SBS PopDesi has undergone a name change to SBS South Asian to better reflect its comprehensive 24/7 content offering for diverse South Asian Australian audiences.
The channel features locally-produced programs in Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Nepali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Sinhala, Tamil and Urdu, as well as extensive music playlists featuring all the best Bollywood (Hindi), Bhangra (Punjabi) and Nepali hits. A Telugu language offering launched last year is also available via podcast, website and social media.
“South Asians are the fastest growing migrant population in Australia, with more than 1.5 million Australians speaking a sub continental language at home. SBS is uniquely placed to capture this depth and diversity across first, second and third generation migrants who belong and enrich the fabric of contemporary Australia,” said Manpreet Kaur Singh, Program Manager for SBS South Asian.
SBS South Asian language programs are broadcast live from 11:00AM to 6:00PM on weekdays and 5:00PM to 6:00PM on weekends, and are available on demand at any time of the day.
Tune in via DAB, digital TV (Channel 305), SBS On Demand and a dedicated YouTube channel, as well as the SBS Audio App and website. The live radio schedule is listed below, with all your favourite South Asian music broadcast at other times:
| Language | Day and time |
| Bangla | Monday & Thursday 3:00PM |
| Gujarati | Wednesday & Friday 2:00PM |
| Hindi | Monday to Sunday 5:00PM |
| Malayalam | Thursday & Friday 1:00PM |
| Nepali | Tuesday & Thursday 2:00PM |
| Punjabi | Monday to Friday 4:00PM |
| Sinhala | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 11:00AM |
| Tamil | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 12:00PM |
| Urdu | Wednesday & Friday 3:00pm |
Each SBS South Asian language program also has its own Facebook page and a bilingual website, with audio offerings available at most places where you consume your podcasts.
These services reflect the needs of contemporary Australia, where Punjabi and Hindi are among the top 10 spoken languages and Nepali is the fastest growing.
“SBS is proud to continue delivering on the outcomes of our Language Services Review, which is conducted every five years in line with the national Census to ensure SBS’s offering reflects a diverse and contemporary Australia and helps build a sense of inclusion and belonging for everyone,” said Pamela Cook, Acting Director of SBS Audio.
Related:
- SBS Spice is an exciting new English language service for Gen Y with a South Asian heritage who want to shape their own cultural narratives and be informed and entertained via social media
- Australia Explained offers new migrants the practical information they need to participate in everyday social and civic life, with content available in South Asian and other languages
- Common FAQs about SBS’s full content offering across more than 10 sub continental languages and English for South Asian audiences in Australia
