Our Mission Statement

SBS, through its charter, educates, informs and entertains. SBS want to be different and we challenge Australian producers to collaborate with us to bring innovative and exciting ideas that work for our schedule - while pushing the creative boundaries.

Accordingly, SBS Commissioned Content will:

1. Take the SBS audience to a place in their community where they don’t usually go.

2. Present the views of and engage the contemporary, culturally diverse Australian audience.

3. Be demonstrably pioneering and different to any other Australian network.

4. Be relevant, agenda setting and cause public debate.

5. Must have potential for other platforms - thought about from day one of development, offering new ways of involving our audience.

6. Foster and encourage new talent - on screen and behind the scenes.

7. Take risks, offer alternative voices and formats

What stories do we want – in 2009 and beyond?

SBS commissions cutting edge, entertaining and exciting drama, comedy, documentary, factual and factual entertainment programming from Australian production companies for broadcast on SBS TV and Online. Due to our funding arrangements with the Australian Government an Australian Producer must be attached to the project.

Comedy

SBS Comedy will showcase bold and distinctive breakout ideas, new and edgy talent, using interesting and innovative comedy vehicles. We’ve been accused of a lot of things over the years, but never of being dull or predictable. From scripted comedy to improvisation to satire, it will find a home on SBS.



Drama

SBS Drama commissioned shows that you won’t see anywhere else. We’re fired by breakout ideas that are bold and distinctive. We’re committed to projects that reflect the cultural diversity of contemporary Australia in unique and provocative ways. We're looking for longer running series - ideally 13 parts. In 2009, we’re screening the second series of East West 101 and The Circuit – and we’re in development for exciting new drama series.
SBS is currently not looking for teenage or young people’s drama.



Entertainment

SBS Entertainment shows will be popular and surprise our audience. They will be a vehicle for new talent on our screens - entertaining contemporary Australia on screen and online. We are committed to Rockwiz and Top Gear Australia in 2009 but we’re also looking for half hour, studio-based formatted entertainment shows for 2009 and beyond. We see this as a major growth idea.



Factual

SBS Factual programming will, like the rest of our Commissioning, reflect the exciting reality and possibilities of Australia’s cultural diversity - exploring the challenges, the issues, the fun, the sadness, the successes and the failures told in a way other broadcasters wouldn’t consider. All proposals should have well thought out online potential.

Secrets and Lives

This new documentary strand will feature tough subjects, entertaining and engaging journeys and tackle the major social issues of our times. A new vehicle with a new tone for telling Australian stories. To submit a proposal for Secrets and Lives please visit the submission page. To read more about completed projects please visit the Secrets and Lives website.




Food and Leisure

SBS wants to be the first stop for innovative food programming and we’re looking for the next Food Safari or similar in 2009 and beyond. We’re also in the market for clever, engaging leisure programmes, which offer something different to those carried by other networks.




Science

We’re not actively looking for science ideas because we’re currently involved in the Screen Australia Science Initiative.


Doctor Denis Anderson tries to save the bees from annihilation in Honeybee Blues.

History

We’ll consider authored docs, drama docs and reality formats, which will bring history to a broad audience. We are looking for “softer” history - biography, social history, personal stories and “harder” history, which deals with tougher subjects for an 8.30 time slot. We’re committed to a second series the highly successful Who Do You Think You Are?.


Crime/ Law and Order

Our audience love a good true crime or law and order story so were looking for Australian stories. They’ll tell stories of injustice or amazing detection - while showing us a new side of the world we live in.