As part of SBS's commitment to continue evolving to meet the needs of contemporary Australia, SBS has commenced the regular review of its language services provided through SBS Radio, today opening public consultation to invite feedback on the draft selection criteria.
The SBS Language Services Review is a process undertaken every five years in line with the national Census, to ensure SBS Radio services reflect Australia's rapidly changing and increasingly diverse society. The selection criteria will be used in conjunction with the 2021 Census data to determine the languages to be serviced. and help inform the way those services are delivered, for the next five years.
The Language Services Review encompasses SBS's audio and language offering including radio, SBS On Demand, podcasting and other digital platforms.
The six-week public consultation, which begins today and concludes on 12 November 2021, is an important opportunity for communities to contribute to the future of SBS Radio services and the network's broader audio and language offering, with all feedback considered in establishing the final selection criteria that will be used.
SBS Director of Audio and Language Content, David Hua, said, SBS has a unique ability to reach and connect with Australia's diverse communities through its multilingual services, across multiple touchpoints. For more than 45 years, we've been continuing to adapt the way we provide innovative and meaningful services to communities, and today we do so across radio, online, podcasts and apps in more than 60 languages. This review will help shape SBS as we look towards turning 50.
The vital role of SBS's multilingual services has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering critical updates and health information to communities in their preferred language. The Language Services Review is an important opportunity to ensure we continue to reflect the needs of communities in Australia today.
Regularly updating our language offering enables SBS to better service the largest communities with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as offering services to emerging and high-needs communities. Giving our audiences a voice in this process is a critical element, and we encourage communities across Australia to share their feedback.
The selection criteria are due to be finalised by May 2022, with the revised SBS language services to be implemented before the end of 2022.
The public consultation period for the selection criteria runs from 5 October to 12 November 2021. To view the draft selection criteria and submit feedback, go to sbs.com.au/consultation.
Ends.
To read a pdf of this media release, click here.
To read this media release in a language other than English, select from the list below:
Albanian (Shqip) Amharic ( ) Arabic ( )
Armenian ( ) Assyrian Bangla ( )
Bosnian (Bosanski) Bulgarian ( ) Burmese
Cantonese ( ) Croatian (Hrvatski) Dari ( )
Dinka (Thu j ) Dutch (Nederlands) English
Filipino Finnish (Suomeksi) French (Fran ais)
German (Deutsch) Greek ( ) Gujarati ( )
Hakha Chin Hebrew ( ) Hindi ( )
Hmong (Hmoob) Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) Italian (Italiano)
Japanese ( ) Karen Khmer ( )
Kirundi (Ikirundi) Korean ( ) Kurdish (Kurd )
Macedonian ( ) Malayalam ( ) Maltese (Malti)
Mandarin ( ) Mongolian Nepali ( )
Pashto ( ) Persian ( ) Polish (Polski)
Portuguese (Portugu s) Punjabi ( ) Rohingya
Romanian (Rom n ) Russian ( ) Samoan (Gagana Samoa)
Serbian ( ) Sinhala ( ) Slovak (Sloven ina)
Slovenian (Sloven ina) Somali (Soomaali) Spanish (Espa ol)
Swahili (Kiswahili) Tamil ( ) Thai ( )
Tibetan ( ) Tigrinya ( ) Turkish (T rk e)
Ukrainian ( ) Urdu ( ) Vietnamese (Ti ng Vi t)
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
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...
28/05/2026
Emma Watkins brings all-new Emma's Dance Club to ABC Kids 28 May 2026
Emmas Dance Club. Image credit: Sarah Wilson.
The ABC, Screen Australia and Screen N...
26/05/2026
Three new kids' digital series set to hatch from ACTF and Screen Australia i...
25/05/2026
SBS announces exclusive TV broadcast schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026
21 May, 2026
Media releases
Luke Wilkshire, Tommy Oar, Andrew Redmayne, Sarah Walsh ...
22/05/2026
Statement regarding 2026 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award for the late...
21/05/2026
2026 delegation for Partner with Australia (UK) initiative announced 21 May 2026
Screen Australia and Ausfilm have today announced the delegation for the 2026 ...
20/05/2026
From Gulkula to the nation: Yothu Yindi Foundation and NITV deepen national acce...
20/05/2026
SBS appoints David Fernandez as National Manager, Digital & TV Sales
20 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS has appointed David Fernandez as National Manager, Dig...
20/05/2026
First Nations Factual Co-production Development Fund launched to elevate Indigen...
18/05/2026
Delta Goodrem shines for SBS as more than 3.27 million Australians tune in for E...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
14/05/2026
SBS Board appoints Jane Palfreyman Managing Director
13 May, 2026
Media releases
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Board of Directors is pleased to an...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns
14 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia have announced ...
14/05/2026
Australia Uncovered Returns to SBS with Bold New Season Featuring John Safran on...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns 14 May 2026
Top (L-R): Bronte Gosper (Musket), Mema Munro (Rogue One), Nathan ...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
As part of SBS's commitment to continue evolving to meet the needs of contemporary Australia, SBS has commenced the regular review of its language services provided through SBS Radio, today opening public consultation to invite feedback on the draft selection criteria. 
