SBS has welcomed a $158.1 million boost by the federal government to SBS' core funding, contained in last night's federal budget.
That includes $63 million over the next four years for SBS to establish a new national free-to-air indigenous television service.
SBS' Managing Director Michael Ebeid says this is the biggest budget boost the organisation has ever received.
"This is a massive endorsement of SBS...a 27 per cent increase on our base government funding over the next four years.
"Importantly, it will allow for the creation of a national free-to-air service to broadcast dedicated news and other programs about and produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians".
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Mr Ebeid says the funding will offset the slower growth in commercial revenues experienced by SBS, in line with trends across the media industry.
But he warned the organisation faces tough challenges.
"Multichannels have meant that content costs have escalated and our success online and on mobile means our distribution costs are also increasing at a fast rate.
"Digital technology means that our equipment needs to be replaced far more frequently, and some of our older equipment is desperately overdue for replacement, so capital funds are also a welcomed relief.
But he says SBS will now definitely have more money to invest in content that will grow audiences and deliver on the organisation's Charter.
"I think it's evident that in the last few years there has been a real focus on content that makes a difference in promoting social cohesion and challenging Australians to think about the world we live in," Mr Ebeid said.
"On TV it's most noticeable with programs like Go Back to Where You Came From and Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta, but also in the many awards that keep being won by NACA, drama and documentaries, like First Australians and Immigration Nation.
"The renewed focus in our language programs on radio and online has also been really important.
"It's not just the Government that's noticed what we do, our stakeholders and community partners, the production sector and many others have really swung in behind the funding bid and given SBS much support," Mr Ebeid added.
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