- Alone Australia in Western Tasmania
- The Thought of Australia, Australia: An Unofficial Historical past, The Secret DNA of Us
- Eurovision in Switzerland
- Nice Australian Highway Journeys, 2.6 Seconds
- Who Do You Assume You Are? returns
- Rogue Heroes, Handmaid’s Story, Vigil, Blue Lights
- Ultimate Michael Mosley sequence
- No determination on Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey, The Jury.
EXCLUSIVE:
SBS isn’t losing any time getting the occasion began on its fiftieth yr in 2025.
Formally SBS Tv launched as Channel 0/28 in 1980 when Bruce Gyngell launched a program on multiculturalism Who Are We? by Peter Luck.
However its roots return to 1975 radio when 2EA in Sydney and 3EA in Melbourne started as a 3 month experiment.
In 2025 SBS continues to be reflecting a mirror again on who we’re and the way we see ourselves.
“It’s our fiftieth yr this yr, so we’ve actually tried to plan throughout your entire yr a constant slate of actually Australian tales,” says Natalie Edgar, Channel Supervisor, SBS and SBS VICELAND.
“However after all, we’re doing one of the best worldwide sequence as properly. We’ve obtained quite a few daring and daring sequence that basically tries to proceed that lengthy custom of getting content material on SBS that’s purpose-driven.
“The factor that I’m most enthusiastic about in Q1 can be Alone Australia. I don’t wish to be predictable, however I’m a very I’m a giant fan! Sequence two final yr actually cemented itself as a scores powerhouse,” she says.
This time, 10 survivalists shall be dropped into the rugged panorama of The West Coast Ranges, Tasmania, lutruwita. With no digital camera crews they have to attempt to survive by their very own wits and ingenuity to be the final particular person standing. It’ll launch with a double episode.
“I’ve solely seen the primary couple of episodes. I’m a kind of dinosaurs that likes to look at the remainder because it goes out. However we’re again in Tasmania. It’s so beautiful. It’s really the very best elevation we’ve ever had for Alone Australia. However after all, with that comes some very attention-grabbing climate -even in thatvery first episode. The wind, my goodness! I don’t know the way individuals survive down there in Tasmania, however the survivalists this time present some innovation and ingenuity that I don’t suppose we’ve seen earlier than,” Edgar continues.
“It wouldn’t be a spot the place I wish to be dropped off and left by myself. I feel I’d have lasted a few hours!”
Standard UK drama Rogue Heroes returns for a second sequence with the troops in Spring 1943.
“We get viewers suggestions on daily basis from the switchboard and I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen so many questions from our viewers asking when the following sequence of Rogue Heroes goes to drop, nevertheless it’s coming subsequent month. We’ve obtained Jack O’Connell, Connor Swindells and Dominic West all returning. The battle has moved from the Egyptian desert panorama to mainland Europe, so it has a barely totally different feel and appear. However it’s nonetheless such a enjoyable romp.”
Key SBS drama slots are 9:30pm Wednesday and Thursday, with “softer” crime akin to The Good Ship Homicide, anticipated later this yr, at 7:30 Friday.
Ever-popular Michael Portillo is an SBS staple, however there are lots of armchair journey titles coming this yr.
“We’ve obtained Historical Greece by Practice. We’ve obtained a sequence set on The Scotsman, a two-parter arising,” says Edgar. “We’ve additionally obtained an Orient Categorical sequence arising. However if you would like Michael Portillo, he’s arising on Monday evening subsequent month. We’ve obtained him touring to Madrid, Sicily, Lisbon, Prague, I feel he additionally goes to Stockholm.”
Concern not, his practice titles will nonetheless display on Tuesdays, however SBS is once more altering up Mondays.
“Mondays are actually robust for us. We’re up towards the ABC (present affairs) line-up and clearly the large Realities. So (final yr) we thought of counter programming, and it was really very profitable. We did 8 Out of 10 Cats, By no means Thoughts the Buzzcocks and Have I Bought Information For You? We noticed triple digit will increase amongst our 25 to 54 viewers, which was incredible. However it’s proved a problem to try to preserve that quantity. However maintain a watch out, as a result of these reveals will all return on Monday nights later this yr,” she suggestions.
Mastermind Sequence 7 screens throughout Q1 / Q2 with one other 85 episodes whereas Perception and Dateline each return in March.
Now in its sixteenth season Who Do You Assume You Are? screens in Q2 that includes Claudia Karvan, Marc Fennell and Mark Coles Smith whereas Fennell hosts The Secret DNA of Us, testing the DNA of on a regular basis Australians in each city and regional communities.
“They’re testing throughout 4 Australian cities to try to reveal historic details about the nation as a complete. So, consider Who Do You Assume You Are, however on a mass scale.”
There are two different 2025 documentary commissions which echo the legacy of Who Are We? being
The Thought of Australia offered by Rachel Griffiths and Australia: An Unofficial Historical past offered by Jacki Weaver.
“The Thought of Australia? asks some difficult questions round how can we evolve? How can we develop into richer and extra sturdy going into the twenty first century and past? It’s a 4 half documentary sequence, and we’re actually thrilled to have Rachel Griffiths, clearly an acclaimed Australian actress, presenting. I feel it’ll begin a nationwide dialog about our previous, and the way that speaks to the place we’re within the current,” explains Edgar.
