I wonder if it is due to low ratings or that SBS’s news supply deal with ABC America is about to expire. (The deal began in June 2019, see post No.5 on this thread)
The whole ABC World News Tonight bulletin is available on YouTube though.
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Nothing rates on SBS Worldwatch!
But the broadcast of ABC World News on the SBS main channel at 12:30pm does quite well. Relatively speaking of course.
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Update: all instances of ABC America Nightline and ABC World News Tonight With David Muir removed from SBS Viceland schedule from 17 June so looks like a loss of rights issue.
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Could it be SBS or ABC America declining to renew the rights deal between the two parties? Is it possible that ABC will return to its previous Australian partner, Nine?
If Nine were to regain the ABC contract, flagship programs like World News Tonight, Nightline, and This Week likely wouldn’t enjoy the same freedom they experienced under SBS—unless Nine were planning to develop a 24-hour news service of its own.
Could Disney+ be part of the equation? With ABC News Live already streaming as a FAST stream on the U.S. version of the service, perhaps a global rollout is in the works.
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It’s still on SBS’s the schedule for the next few weeks. Or is the June meant to be July?
Either way, not a major loss for SBS since they will still have US news via PBS
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June is correct.
Saw a SBS Worldwatch promo on SBS Food earlier tonight. It said that you can watch English-language bulletins from various international broadcasters on SBS on Demand.
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Moving the discussion to the Worldwatch thread…
SBS show the foreign language bulletins on a separate channel for the benefit of people who don’t have internet access or don’t have an SBS on Demand account.
Classique may have a good point though. SBS should consider shutting the SD version of the main channel and increase the bitrate of Worldwatch channel to improve the picture quality.
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That’s why I’m proposing they go back to showing these bulletins in HD on the main channel. Moving them to a separate channel just sequestered them off into irrelevance. It’s not like NITV, Viceland or even the main channel’s schedules are particularly inspiring as-is. Plus, shutting down a few channels would make them the first all HD broadcaster in AU, and save some cash to splash on sports rights like Serie A, etc. and original programming.
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Or more them to the SBS app.
SBS Worldwatch is to close on Friday 18 September 2026.
https://tvtonight.com.au/2026/08/sbs-worldwatch-linear-channel-to-close.html
International bulletins will go to SBS On Demand. The loss of Viceland and return of SBS2 could see bulletins go to that channel too.
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SBS WorldWatch embraces digital future with move to SBS On Demand
On 18 September, SBS WorldWatch will transition from a linear television channel to an enhanced digital-only service on SBS On Demand, providing international news in 38 languages from 49 broadcasters around the world. The move gives multilingual Australians more content, greater choice and flexibility in when and how they watch international news, as audiences increasingly shift to digital platforms.
Building on its existing digital service as the linear channel closes, SBS WorldWatch will expand over the coming weeks to include two or more daily bulletins in most languages. This is more content than could be accommodated on a single linear channel, with audiences able to watch bulletins as soon as they become available, rather than waiting for a scheduled broadcast. SBS On Demand also features two 24-hour FAST channels for English-language news – Euronews and France 24.
For many Australians, SBS On Demand is an established destination for the public broadcaster’s distinctive content. During SBS’s ground-breaking broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ which reached 18.1 million Australians, most watched via SBS On Demand, demonstrating the platform’s ability to reach audiences at scale.
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, Mandi Wicks, said:
“SBS WorldWatch plays an important role in connecting Australians with news and perspectives from around the world, in their preferred language. Moving to SBS On Demand gives us the opportunity to build on that service, with more international news bulletins and greater flexibility for audiences to decide when and how they watch.
“We recognise this will be a change for some audiences who are accustomed to watching SBS WorldWatch on linear television. We’re committed to supporting them through the transition, while continuing to evolve our services for the future.”
To help audiences make the transition, SBS is providing multilingual information and guidance through SBS Audio language programs and on SBS WorldWatch channel 35 ahead of the change. Further information can be found at www.sbs.com.au/worldwatch, with personalised support available via the SBS Help Centre.
The SBS WorldWatch – News In-Language hub can be found on the SBS On Demand homepage, where audiences can also search for content in their preferred language. Additional bulletins will be added over the coming weeks.
The full SBS On Demand offering features more than 15,000 hours of local and international programming across more than 60 languages, spanning news and current affairs, documentaries, drama, world movies, entertainment, food, children’s content and sport. This includes dedicated language collections, alongside selected English-language programs with subtitles in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
SBS On Demand is a free streaming service for all Australians that can be accessed via the app on Smart TVs, mobiles and tablets, or via the SBS website. The app is free to download from the Apple App Store for iOS here and Google Play for Android here.
SBS also provides locally produced news and community stories in more than 60 languages through SBS Audio’s linear radio channels, with this programming also available as podcasts and via SBS On Demand. The SBS Audio linear radio schedule of more than 60 language programs can be viewed here.
The SBS WorldWatch linear television channel 35 will close on Friday 18 September 2026.
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I think this is the right move. A tiny audience for a linear channel and given how all our network streaming services have evolved in recent years, it is a far more accomodating solution.
Plus SBS+SBS2 both show WorldWatch content already.
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Will it get a replacement or will SBS Food go HD?
Unsure if Food is already HD
Food is MPEG4 SD.
Ideally, remove SBS MPEG2 SD and NITV MPEG2 SD alongside these changes.
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Would make sense to flip Food to HD
Must be a market for this sort of content given Nine flipped 9Life to HD earlier this year
Not really, more so the networks are now transitioning their remaining services into high definition. I think the datacasts will be exceptions.
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