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SBS plea for $70m budget increase

SBS says it is too under-funded to fulfill its own charter, and may be forced to cut programmes.

SBS has warned the Rudd Government it may have to cut programs and shelve expansion plans if it does not receive a boost of around $70m in next year’s budget.

In its triennial funding submission, the network says, “SBS has not been able to realise its potential as a national broadcaster due to a lack of resources.”

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the multicultural broadcaster claims it is “at a serious cross-roads where a reduction in services in inevitable if new investment is not made”.

SBS wants to create nine digital radio stations, two television channels and boost its online operations and has sought to employ public pressure via its online campaign website. Since July it has made public its funding ambitions, which would double local production to 250 hours a year.

SBS says it can play a key role in delivering Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s ambition for Australia to be the “most Asia-literate country in the collective west” with plans to showcase more content from the Asia-Pacific.

It is also promising for the first time to broadcast foreign language children’s programs to “allow the children and grandchildren of migrants to experience the language and culture of their forebears” and English language tuition on TV and online to help migrants.

The government gave SBS $191 million this financial year. The submission says SBS’s funding has been “almost static” at a time when it is being asked to do more and faces the same cost pressures as the big broadcasters. The ABC receives about $880 million a year.

“In a world of technological change and rising costs, SBS has been chronically under-funded to meet the requirements of its charter,” says the submission. “Major projects have been shelved or delayed, content has not been produced or acquired and new series not introduced because of funding shortfalls.”

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

3 Responses

  1. I hope they get the extra $$$$. I seem to be watching a lot more SBS this year. There’s been some really interesting docos about everyday Aussies this year which I’ve really enjoyed, like “The Nest” and “mY generation”. Their new comedy ‘Bogan Pride’ is also great, and they should get a lot of credit for taking on Aussie Top Gear (Even though I’m not sure how great that show is yet.)

    10 points for showing South Park, too.

    Give em more money!

    I do wonder how much they are taking in in their new found advertising revenue as well.

  2. “In a world of technological change and rising costs, SBS has been chronically under-funded to meet the requirements of its charter,”

    Well, err, maybe if they wouldn’t throw millions away on a lame local version of Top Gear that only the charitable kept watching after the first half hour of the first episode, they might have more money to meet those requirements.

    SBS is a disaster, basically. They can blame funding all they like. I’d be more inclined to blame the idiot in charge of the ship who seems to have fantasies that he’s the head honcho of a major commercial network.

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