SBS produced Arabic and Mandarin news bulletins move to regular digital news videos delivered through the day, with more content for audiences
27 June, 2024
Media releases
With more audiences getting their news on digital platforms at a time that suits them, SBS is evolving its Arabic and Mandarin news offering from linear bulletins to short-form digital video news packages through the day.
Australia's multicultural public broadcaster is responding to audiences' changing needs, confirming it plans to shift its local SBS News in Arabic and SBS News in Mandarin offerings from linear television to regular short-form video news packages through the day, building on the network's existing SBS Arabic and SBS Chinese audio and digital language services and delivering more content to these growing audiences.
SBS is very proud of our weekday nightly Arabic and Mandarin news bulletins which have been running for over two years, said Mandi Wicks, Director of SBS News and Current Affairs. Our data shows us that more and more of these audiences are seeking out news on our digital platforms throughout the day. This decision to shift to digital delivery platforms reflects that demand for timely, regular video news updates and will see us produce a record amount of in-language content for these communities.
Over the past 12 months SBS has been successfully piloting the delivery of SBS News in Arabic and SBS News in Mandarin news packages on third-party platforms, contributing to more than 14.7 million video views on SBS Arabic's YouTube and Facebook accounts and more than 8.2 million video views on SBS Chinese's YouTube, Facebook, Weibo and WeChat accounts.
SBS remains strongly committed to providing trusted and impartial news in Arabic and Mandarin for our audiences. This development will see us delivering even more quality, factual digital news coverage around the clock, including on location around Australia, aimed at growing reach and giving audiences more choice and flexibility in how and when they engage with our content, said Pamela Cook, Acting Director of SBS Audio and Language Content and responsible for SBS's more than 60 language services. We are meeting the audience where they are, at a time that suits them, on their preferred platforms.
The Arabic and Mandarin TV news teams will become part of the long-running SBS Arabic (formerly SBS Arabic24) and SBS Chinese audio and digital language programs, focusing on videos, social media and podcasting. They will produce shorter, more frequent news packages for consumption throughout the day, resulting in an overall increase in daily content output for these language audiences with more timely delivery of video news.
Serving Australia's two largest non-English-speaking language groups, SBS News in Arabic and SBS News in Mandarin have been available free-to-air on the SBS WorldWatch channel since May 2022, providing live news bulletins every weeknight from 8-8.30pm and 8.30-9pm respectively. However, today's viewers are increasingly preferring digital platforms, with nearly half of all Australians (49%) using social media to access news (up 4pp on 2023) and online video news consumption becoming ever more popular[1].
The programming change reflects SBS's expanded offering of multilingual audio content over the past 12 months, driven by a digital-first approach across radio, online, social and podcasting to better meet audiences' changing needs. SBS has been recognised as Best Publisher at the Australian Podcast Awards for the past two years running, and, excluding podcasts, currently produces more than 450 hours of distinctive multicultural content weekly for its SBS Audio platforms which include FAST channels on streaming platform SBS On Demand.
According to the latest Australian Census, nationally there are over 367,000 Arabic speakers (median age 30-34) and over 685,000 Mandarin speakers (median age 30-34), with this digital change ensuring SBS continues to deliver on its Charter of building connection and belonging by strengthening awareness and understanding of the increasing cultural diversity of contemporary Australia.
Content can be accessed via all SBS Arabic and SBS Chinese platforms, including dedicated YouTube channels for SBS Arabic and SBS Chinese, with the existing SBS Arabic24 DAB+ channel and online brand rebranded to SBS Arabic. Content can also be accessed via the SBS Audio website and app which can be downloaded via the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android. Selected content is also available wherever audiences consume podcasts and radio streams, including Apple Podcasts, LiSTNR, Spotify and TuneIn.
For a PDF of the media release click here
[1] Digital News Report 2024
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
07/08/2026
Opening Statement: Public hearing of the Inquiry into Racism, Hate and Violence ...
06/08/2026
Screen Australia and YouTube Australia fund five new teams through eleventh Skip...
04/08/2026
SBS helps Australians understand why every Census counts
Media releases
As Australia prepares for the 2026 Census on Tuesday 11 August, SBS is helping ensur...
30/07/2026
Premiere date revealed for SBS Original drama The Airport Chaplain, starring Hug...
29/07/2026
SBS Appoints Chief Commercial Officer and Director of Marketing and Audiences
29 July, 2026
Media releases
SBS is pleased to announce the appointment of Ni...
29/07/2026
Applications open for IFFI/WAVES Film Bazaar in Goa - Producer Delegation 28 July 2026
Image credit: Four Years Later
Screen Australia has opened applications...
23/07/2026
NITV launches new By Mob For Mob series in partnership with NRMA Insurance
23 July, 2026
Media releases
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has launched ...
23/07/2026
Screen Australia announces new national documentary accelerator program 23 July 2026
Screen Australia has today announced the Above the Line Documentary Accel...
21/07/2026
SBS scores biggest ever FIFA World Cup Reach as Spain triumph in the final
21 July, 2026
Media releases
Spain v Argentina attracted a Total TV reach of al...
