, but I think SBS should consolidate. Like, why not merge SBS Food into SBS 2? Have the food content airing during the day in lieu of the 98th France 24 bulletin for the day and in HD for a change. 6 channels just seems a bit much for what really is quite limited content.

[classique]

Yay. More american rubbish on what is supposed to be a multicultural broadcaster. I second the point re: subtitles. Give Borgen or The Killing another spin instead of airing american D list game shows.

[TelevisionAU]

@JayJay

Weird how the new logo for SBS 2 hasn’t been announced yet.

the changeover is still 2 months away. No need to get it out too early.

[classique]

It would be good if they picked up the rights to say, Serie A or the Primera Division in Argentina. Live content for a relatively low price I would imagine. And, please, shut down the Worldwatch channel with its 2 pixels and bring back HD bulletins during the day. Again, live content to fill out the schedule that actually serves SBS’ remit.

[MossPickle]

Seen in the TVT article. Incredibly bland and safe if it’s the SBS palette with a 2 next to it

[sj2450]

I don’t think that’s official.

EDIT: Nevermind. It was in the official SBS Media Release… Really uninspiring choice.

[classique]

I shouldn’t have expected anything more, but I’m disappointed. Hopefully, it’ll have it’s own colour to go along with the standard graphics. I’d be happy with that. They should rebrand all of the channels (especially NITV and Food) in line with the new SBS idents. They’re nice.

[JayJay]

In my opinion these were the best SBS 2 logos from that era of the channel from these old articles.

SBS2 rebrands younger -with full series online before broadcast | TV Tonight

SBS 2 logo refresh | TV Tonight

[sj2450]

Agreed.

Viceland’ graphics are particularly bland and dated. I’ll be glad to see the back of them.

[TV.Cynic]

The one issue I have with the rebrand is the LCN is 31 - should be on 32.

[JohnsonTV]

Is it easy to switch LCN with the World Movies channel?

[LegitimateChannel808]

Doesn’t need to be fancy. It’s a tv channel logo.

[TV.Cynic]

Nicolas Cage: Hollywood’s Mad Genius

Sunday, 5 July at 7.35pm

Nicolas Cage: Hollywood’s Mad Genius explores the extraordinary career of one of cinema’s most unconventional and unpredictable actors. More than a movie star, Cage is portrayed as a fearless creative experimenter - an artist who has spent decades pushing the boundaries of performance, treating each role as an opportunity to test new ideas, take risks and challenge expectations.

That same uncompromising approach helped make Cage one of Hollywood’s most celebrated leading men. Yet changing tastes and industry trends later turned many of those qualities against him, making him the subject of widespread ridicule and misunderstanding. While others carefully protect their careers, Cage has consistently embraced failure, reinvention and artistic risk in pursuit of something original.

Through an all-archival approach, the documentary re-examines Cage’s legacy, arguing that what some dismissed as excess or eccentricity was in fact the work of a singular performer committed to experimentation. The film celebrates a unique artist whose willingness to take chances has made him one of the most distinctive actors of his generation.

THE DEATH COAST

Sunday, 21 July at 9.05pm

Episode Eight: Unfinished Business - Final

In their final week, Jeff returns to The Chameau-the wreck that started it all-searching for its elusive stern and pay chest containing twenty million in rare coins. But a series of finds cause the team to think that the stern may be covered by another shipwreck. Can Jeff find the stern and complete the mission his father started decades ago before time runs out?

ALONE NETHERLANDS

Monday, 6 July@ 6.05pm - Series One, Episode Five: The Loneliness

In the hope of catching more fish, the adventurers build various wooden structures to hang their nets deeper into the lake. While one participant immediately devours the caught fish out of hunger, another adheres to a strict ration.

Tuesday, 7 July@ 6.10pm - Series One, Episode Six: The Hunger

Hanging and checking the fishing nets in the icy cold water not only requires a lot of energy, but also puts the participants in life-threatening situations.

Wednesday, 8 July@ 6.10pm - Series One, Episode Seven: The Exhaustion

The lack of sufficient food is draining, and surviving in the wilderness is hard work. The participants begin to miss their home more and more.

Thursday, 25 June@6.10pm - Series One, Episode Eight: The Winter

The weather turns, and temperatures are rapidly dropping. It’s high time to insulate and waterproof the shelters as best as possible. But with empty stomachs, staying warm becomes a challenge.

Expanse - Season 1

Saturday, 11 July at 9.00pm and 9.55pm (10 parts)

Hundreds of years in the future, humans have colonised the solar system. The U.N. controls Earth. Mars is an independent military power. The planets rely on the resources of the Asteroid Belt, where air and water are more precious than gold. For decades, tensions have been rising between these three places. Earth, Mars and the Belt are now on the brink of war. And all it will take is a single spark.

Season 1, Episode 1:

In the asteroid belt near Saturn, James Holden and the crew of the ice-freighter Canterbury are on their way to Ceres Station, to investigate a distress call from an unknown derelict ship, the Scopuli. Though the SOS appears suspicious, the crew cannot turn their backs on someone in need.

Season 1, Episode 2:

Holden and crew fight for survival in a badly damaged shuttle. In the meantime, tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Belt flare on Ceres. On Earth, UN Deputy Undersecretary Chrisjen Avasarala interrogates a Belter terrorist, suspected of fomenting war between Mars and the Belt.

The Expanse | Trailer [HD] | Netflix

The Expanse will be available to stream as a box set on SBS On Demand and will air every day on SBS Viceland, at 9.00pm, beginning with a double episode.

[BJT2]

Hopefully we see the ABC reinstate ABC2.

I think it’s much better for branding.