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French national news bulletin 20 Heures returns to SBS television

Media releases

Popular French national news bulletin 20 Heures (20H) will be added to SBS WorldWatch’s programming line-up on 8 November 2022 following a new agreement between SBS and France Télévisions, the broadcaster of channel France 2’s long running 20H half hour program.

20H was brought into SBS’s programming line-up on 24 August 1993 where it enjoyed a loyal viewership in Australia until it was removed from the network’s schedule on 13 February 2022.

Strong audience feedback followed the bulletin’s replacement with TV5Monde’s international French language program 64′ le Monde en Français in the same timeslot, with SBS receiving hundreds of submissions and comments in favour of returning 20H to SBS screens.

SBS Director of News and Current Affairs Mandi Wicks said the return of 20H to SBS follows clear audience demand.

“We are thrilled 20H is coming back to SBS. It was clear the audience was disappointed when the schedule was changed and we delighted to be able to return 20H to the mix of high-quality news programming for our French-speaking audience.”

France 2’s 20H will air at 8.40am daily on SBS WorldWatch from Tuesday 8 November.

Each episode of TV5Monde’s bulletin will remain available on SBS On Demand for seven days. alongside 20H and 13H.

SBS Worldwatch provides Australians with access to news from around the world in 37 languages other than English, with a line-up of news bulletins from leading international broadcasters, ensuring news-consuming SBS audiences are better served than ever before.

Viewers can watch France 24 news in English daily on SBS and on SBS On Demand.

For information on how to access SBS WorldWatch, click here.

Additional French language programming across the network:

  • 20H from France 2 (SBS WorldWatch and SBS On Demand)
    13H from France 2 (SBS WorldWatch and SBS On Demand)
  • Le Journal from TV5Monde (SBS On Demand)
  • France24 French news – coming soon (SBS On Demand)

A range of French language radio programs and podcasts are available here.

For a PDF version of this media release, click here.