17/07/2026
Legendary presenter Anton Enus to sign off from SBS World News after 27 years wi...
17/07/2026
Millions rise before dawn to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on SBS
17 July, 2026
Media releases
England v Argentina attracted a Total TV reach of a...
16/07/2026
NITV and SBS bring Australians to the heart of Garma
16 July, 2026
Media releases
The Garma Festival returns from 31 July-3 August, with NITV and SBS deliv...
14/07/2026
Techtel Successfully Relocates AICD Broadcast Studio to New Sydney Headquarters
BroadcastBroadcast EquipmentLive StreamingBroadcast Studio2026
14 July Writ...
13/07/2026
Millions tuned in for quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on SBS
13 July, 2026
Media releases
Norway v England attracted a Total TV reach of 3.7 mil...
09/07/2026
SBS statement Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
9 July, 2026
Media releases
SBS acknowledges the gravity of the matters before the Roy...
08/07/2026
Well over half of Australia have tuned in to watch the FIFA World Cup on SBS
7 July, 2026
Media releases
Australia's Round of 32 match against Egypt a...
08/07/2026
SBS and Koorie Heritage Trust announce three-year partnership to celebrate First...
08/07/2026
The right team. The right time.' How The Killings at Parrish Station stuck t...
08/07/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia launch FUTURE VISION Forward to elevate...
07/07/2026
New appointments to Screen Australia board 7 July 2026
The Albanese Labor Government has made new appointments to the Screen Australia board.
Dr Tania Chamber...
07/07/2026
The right team. The right time.' How The Killings at Parrish Station stuck t...
06/07/2026
Techtel debuts insyght: making ST 2110 media discovery easy
intellisphereinsyght2026
6 July Written By Suzanne Costello
Sydney, Australia - 06 July 2026 T...
03/07/2026
Caden Pearson appointed new Commissioning Editor for NITV
3 July, 2026
Media releases
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has strengthened its commitment...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia backs audience-led filmmaking with new insight-driven initiativ...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia refines guidelines for Narrative Content Development and Docume...
01/07/2026
Groundbreaking First Nations Screen Business Accelerator launched through nation...
30/06/2026
Statement regarding GetUp Save Our SBS' campaign
30 June, 2026
Media releases
The GetUp Save Our SBS' campaign is an independent initiative. SBS ...
27/06/2026
A record 4.84 million Australians choose SBS as the Socceroos advance at FIFA Wo...
25/06/2026
The Name You Know, The Lineup You'll Love - SBS2 Returns
25 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Viceland rebrands as SBS2 on Friday 21 August, bringing the c...
23/06/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia's talent development initiative UNT...
22/06/2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 fever grows, as more than one third of Australians tune in ...
18/06/2026
Techtel delivers Haivision live streaming system for TAFE NSW St Leonards, enabl...
16/06/2026
Australians place growing trust in SBS News
16 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has been recognised as one of Australia's most trusted news providers, ran...
16/06/2026
Share your views on Screen Australia and the future of the industry 15 June 2026
Your feedback matters.
Following the instrumental insights provided in 2025,...
16/06/2026
Techtel Supports T-Motion RCCP-2A Controller Upgrade for Major Australian Broadc...
15/06/2026
4.78M AUSSIES TUNE IN FOR SOCCEROOS WIN OVER T RK YE ON SBS
15 June, 2026
Media releases
Match had a Total TV average audience of 3.035 million, with over ...
15/06/2026
SBS Head of Commissioning John Godfrey to depart after 18 years
15 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Head of Commissioning John Godfrey will depart the broadca...
15/06/2026
Techtel Completes Media Production Setup for a major AFL sporting organisation
Sports
15 June Written By Suzanne Costello
(Sydney, Australia 15 June 2026)...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
11/06/2026
Australian Games Industry Glossary of Terms 10 June 2026
From DAU and EULA to COT and QADE, here's a list of game industry terms, industry jargon and their...
10/06/2026
Alone Australia Season 4: Meet the Cast
10 June, 2026
Media releases
WATCH THE TRAILER
Smash-hit survival series Alone Australia drops its highly anticipa...
10/06/2026
DEADLY THEN, DEADLY NOW, DEADLY ALWAYS: SBS & NITV IGNITE NAIDOC WEEK 2026 WITH ...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
03/06/2026
Clarification: SBS's position on definitions of antisemitism
3 June, 2026
Media releases
Statement by Mandi Wicks, SBS Director of News and Current Aff...
03/06/2026
Do not read this media release! Andy Lee's smash-hit show returns to ABC thi...
01/06/2026
SBS confirms its broadcast sponsors for FIFA World Cup 2026
1 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has secured Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Com...
28/05/2026
Get fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with new SBS On Demand features for the ult...
28/05/2026
Six films, one unmissable collection. First Facts documentaries debut on 10 Stre...
SBS produced Arabic and Mandarin news bulletins move to regular digital news videos delivered through the day, with more content for audiences 