“Australia: An Unofficial Historical past is breaking open the very bizarre however very fantastic movies from the Seventies to try to inform the story of Australia that hasn’t been offered earlier than. We’re so thrilled to have the icon that’s Jacki Weaver presenting. I feel it’s actually going to remind Australians of what life was like again then,” she observes.
“You’ll get a peek of her in one of many movies from the 70s.”
Eurovision Tune Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland and there are modifications for Australia with new hosts to be introduced.
“I feel you’ll be tremendous excited. The announcement is quickly, I consider,” Edgar teases.
SBS manufacturing will now be produced by Past after Artistic Director Paul Clarke departed Blink TV.
Anticipated in Q2 is UK drama Sherlock & Daughter starring David Thewlis as Sherlock Holmes, Dougray Scott as Professor Moriarty, and Blu Hunt as a younger Californian who learns her lacking father stands out as the legendary Sherlock Holmes.
Set to conclude in 2025 is The Handmaid’s Story however the timing and storyline is below wraps.
“Elisabeth Moss is clearly returning as June Osborne, and I think about that final sequence goes to be explosive and epic because it has ever been for the followers.”
Different worldwide dramas in 2025 embrace Blue Lights S3, detective sequence Virdee, Smilla’s Sense of Snow, S2 of Vigil, and this week Enjoying Good with James Norton.
Following inner government modifications, SBS is but to announce a flagship native drama for 2025 however there are 3 new Digital Dramas from rising skills, Moonbird, Heat Props & Moni, to display on NITV or SBS VICELAND.
Within the second half of the yr is true crime documentary sequence 2.6 Seconds, a truth-telling of a deadly assembly between two younger males in an remoted group in Australia’s central desert. One black, the opposite white.
“It’s a narrative of a 19 yr outdated Indigenous teenager and a younger police officer, and the way their paths crossed. I feel the story is comparatively well-known, nevertheless it’s about how their households and their lives are simply fully torn aside. It’ll be compelling, insightful, actually confronting nevertheless it’s actually in regards to the nation that these two people had been born into,” she continues.
There may be lighter fare from Nice Australian Highway Journeys, from Mint Footage.
“It’s type of an evolution of Nice Australian Walks. We’ve paired Claudia Karvan and Steph Tisdale in a single automobile, after which we’ve obtained Melissa Leong with Nazeem Hussain in one other automobile to have a look at some untold Australian tales. It’ll be one pit cease at a time. I really like a street journey, significantly right now of the yr,” Edgar displays.
“It’ll be beautiful, however humorous and light-weight, occurring a street journey with your folks.”
Additionally coming later this yr is a docudrama based mostly round Robodebt (working title).
“It is a actually important. landmark sequence. It’s coming to us from CJZ who clearly produced, Go Again to The place You Got here From for us. It’s an uncommon, type of hybrid present, utilizing a mix of a hard-nosed factual, however on the similar time it’ll have some high-end drama in there as properly. I feel it’s going to shine a light-weight on such a major a part of Australian historical past. It was surprising, and stays surprising,” she insists.
Different worldwide titles embrace Wilderness with Simon Reeve, The Wonders of Europe, Irresistible: Why We Can’t Cease Consuming and hopefully Travels with Agatha Christie with Sir David Suchet, which has been delayed.
SBS additionally has another title that includes the late Dr Michael Mosley based mostly on his podcast, Simply One Factor with Michael Mosley.
“It’s solely a 2×30 minute factual however that’s the ultimate Michael Mosley mission we’ll have on air.”
In Sport are Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, World Athletics, Indoor Volleyball, Sail GP, Worldwide Gymnastics and Determine Skating and a raft of Motorsport occasions.
NITV additionally has its personal commissions, with some akin to Our Medication to have an SBS broadcast, most likely round Reconciliation Week.
Not returning this yr are Nice Australian Walks, Superstar Letters & Numbers and SBS advises no replace on extra for Each Household Has a Secret. Ditto for any additional Sluggish TV.
“We discuss it lots, however nothing on the slate at this level,” she reveals
What about extra for Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey?
“We had been actually excited by the numbers, significantly in that youthful, below 50 demo. We’re simply kicking the tyres for the time being on these numbers and we’d clearly like to work with Shaun once more.”
Natalie Edgar Channel Supervisor, SBS and SBS VICELAND
One other 2024 success story was The Jury.
“It obtained loads of crucial acclaim too, not simply viewers suggestions, and that sequence was our greatest performing documentary sequence on On Demand final yr. We hadn’t dipped our toe into that true crime style, and I feel it was actually thrilling for us to lean into that. It’s such a novel format, we’re speaking in regards to the viewers figures for the time being, as a result of it has picked up a bit bit extra over that summer season break. So we’re speaking about it,” Edgar observes.
Unique British format The Jury Homicide Trial shall be seen in late February.
And SBS after all has additional new and returning titles on SBS Meals, VICELAND and World Films whereas WorldWatch continues worldwide information. Nonetheless bringing the world again house.
