SBS’s radio schedule update gives audiences more ways to listen

Across seven radio channels, SBS announces an improved radio schedule offering all Australians more ways to listen live and more catch-up across content in 60+ languages.

SBS, Australia’s multicultural and First Nations national broadcaster and 2022 Podcaster of the Year, has today announced an updated and improved radio schedule to better meet the changing consumption preferences of Australian audiences across its linear and digital audio platforms.

From Thursday 5 October audiences will have more choice about when and how to listen to content in over 60 languages. Audiences will benefit from more live radio in the daytime and more ways to catch-up on demand in the evening with news, entertainment, music and podcasts.

“Radio remains at the heart of what SBS does, from our humble beginnings as two ethnic radio stations in 1975 to this expanded schedule giving contemporary audiences of all backgrounds and ages even more ways to listen and connect with the content they love,” said David Hua, SBS Director of Audio and Language Content.

“As SBS looks ahead to its 50th anniversary, our diverse listeners will enjoy more live radio in the daytime as well as their favourite audio on demand especially during drive time. This is being driven by our ongoing focus on accelerating digital-first production across our full offering of radio, live streaming, digital publishing and podcasting.”

By better utilising its full spectrum of seven radio channels – SBS Radio 1, SBS Radio 2, SBS Radio 3, SBS PopDesi, SBS Arabic 24, SBS PopAsia, and SBS Chill – the multicultural and First Nations broadcaster will maintain current timeslots for daily programs representing some of Australia’s largest language communities.

Some language programs will move to new timeslots optimised for increased engagement and accessibility, including on SBS Radio 3 alongside a BBC World Service English line-up and on SBS PopDesi which will be rebranded into a destination channel for South Asian communities. To minimise disruption to existing listeners, full catch-up (repeat) programs will air on existing evening and weekend timeslots.

“We are committed to being a trusted voice for multicultural Australia and giving contemporary audiences more choice and flexibility across our linear and digital radio services,” said Mr Hua.

“These schedule changes are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to engage with our multilingual content, to build stronger connections with their community, and to feel even more a part of broader Australian society.”

Additional benefits include a new national delay across time zones, enabling programs to run at a consistent time for listeners anywhere across Australia.

A summary of schedule changes is available here