SBS Radio implements revised services tailored for today's Australia

SBS Radio implements revised services tailored for today's Australia

Friday 17 November, 2017

Media Release

SBS Radio will implement its revised schedule from Monday 20 November focusing on delivering programs and services tailored to the needs of Australia's rapidly changing and diverse communities.

The 2016 Census revealed that more than 1.3 million people have migrated to Australia during the past five years and nearly five million people speak a language other than English at home; reinforcing the importance of SBS Radio's services providing Australian-focused news and information in languages other than English.

The review process involved extensive community consultation to finalise the Selection Criteria* which, in conjunction with the 2016 Census data, has determined the revised language services.

As part of the 68 language programs and services provided by SBS Radio, seven new communities will be catered for, including six high needs' languages and one large' language supporting new communities who need news and information in their language as they navigate life in a new country. The new languages are: Telugu, Karen, Tibetan, Hakha Chin, Rohingya, Mongolian and Kirundi (Rundi). All content in the new languages will be available on digital platforms with audio podcasts accessible via the SBS website and SBS Radio app to meet the needs of those audiences.

Mandi Wicks, SBS Director of Audio and Language Content, said: SBS Radio is the world's most linguistically diverse broadcaster and whilst many communities are passionate about live radio, they are also engaging with our in-language digital services via their smartphones and tablets. With increased content available online and via the SBS Radio app, our revised services will continue to deliver on our Charter obligations and ensure that we remain relevant for today's Australia.

More content will be available online and via the SBS Radio app for the growing language communities who speak Punjabi, Tamil, French, Urdu, Indonesian, Sinhalese, Nepali, Persian, Japanese, Thai, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Dari, Russian, Portuguese, Assyrian and Samoan.

There will also be a new weekend format, with more music and entertainment content for many of the largest communities including Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, Greek, Filipino, Hindi and Spanish.

For more information on the new SBS Radio Schedule, visit sbs.com.au/radio.

To tune in to SBS Radio anytime, anywhere:

* Download the free SBS Radio App available now at the iTunes App Store and Google Play

* Analogue radio programs - AM / FM

* Digital radio (DAB+) and digital television

* Online live streaming and On Demand

* Podcasts

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

*The final language Selection Criteria for SBS Radio Services Review 2017

* Large Languages Criteria: population of approximately 25,000** or greater

* High Needs Languages Criteria: (a minimum of 15 languages subject to SBS funding)

Threshold requirement - population must be greater than 1,000**

English language proficiency (weight = 45%)

Recentness of arrival (weight = 30%)

Ageing (weight = 15%)

Household resources (weight = 10%)

* SBS may also include a sizeable ethnic community if its needs are significant but not adequately captured in the Large Language or High Needs Selection Criteria. Factors which SBS may take into account include:

Discrimination/Vilification: where a group is subject to frequent discrimination or vilification in Australia based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

Immediate need: a significant increase in the population of a language group through Australia's Humanitarian Program.

** Population size based on 2016 Census data - Language Spoken at Home other than English (LANP)

The final Selection Criteria and Census 2016 data determine which languages are serviced by SBS. Subject to funding, SBS determines when and how the language services will be delivered - e.g. via AM/FM, digital radio, digital television, online and/or podcast.

LINK:	http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/2243/h/SBS-R...
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