How Australia’s multicultural broadcaster evolved from experimental ethnic radio to a national media powerhouse.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in 1975 to serve post-war migrants, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) began as two experimental radio stations in Sydney and Melbourne. Today, it stands as a unique public broadcaster, blending government funding with commercial revenue to deliver multilingual programming across television, radio, and digital platforms to a diverse nation.

The origins of SBS are rooted in the shift away from the White Australia Policy. By the mid-1970s, the federal government recognized a growing need for ethnic broadcasting, as existing laws had previously restricted foreign-language radio to just 2.5 hours per week. On 9 June 1975, the government launched 2EA in Sydney and 3EA in Melbourne to reach ethnic communities. By 1978, these stations were brought under the newly formed, independent statutory authority of SBS, which was officially established by the Broadcasting Act 1942.

Expansion into television followed in 1980, with the first full-time transmission airing on 24 October. Initially, the network faced significant controversy, including opposition from commercial television stations and a failed 1986 government proposal to merge it with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). Despite these hurdles, SBS solidified its role by expanding its reach to major cities and regional areas throughout the 1990s. The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 further cemented its status as an independent corporation with its own charter.

Today, SBS operates as a hybrid entity. In the 2026/7 budget, it is set to receive A$367 million in government funding, supplemented by A$154 million in external revenue, primarily from advertising. Its programming has evolved from imported, subtitled content to a vast digital ecosystem, including the SBS On Demand platform and specialized channels like NITV, which serves Australia's indigenous peoples. The network now broadcasts in 74 languages, reflecting the ongoing demographic shifts of the Australian population while maintaining its core mission of providing a voice to the nation's diverse communities.

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