The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is Australia's multicultural and multilingual national broadcaster. It provides broadcast and digital media services to inform, educate and entertain all Australians while reflecting Australia's multicultural society.
The Australian Government funds the SBS as part of the Budget each year. This funding covers their normal operations and transmission costs, as well as capital works and special projects.
The Australian Government does not direct the SBS on programming matters. Parliament has guaranteed the independence of the national broadcasters to ensure that what they broadcast is free of political interference.
The SBS is required to develop codes of practice on programming matters and lodge the codes with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). In addition, the SBS is accountable to the Parliament through annual reports, corporate plans, financial and performance audits, and appearances before Parliamentary Committees.
The SBS Board of Directors is guided by the SBS Charter, editorial policies and codes of practice. You can find more information about these policies on the SBS website.
SBS Self-Help Transmission Subsidy Scheme
The SBS Self-Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme helps small communities that do not have access to SBS TV or radio to fund the costs of retransmitting SBS programs to their local area.
You can learn more about the scheme on the SBS website.
Information on the SBS
For more information about the SBS, please see the following links:
- SBS television
- SBS radio
- SBS board appointments
- Reviews and inquiries into the national broadcasters
- Accessible television
Last reviewed: 1 January 2024