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SBS Australia
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines
SBS has launched new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines (2025-2028), reaffirming the broadcaster's commitment to ensuring all Australians see themselves and their communities represented in its commissioned content. The guidelines outline comprehensive multi-year targets for inclusion of talent from historically and ongoing under-represented communities in roles across SBS-commissioned programs, including internal productions.* They include strengthened targets aimed at addressing gaps in industry representation on and off screen, and continue five decades of SBS's leadership in authentically reflecting Australia and driving industry change. 'At SBS, inclusion is central to who we are as an organisation, and underpins how we commission and create content,' said Kathryn Fink, SBS Director of Television. 'Our previous guidelines set a new benchmark for representation in our sector, and our new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines for 2025-2028 continue to support our ambition, and SBS's unique purpose as a network. 'We believe that an industry without barriers to having your voice heard is essential to fuelling the ongoing success of Australian storytelling – both at home, and globally. Our goal is to drive meaningful, long-term industry change by investing in the depth and breadth of Australian talent, on and off screen. We're proud to continue working closely with production partners across the sector to deliver a truly authentic portrayal of contemporary Australia through the stories we commission, and the people who bring them to life,' she added. The launch of the SBS Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines (2025-2028) follows the conclusion of SBS's first Commissioning Equity & Inclusion Guidelines (2021-2024), with SBS successfully achieving all of its targets, which were then extended a year while the next iteration was developed. SBS's guidelines aim to remove barriers when casting on-screen talent and hiring off-screen crew, and focus on representation of people from five key under-represented groups – First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disability, and women – based on what Australia looks like today. In the new guidelines, SBS has updated benchmarks for people with disability and introduced a new sub-target for non-European culturally and linguistically diverse communities. These updates recognise areas where improvement is needed across the sector. SBS's guidelines were also informed by industry engagement and consultation, as well as taking on board SBS's previous performance, and analysis of population and industry data. SBS's Scripted and Unscripted commissioned programs have targets for on- and off-screen roles, and for career progression, on a show-by-show basis. In measuring this, SBS will also track how it is representing key groups across its entire commissioned content slate. SBS's commitment to transparency and accountability continues with its new guidelines, with public reporting each year to measure and update on progress. SBS also continues to invest in initiatives providing meaningful career opportunities and pathways for under-represented talent and enriched storytelling. These opportunities, and more information about the guidelines, are available on the SBS website. * SBS's Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines do not apply to SBS's News and Current Affairs and Sports programming. Targets do not apply to NITV productions which have their own unique equity goals, as outlined in the NITV Commissioning Guidelines. For a pdf copy of this media release, click here.
SBS Australia
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Handmaid's Tale
Alone Australia Season 3 has had a Total TV National Reach of 2.68m to date and continues to build. The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 has had a Total TV National Reach of 2.31m to date and continues to build as anticipation grows for the series finale. Rogue Heroes Season 2 has had a Total TV National Reach of 2.24m and is also continuing to grow. SBS On Demand has achieved its highest month on record* in terms of total users on the back of the successful launches of Season 3 of Alone Australia and the final series of The Handmaid's Tale . Consumption on SBS On Demand is also up 18.0% in FY25, with more than 2.24m active accounts logging into the platform in April. This uplift also follows the second season of Rogue Heroes which dropped over February and March. To date, Alone Australia has had a Total TV National Reach of 2.68m, The Handmaid's Tale has had a National Reach of 2.31m, and Rogue Heroes has had a National Reach of 2.24m. 'These are exceptionally strong audience numbers and underline the strategic importance of SBS On Demand in our broader video strategy,' said Kathryn Fink, SBS Director of Television. ' Alone Australia continues to be a hit – engaging audiences in the ultimate test of endurance. Importantly around 40% of the Alone audience is coming in via SBS On Demand and that number rises to about 50% when you look at a key demographic like 25-54s. 'We are also thrilled to see audiences returning to see June's final battle in The Handmaid's Tale . To date more than 2.31m Australians have watched the show and we expect that number to grow as people binge it towards the end of the season. 'We've also seen excellent audience numbers for the second season of Rogue Heroes , another clear demonstration of how these marquee programs can draw in significant audiences who then go on to sample other content from the fantastic offer on SBS On Demand.' Commercially the success of all three shows has paid dividends for SBS. Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer Jane Palfreyman said: 'We are thrilled by the success of Alone Australia , The Handmaid's Tale and Rogue Heroes . They are a clear demonstration of the power of the SBS On Demand platform and its ability to bring in audiences and engage them with strong and powerful stories. 'In particular for SBS Media, Alone Australia is performing strongly in the all-important 25-54 demographic which is a focus for our advertising partners.' Source: Consumption: OzTAM VPM, 01 July 2024 – 30 April 2025 vs 01 July 2023 – 30 April 2024, Total People, based on Total Minutes viewed (Live + VOD) | Active Accounts: Adobe Analytics Clickstream | Ratings Snapshot: VOZ National Total TV, Total People, Reach to Date – When Watched, 26/02/2025 – 30/04/2025 (Rogue Heroes), 26/03/2025 – 30/04/2025 (Alone Australia), 08/04/2025 – 30/04/2025 (Handmaid's Tale), Reach (TAM: 1 minute consecutive, BVOD: 15 secs); Average Audience and Consumption hours: Rogue Heroes – 26/02/2025 – 02/04/2025, Eps 1-5 C28, Ep 6 C7; Alone Australia – 26/03/2025 – 29/04/2025, Eps 1-3 C28, Eps 4-6 C7, Ep 6 Overnight; The Handmaid's Tale – 08/04/2025 – 29/04/2025, Eps 1-5 C7, Ep 6 – Overnight (Content Consolidation + When Watched for Pre-broadcast) *This excludes special event the 2022 FIFA World Cup For a pdf copy of this release, click here.
