• Five new Australian dramas for SBS, SBS On Demand and NITV
• Expanded sports catalogue with 2018 French Open and The World Cup
• 29 Australian factual commissions across documentary, food, entertainment and news and current affairs
• SBS Viceland local commissions to air in Australia and across the world
SBS has today unveiled its 2018 lineup with a slate of programs across multiple platforms.
Marshal Heald, Kiki Masella, Isaiah and Ray Martin
SBS managing director Michael Ebeid said: “SBS is delivering its strongest year yet, with differentiated programs and services that set it apart in an increasingly homogeneous and competitive media market.
“Through a defined strategic direction, an innovative approach to scheduling and acceleration of our digital services, and as our nation becomes more culturally complex, we’re proud that SBS is engaging more Australians with our important programming across more platforms than ever before.”
Rachel Griffiths and Yoson An in Dead Lucky
Director of TV and online content Marshall Heald said: “At SBS, we want to play a constructive role in helping Australians understand who we are. We want to encourage Australians to seek out different perspectives, to feel a sense of connection, belonging and empowerment. We want to tell stories that make people think, stories that make people feel, stories that challenge us, stories that inspire us.
“For more than 40 years, promoting diversity has been at the heart of SBS. We want to tell stories with underlying thematics that help Australians understand that this country’s greatest asset is the diversity of our people. Our differences make us strong.”
Major special events include a celebration of 40 years of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018 with special coverage, and showcasing Australian talent to the world in the 63rd annual Eurovision Song Contest, this year coming live from Lisbon, Portugal, with exclusive backstage and behind the scenes access from returning hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey.