SBS has today unveiled its 2018 line-up, revealing a slate of programs across multiple platforms cementing SBS’s position as Australia’s most distinctive media organisation.
These new programs will entertain, inspire, challenge and, at times, shift the dial on attitudes.
The network’s 2018 schedule explores diversity in culture, gender, sexuality, age, and lifestyle,
with the objective of contributing to a healthier and more united Australian society.
SBS Managing Director, Michael Ebeid; said: “SBS is delivering its strongest year yet, with
differentiated programs and services that set it apart in an increasingly homogenous and
competitive media market.
“Through a defined strategic direction, an innovative approach to scheduling and acceleration of our digital services, and as our nation becomes more culturally complex, we’re proud that SBS is engaging more Australians with our important programming across more platforms than ever before.”
Director of TV and Online Content, Marshall Heald, said: “At SBS, we want to play a constructive role in helping Australians understand who we are. We want to encourage Australians to seek out different perspectives, to feel a sense of connection, belonging and empowerment. We want to tell stories that make people think, stories that make people feel, stories that challenge us, stories that inspire us.
“For more than 40 years, promoting diversity has been at the heart of SBS. We want to tell stories with underlying thematics that help Australians understand that this country’s greatest asset is the diversity of our people. Our differences make us strong.”
In 2018, SBS will bring Australian audiences five new commissioned Australian drama series across the network.
Safe Harbour is a gripping psychological thriller filmed and set in Brisbane, exploring how a single action has a ripple effect building to tsunami proportions.
Dead Lucky is a crime drama with a difference starring Rachel Griffiths, revealing the complexities and tensions in cross-cultural relationships.
Benjamin Law’s coming-of-age series The Family Law returns for a third and final season, as the Asian Australian family navigates the world of adult romance and defines what it means to become a man.
NITV’s first foray into scripted drama, Grace Beside Me, is a children’s series adapted from the award-winning novel by Sue McPherson, and Homecoming Queens is the first local commission for SBS On Demand – a semi-autobiographical ‘sad-com’ from an all-female creative team following twenty-something best friends as they reinvent themselves after chronic illnesses.
SBS believes sport is a unifying force – where people from all over the world come together to laugh, cry and cheer on common ground. The network will again deliver the world’s biggest sporting event in 2018 with the FIFA World Cup live from Russia with 25 premium games completely live, free and in HD with the analysis and coverage SBS is renowned for. The network will deliver nearly 400 hours of football content to every home in Australia next year, including exclusive free to air English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and WLeague coverage.
But it’s not just football – SBS maintains its position as Australia’s home of Cycling, with over 100 hours of live coverage from the world’s biggest annual sporting event, the Tour De France and the refreshed National Basketball League will return. After adding tennis to its slate this year, the US Open will return with the finals in 2018, and SBS proudly announced today that it will also add the spectacle of the French Open to its growing sports catalogue.
SBS is a market leader for brave and innovative documentaries, which aim to tell stories that inform, entertain and challenge perspectives – and, where possible, shift the dial on attitudes.
After sparking a national discussion on the homelessness crisis this year, Filthy Rich and Homeless will be back for a second series in 2018, set in a new city. It will raise the bar higher by tackling the policies and potential solutions to a crisis that shows little sign of improving.
The most awarded Australian documentary series of all time – Go Back to Where You Came From – will return for a fourth season with a difference. Go Back Live will be one of the most ambitious live television events in Australian broadcasting history. Over three nights, it will use 3 the latest technology to give a snapshot of the global refugee crisis by presenting stories from the front line, as they happen in real time.
Currently, Australia ranks 46th on the Global Gender Gap Index, down 10 places in the last year alone. Is Australia Sexist? will explore an issue dominating global headlines and contribute to a national debate.
In Muslims Like Us, ten Australian Muslims with contrasting world views will move into a house together for eight days. Their passionate debates, honest disagreements, humour and insights will reveal what it is like to be an Australian Muslim today.
SBS will also dive headfirst into issues and stories impacting individuals and society with new commissioned titles like Marry Me, Marry My Family; the return of the Untold Australia series and the beloved Who Do You Think You Are? which will reveal the fascinating pasts of Charlie Teo, Natalie Imbruglia, John Jarratt and Ernie Dingo amongst others.
The network continues to the push boundaries of storytelling formats and in 2018 will bring Australia’s first foray into ‘slow TV’ – a format hugely popular in Europe. The Ghan is an immersive three hour television event that invites viewers on a real time journey on this iconic train ride from Adelaide to Darwin.
SBS will remain the leading Australian destination for premium food programming in 2018, reflecting Australia’s multicultural community through the dishes of our home countries, passed down through generations.
Rethink everything you know about Chinese food with Adam Liaw’s Destination Flavour China, take a glorious exploration of seafood with Maeve O’Meara in Food Safari Water, follow Sarah Todd as she tries to open a restaurant in bustling Mumbai in My Restaurant in India season 2. Learn how a young refugee became one of Australia’s most successful chefs in Luke Nguyen’s Food Trail, and kick off the year with Shane Delia’s Recipe for Life, which provides all the inspiration for those New Year’s resolutions.
SBS brings the world’s best drama to all Australians, focusing on big themes and issues that affect Australia and the world today with huge heart, intimacy and human connection. In 2018, Australians will be treated to new seasons of the hugely successful The Handmaid’s Tale, which will be fast tracked from the US on SBS and SBS On Demand, legal drama The Good Fight, and the long awaited Knightfall, an epic exploration of the world of the Knights Templar, and more.
The network also loves some glitter and glamour alongside the drama, celebrating 40 years of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018 with its special coverage, and showcasing Australian talent to the world in the 63rd annual Eurovision Song Contest, this year coming to you live from Lisbon, Portugal, with exclusive backstage and behind the scenes access from returning hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey.
On its one year birthday, youth focused channel SBS VICELAND announced today that SBS and VICE will develop locally produced programs, with the aim to air them across the Australian channel and VICELAND’S 50+ global channels. SBS VICELAND will also bring VICELAND productions from the US, UK, India, France, Belgium, Greece, Latin America and Africa, and fast tracked new seasons of Emmy Award winning programs, including Atlanta and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
Turning two years old, dedicated food entertainment channel Food Network will continue its popular themed months and nights, targeting the diverse interests of all Australians. Flamin’ Fridays BBQ themed nights hosted by Roger Mooking will run from January, just in time for summer, followed Baking Month coming up in February, Travel Month in April, and – if you’re feeling a little guilty – Healthy Food Month throughout May. The channel will also expand on its growing suite of original local content, starting the year with Bondi Harvest, hosted by Guy Turland, which offers healthy life hacks from the best beach in the world.
NITV is the home of Indigenous storytelling, and it’s going from strength to strength in its tenth year, sharing First Nations culture and incredible stories with all Australians.
In 2018 the channel will deliver a mix of entertainment, documentary, sport and news with titles including Wik vs QLD, commemorating the 21st anniversary of the landmark case; Westwind – Djalu’s Legacy, which pairs a Yolngu warrior Djalu Gurruwiwi with global pop star Gotye; Black Divaz which follows the inaugural Miss First Nation Indigenous drag queen pageant in time for Mardi Gras; and Digging Deep which locates the descendants of 11 Indigenous Light Horsemen on ANZAC Day.
SBS is one of Australia’s most trusted new sources, and continues this legacy in 2018 with a new look SBS World News, the increasingly popular forum program Insight, international current affairs program Dateline and business program Small Business Secrets. Younger demo-focused nightly program The Feed will continue to break new ground and Where Are You Really From, hosted by comedian Michael Hing will explore Australia’s multicultural communities living in regional Australia.
In 2018, SBS On Demand will continue to prove it’s far more than a catch up service, offering Australians exclusive content from around the world and curated collections to suit any taste. With 80 per cent of the drama catalogue culturally and linguistically diverse, SBS On Demand will screen incredible new programs from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Thailand, the UK and US – and many more. Australians will be able to get more of what they love and want, available anytime, anywhere in 2018.
SBS IN 2018
NEW AUSTRALIAN COMMISSIONED DRAMA
Safe Harbour
TX: March 2018 on SBS
Award winning actors Joel Jackson, Ewen Leslie and noted actress Phoebe Tonkin star as part of a group of friends who set sail on a yacht, enjoying a sun and surf holiday from Darwin to Indonesia. They spot an overcrowded fishing boat filled with distressed asylum seekers on the horizon and after a heated discussion and vote, the Captain makes the call to tow the boat back to Australia. A violent storm forces them to change course back to Indonesia and they wake the next morning to find the asylum boat gone. It’s not until five years later when one of the friends steps in a taxi driven by one of the refugees that they learn the truth – someone on the yacht cut the rope between the two boats, leaving the asylum seekers in the storm. Also starring Nicole Chamoun, Leeanna Walsman, Hazem Shammas, and Jacqueline McKenzie. Produced by Matchbox Pictures for SBS, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen Queensland.
Dead Lucky
TX: 2018 on SBS
Internationally acclaimed actress Rachel Griffiths plays Detective Sergeant Grace Gibbs, obsessed with catching the armed robber who murdered her junior officer. Her new trainee, Constable Charlie Fung (Yoson An), blames Grace for the death of his best friend. Meanwhile, a share house of international students think they have found paradise. A couple of greedy convenience store owners resort to deadly measures to defend their business. While on the outskirts of the city, a violent fugitive is hiding. Over one week, the paths of these characters collide, leaving two people dead and one missing. Produced by Subtext Pictures for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia and in association with Create NSW.
The Family Law – Final Season (S03)
TX: 2018 on SBS
Benjamin Law’s coming-of-age series The Family Law returns for a third and final season, as the Asian Australian family navigate the world of adult romance and define what it means to become a man. Developed and produced by Matchbox Pictures with major production funding from Screen Australia in association Screen Queensland.
NEW INTERNATIONAL DRAMA
Knightfall
TX: February 2018 on SBS
From the creative minds of Don Handfield and Richard Rayner, Knightfall chronicles the mysterious but true accounts of the Knights Templar, the elite warriors of the Crusades. It delves into the great secrets protected by the Templars and tells the story of faith, loyalty and brotherhood that help sustain these warriors on the battlefield, and the dark events that would forever sear the infamous date of Friday the 13th into the world’s psyche.
Mars
TX: January 2018 on SBS
Mars is an epic and gripping new series that is destined to spark imaginations worldwide. Set in both the present day and future, the series tells the incredible story of the first manned mission to Mars in 2033, making life on the red planet an exciting and real prospect. Executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.
INTERNATIONAL DRAMA RETURNING TO SBS
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 2
TX: 2018 on SBS
Based on Margaret Atwood’s award winning novel, the second season of US dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale will be fast-tracked to SBS and SBS On Demand. Last season’s heart racing final saw a pregnant Offred (Elisabeth Moss) escorted out of the Waterford house by the guardians. The series received five wins at the 2017 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series.
ALSO RETURNING IN 2018
Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald joins Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo and Rose Leslie in the second season of critically acclaimed legal drama The Good Fight. Everyone’s favourite Nordic warriors return in 2018 with season 5 and 6 of the hugely popular Vikings. To appease the inner detective in all of us, a new missing person’s case with a curious twist will be explored in season 2 of The Missing, Nordic Noir crime-drama The Bridge will return for a fourth and final season and the gruff Canadian detective returns to right past wrongs in season 2 of Cardinal.
NEW AUSTRALIAN COMMISSIONED DOCUMENTARIES
Muslims Like Us
TX: February 2018 on SBS
Ten Australian Muslims with contrasting world views move into a house together for eight days. Their passionate debates, honest disagreements, humour and insights reveal what it’s like to be an Australian Muslim today. Produced by CJZ for SBS.
Marry Me, Marry My Family
TX: January 2018 on SBS
A third of all weddings in Australia involve a blend of different religions, traditions and cultures. This SBS original series follows diverse sets of couples as they try to bridge the gap between their cultures and balance their families’ expectations with their own dreams. Marry Me, Marry My Family is produced by CJZ with production funding from Screen Australia.
The Ghan
TX: January 2018 on SBS
The Ghan is Australia’s first foray into the ‘slow TV’ movement – an immersive style of television, originating from Europe, which invites the viewer on a real time journey. This innovative program takes viewers aboard Australia’s most iconic passenger train trip from Adelaide to Darwin. Three hours, no commercials, no interruptions, just the tracks beneath and stunning scenery through the heart of Australia while exploring the foundations of modern multicultural Australia. Produced by Mint Pictures for SBS.
Go Back Live
TX: 2018 on SBS
The most awarded Australian documentary series of all time Go Back to Where You Came From returns. Season four, named Go Back Live, will be one of the most ambitious live television events in Australian broadcasting history and will dig deeper into the asylum seeker and refugee debate with a sense of palpable urgency. Over three nights, SBS will use the latest technology to give a snapshot of the global refugee crisis by presenting stories from the front line, as they happen in real time. Produced by CJZ for SBS.
MORE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSIONED DOCUMENTARIES
In 2018, Filthy Rich and Homeless will return for a second series, this time set in a new city and will raise the bar higher by tackling the policies and potential solutions to a crisis that shows little sign of improving. FRH is produced by Blackfella Films with production funding from Screen Australia. Following on from Is Australia Racist, Is Australia Sexist will explore an issue dominating global headlines. This will be crucial viewing that will contribute to the national debate. Is Australia Sexist? Is produced by Joined Up Films with production funding from Screen Australia and Screenwest.
The Untold Australia series continues in 2018, highlighting the oft-unheard multicultural stories from rural rabbis to Lebanese beauty pageants. The Untold Australia series is commissioned by SBS with production funding from Screen Australia, and includes Mirrabooka, produced by Periscope Pictures with major production funding from Screen Australia and Screenwest; Miss Lebanon, produced by IKANDY Films with major production funding from Screen Australia; RARA Rabbis, produced by Unicorn Films with major production funding from Screen Australia in association with Film Victoria; and The Cocos Question, produced by Chemical Media with major production funding from Screen Australia.
Who Do You Think You Are? returns to reveal the fascinating pasts of Charlie Teo, Natalie Imbruglia, John Jarratt and Ernie Dingo to name a few. Produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia for SBS. Documentary special Vitamania will explore the science and history of the $100 billion a year supplements industry. Produced by Genepool.
NEW INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARIES
Origins: The Journey of Humankind
TX: 2018 on SBS
This time-travelling adventure series journeys back in time and delves deep across the entire sweep of human history, pinpointing pivotal moments and innovations that have fueled our evolutionary ascension.
Elizabeth
TX: 2018 on SBS
An insightful new series that provides a definitive history of Britain’s longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Home Planet Season TX: 2018 on SBS A slate of exciting documentaries including Man Made Planet, Space Volcanos and Engineering Space take us on an interstellar tour of the solar system, and Earth’s place in it.
MORE DOCUMENTARIES ON SBS
Users Guide to Cheating Death lets us know which products, diets and regiments can make you live longer. Simon Reeve in Russia sees the British adventurer journey to Russia and explores what the country is like, 100 years after its historical revolution. Michael Portillo returns to discover the world’s sights and stories, one stop at a time in a new season of Great Railway Journeys.
ENTERTAINMENT
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
TX: March 2018 on SBS
2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. SBS will celebrate this important global milestone by supercharging it’s coverage to reflect 40 years of protest and parties, in a colourful, action packed show broadcast from the glitter filled streets of Sydney into lounge rooms across Australia. Produced by Blink TV for SBS.
Eurovision 2018
TX: May 2018 on SBS
Olà, Portugal! Following the success of three top 10 finishes, Australia will take the stage in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest for a fourth time. SBS will once again bring the nation full coverage of the world’s biggest song competition, with exclusive backstage and behind the scene access from returning hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey. Produced by Blink TV for SBS
NEW AUSTRALIAN COMMISSIONED FOOD SHOWS
Destination Flavour China
TX: 2018 on SBS
Adam Liaw takes us on a journey of discovery and introduces us to the ancient and breathtakingly diverse culinary traditions of China. Travelling by train, Adam sees a side of China rarely revealed to outsiders. From the fiery cuisine and snow-dusted mountaintops in Sichuan, to Hainan Island’s tropical flavours and palm-lined beaches, Adam bears witness to the rapid change that’s shaking up the food culture of China. SBS Production.
Shane Delia’s Recipe for Life
TX: January 2018 on SBS
Follow the busy life of celebrity chef and family man, Shane Delia, as he oversees his acclaimed restaurant Maha, beds down his fledgling high-end kebab chain Biggie Smalls, and launches a new food truck, all while catering for some of Melbourne’s most high-profile events. Shane continues his role as ambassador for the Sons of the West men’s health program and is keen to take his passion for nutrition into schools – all while raising two kids in a healthy and loving environment with the love of his life, wife Maha. Produced by Essential Media for SBS.
Food Safari Water
TX: 2018 on SBS
Maeve O’Meara is making waves in 2018 with Food Safari Water, a glorious exploration of seafood across the many cuisines and cultures of the world on our doorstep. From ancient Greece, Egypt and medieval days to modern times, seafood from salt and fresh water is increasingly sought out for taste and health reasons. We introduce some of Australia’s top chefs who have become masters of getting the most out of seafood – whether raw or cooked – plus some home cooks from across many cuisines. Produced by Kismet Productions for SBS.
MORE FOOD IN 2018
Peter Kuruvita, Sarah Todd and Luke Nguyen will all return to SBS in 2018. Having recently explored the fresh local produce surrounding his home in Noosa, chef and restaurateur Peter Kuruvita decides it’s time to discover some of Western Australia’s most loved food destinations in season two of Peter Kuruvita’s Coastal Kitchen, produced by The Precinct. Model, mother and master chef Sarah Todd returns to India for season 2 of My Restaurant in India, produced by h.squared, this time, setting up shop in the magnetic mega-city of Mumbai. In Luke Nguyen’s Food Trail, produced by Creative Media, we learn how a young refugee became one of Australia’s most successful chefs and restaurateurs. Born in Vietnam, raised in Cabramatta and now living between Saigon, Sydney and Hong Kong, Luke takes us on a culinary tour of his home towns.
SPORT 2018
FIFA World Cup
TX: June 2018
In a true celebration of multiculturalism and unity, SBS remains the home of football with Lucy Zelic and Craig Foster covering all the action from the ground in Russia. SBS will offer 25 premium games live, free and in HD, including semifinals and finals, and all Socceroos* matches.
*Socceroos qualifier on Wednesday 15 November
MORE FOOTBALL
Live coverage of the Premier League continues in 2018 with one live match each week across SBS and SBS HD, along with weekly highlights on The World Game, Mondays at 11pm. SBS has been the proud broadcast partner of the UEFA Champions League since its inception in 1992, and in 2018 will continue to show one live match on Wednesdays, followed by a weekly highlights show on Thursday nights that covers all the matches from every round.
CYCLING
SBS continues to bring Australians all the action from the biggest races on the international cycling calendar. The Tour de France returns with all stages live on TV and online, as well as grand tour La Vuelta a España, cycling classic Paris-Roubaix and others from the European season.
TENNIS
SBS adds a second tennis Grand Slam to its slate of premium international sport, securing the exclusive free-to-air rights to the French Open for the first time. Live from Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, SBS will follow the action every day throughout the 2018 tournament, beginning in late May, as the world’s best male and female tennis players battle it out on clay courts. From the Quarter Finals stage through to the men’s and women’s Final, SBS will air the most thrilling tennis matches of the 2018 US Open. Played on hard courts in Queens, New York, the US Open is the final of the four annual tennis Grand Slams, wrapping up the year for the major tournaments.
NBL
SBS’s live coverage of Australia’s refreshed and booming domestic basketball league continues next year throughout the 2017/2018 season. SBS broadcasts two live games from each round in HD, with live streaming and catch up on SBS On Demand.
NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS
Where Are You Really From?
TX: 2018
Hosted by The Feed’s Michael Hing in his unique comedic style, Where Are You Really From? uncovers the diverse multicultural communities living in regional Australia.
RETURNING NEWS IN 2018
SBS’s flagship news programs, SBS World News, Insight and Dateline return in 2018, exploring a gamut of current and often unheard issues that affect the world we live in.
SBS VICELAND IN 2018
Atlanta Season 2
TX: 2018 on SBS VICELAND
Emmy and Golden Globe winning series Atlanta will be fast-tracked to SBS VICELAND for a highly anticipated second season. Created, co-written and produced by lauded musician and actor Donald Glover (also known by stage name Childish Gambino), the series follows the lives of Earn Marks (played by Glover), a young Princeton dropout with a two-year-old daughter, and his rapper cousin Alfred ‘Paper Boi’ Miles (Brian Tyree Henry) as they attempt to break into Atlanta’s music industry and improve their lives and that of their families.
The Girlfriend Experience
TX: January 2018 on SBS VICELAND
Christine Reade is a second year student at Chicago-Burnham Law School and new intern at a prestigious firm. Working hard to establish herself, her focus quickly shifts when a law school friend introduces her to the world of transactional relationships. Known as GFEs, they are women who provide “The Girlfriend Experience” — emotional and sexual relationships at a very high price. Juggling two very different lives, Christine quickly finds herself entangled in an ever-broadening web of intrigue and betrayal.
Slutever
TX: January 2018 on SBS VICELAND
Sex and relationship columnist Karley Sciortine goes on a series of adventures where she demystifies modern sexuality and challenges outdated ideas about sexuality, gender, identity and love.
Dumps
TX: March 2018 on SBS VICELAND
It’s a series for anyone who has ever viewed an apartment where the kitchen was a hotplate on a dresser, and the shower was a sink at the end of the bed. It’s the bad and the very ugly of the rental market.
The Wrestlers
TX: April 2018 on SBS VICELAND
SBS VICELAND explores the enduring global popularity of the world’s oldest combat sport — Wrestling. From the US to Mexico, Japan and beyond, the series explores how these rehearsed, violent soap-operas have continued to thrive and bring so many people together.
SPORT ON SBS VICELAND
SBS VICELAND will showcase world class women’s sport with the broadcast of W-League and Matildas matches live, free and in HD to all Australians, and be transported into the world of competitive gaming with Arena Esports.
RETURNING TO SBS VICELAND IN 2018
SBS’s award-winning news and current affairs program The Feed returns to SBS VICELAND, bringing young Australians a unique mix of news, satire, live interviews and in-depth investigative reporting every night at 7.30pm. PopAsia is Australia’s number one stop for Asian pop. Hosted by Andy Trieu, the show features the hottest hits from across Asia including the very best K-Pop, J-Pop and C-pop every Sunday morning. Worldwide cultural phenomenon If You Are the One returns to SBS VICELAND in 2018. Critically acclaimed news comedy program Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and cult comedy South Park will be fast-tracked to SBS VICELAND in 2018. Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia and Hate Thy Neighbour will return for a second season, alongside a plethora of the world’s best cult, arthouse and foreign films.
SBS ON DEMAND IN 2018
Homecoming Queens – New Australian Commission
TX: 2018 on SBS On Demand
From the brilliant minds of co-writers and co-creators Michelle Law and Chloë Reeson comes the semiautobiographical dramedy Homecoming Queens. After chronic illnesses overturn their expectations of life and youth, twenty-something best friends Michelle and Chloë reinvent themselves, changing their friendship and their futures. Law stars in the series as Michelle, while Liv Hewson (Top of the Lake: China Girl) plays Chloë. The SBS On Demand original online series will be available as a 60 minute special and 7 x 8 minute episodes in 2018. Produced by Generator Pictures for SBS On Demand with funding from Screen Australia in association with Screen Queensland and Film Victoria.
Monster
TX: January 2018 on SBS On Demand
Starring SBS On Demand favourite Jakob Oftebro (Lilyhammer, The Bridge, 1864: Denmark’s War, Young & Promising), Monster is a Scandi-noir which will chill viewers to the bone. In a small town in northern Norway, a young girl goes missing and her boyfriend turns up dead. Police inspector Hedda Hersoug (Ingvild Holthe Bygdnes) is forced to work with hotshot detective Joel Dreyer (Oftebro) to hunt down a serial killer. With the investigation falling apart, and both detectives butting heads, they resort to extreme measures to stay on the case and keep their personal secrets from coming to light. (Norway)
Chance Season 2
TX: January 2018 on SBS On Demand
Actor Hugh Laurie is joined by Paul Schneider for the second season of Chance, which premieres exclusively on SBS On Demand in Australia. In the second season, San Francisco-residing forensic neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Eldon Chance (Laurie), is blackmailed by Detective Hynes (Brian Goodman) to investigate a tech multimillionaire Ryan Winter (Schneider), whom Hynes believes to be a serial killer. Upon analysing Winter, Chance comes to a horrifying realisation that the two of them are more similar than he thought. (United States)
Transfer
TX: February 2018 on SBS On Demand
Set in the near future, the drama follows Florian Bassot, an ordinary man who accidentally drowns when out boating with his family. Five years later, he awakens to find that scientists have transferred his mind into the body of another man. Florian has to hide his identity, inhabiting the body of Sylvain Bernard (Arieh Worthalter), who just happens to be one of the highest-ranking officers of B.A.T.I., the anti-transfers taskforce. Desperate to reconnect with his family, Florian is forced to live the life of a fugitive in a world he no longer recognises or understands. Transfer won Best French Series and Best Actor at the Séries Mania Festival. (France)
Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves
TX: February 2018 on SBS On Demand
This powerful Swedish drama explores love in the shadow of AIDS. Benjamin is a Jehovah’s Witness, eagerly spreading the word of God from door to door. Nothing can shake his faith, until he knocks on Paul’s door. Written by renowned Swedish author Jonas Gardell after his bestselling series of books with the same title, the series won the Audience Award at the Séries Mania Festival. (Sweden)
MORE ON SBS ON DEMAND IN 2018
Berlin Station follows CIA agent Daniel Miller (Richard Armitage), who has just arrived at the CIA station in Berlin, Germany. Miller has a clandestine mission: to uncover the source of a leak who has supplied information to a whistle-blower. Ride Upon the Storm, a Danish drama created by Adam Price and starring Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards), follows a family of priests and how faith and religion affect their familial relationships. Acclaimed Swedish crime drama Modus sees actress Kim Cattrall join the cast for a second season.
FOOD NETWORK IN 2018
Bondi Harvest – New Local Production
TX: January 2018 on Food Network
Chef and author Guy Turland brings good food and healthy life hacks from the best beach in the world in Bondi Harvest. In a celebration of fresh, healthy food that puts flavour first, Guy creates accessible, easy recipes that you’ll want to cook and eat at home. Produced by Bondi Harvest for SBS’s Food Network.
Man Fire Food Season 6
TX: January 2018 on Food Network
Roger Mooking is back on Food Network from January, headlining Flamin’ Fridays. Man Fire Food features the inventive ways Americans cook with fire. From small campfires to creative custom-made grills and smokers, Roger visits home cooks, pit masters and chefs who are fascinated by fire and food.
Baking Month
TX: February 2018 on Food Network
While there are plenty of masterful cake makers out there, only few have the skills to win Cake Wars. Jonathan Bennett hosts this gruelling competition where four expert bakers go toe-to-toe to see whose mindblowing cake creation will earn them a $10,000 prize. Can a talented home baker outcook a professional? A blind taste test will determine whose dish is the best in Bakers vs. Fakers. Duff Goldman, Lorraine Pascale and Nancy Fuller return to judge a new season of Spring Baking Championship. From family picnics to birthday parties and weddings, the bakers will prove their abilities at baking superb springtime treats.
Travel Month
TX: April 2018 on Food Network
Celebrity chef Rinrin and Tobie Puttock explore diverse cultures and traditions in season 1 and 2 of Wonderful Indonesia Flavours. From the island of Lombok to Jakarta city, Rinrin and Tobie will uncover the country’s regional cuisines, indigenous cultures and foreign influences. Bad boy chef and best-selling author Anthony Bourdain hits both familiar culinary hotspots and out-of-the-way gems in his global quest for the ultimate dining experience in No Reservations. Follow Irish cook and food blogger Donal Skehan as he travels through Europe, meeting fellow bloggers in each country. They’ll have 48 hours to take him on a whistle-stop tour, uncovering hidden gems along the way. Also, Rick Stein is back, exploring Spain and the Far East in an epic culinary journey.
Healthy Food Month
TX: May 2018 on Food Network
Food Network is the place to jumpstart that health-kick. Rachel Ray has all the right recipes for the time poor in 30 Minute Meals, Bobby and Nikki will let you know how you can make a healthier version of all your favourite meals in Junk Food Flip and professional chef and cookbook author Marcela Valladolid inspires with her fresh take on Mexican food with simple and authentic recipes in Mexican Made Easy
NITV IN 2018
Grace Beside Me – NITV First Drama Commission
TX: February 2018 on NITV
Fuzzy Mac’s life is turned upside down on her 13th birthday, when she discovers she can communicate with spirits! It’s hard enough navigating the highs and lows of becoming a teenager while living with your eccentric Nan and Pop. Throw in a host of needy spirits, mischievous totems and spooky ancestors, and you have a recipe for a whole bunch of trouble. Combining whimsy, adventure, comedy and drama, the series takes audiences on an emotional roller coaster ride, following Fuzzy, as she learns to accept her gift and understand the meaning of ‘grace’. Grace Beside Me is a Magpie Pictures production, produced with support from NITV, ABC, Disney, ACTF, Screen Australia, Screen Queensland and Create NSW, 9 Stories Distribution.
Wik vs Queensland
TX: June 2018 on NITV
On December 23, 1996, the High Court of Australia granted native title to the Wik People in the landmark case Wik Peoples vs The State of Queensland. The documentary will explore the power plays, racism and fear mongering in the lead up to the High Court’s decision and the dramatic political manoeuvring that occurred in the aftermath. This film will celebrate the 21st Anniversary of that fateful day when Wik won the battle but the lost the war. Wik vs Queensland is a Bacon Factory Films, Bent3Land Productions and Freshwater Productions film, produced in association with Screen Queensland, Screen Australia and NITV.
Black Divaz
TX: March 2018 on NITV
Black Divaz goes beyond the make-up, the glue guns and the glamour of drag to reveal the complexities of a world that is often seen as camp entertainment. For many gay, transgender, sistergirls and gender diverse members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the fight for understanding, visibility and equality is sometimes just as difficult within their own communities, as it is in the mainstream Australian community. In 2017, Black Drag Queens from around Australia embarked on a quest to be crowned the Inaugural Miss First Nations Drag Queen. Immersed in the private lives of four fierce, sassy and black contestants alongside the pageant’s drag hosts, Black Divaz will reveal the people behind the Drag personas. Souls will be bared and connections made as one Black Queen makes history in being crowned the first Miss First Nation. Black Divaz is a Pursekey Productions documentary produced in association with NITV, Screen Australia and Create NSW.
Going Places with Ernie Dingo
TX: July 2018 on NITV
Ernie is back and he’s at it again! Australia’s loveable rouge Ernie Dingo returns to the small screen in the second season of Going Places with Ernie Dingo. This time he’s going to even more destinations, meeting more everyday Aussies doing their thing and sharing their story. Produced by NITV.
Westwind: Djalu’s Legacy
TX: 2018 on NITV
Djalu’s Legacy tells the story of Djalu Gurruwiwi, an aging elder who is running out of time to pass on the Yidaki Songlines entrusted to him for the future of his people. He fears that his sons and community, struggling to come to terms with the consequences of colonisation, are lost. When Djalu breaks with his 60,000 year long tradition to try and save it, world famous musician Gotye becomes an unexpected assistant, helping to heal Djalu’s sons and amplify his songs to the world. Westwind: Djalu’s Legacy was developed and produced by Johnny & Kate Films and Madman Production Company, with development assistance from Film Victoria. Production was supported by Screen Australia, Melbourne International Film Festival Premier Fund, Screen Territory, NITV and Film Victoria. Production funds were also received through Documentary Australia Foundation as well as by way of additional crowd funding.
The Song Keepers
TX: 2018 on NITV
The Song Keepers tells the story of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir as they preserve ancient Aboriginal language, sacred poetry and baroque music. With the help of their charismatic conductor, the choir embarks on a historic journey taking the hymns that were given to their great grandparents by German missionaries, now sung in their own Aboriginal languages, back to Germany. Together they share their music and stories of cultural survival, identity and cross-cultural collaboration. The Song Keepers was produced by Brindle Films in association with Indigo Films, Screen Australia, the Melbourne International Premiere Film Fund, Film Victoria, Screen Territory and NITV.
RETURNING TO NITV IN 2018
In 2018 the Rule family will return to screens, with Family Rules Season 2, focussing on the lives of mother, Daniella and the younger and middle Rule sisters, Hannah, Jessica, Aleisha, Sharna, Kelly and Kiara, while elder sister Shenika is the foil to their endless exploits. Family Rules is an up close and personal observational documentary series giving an exclusive insight into modern Indigenous family life. Family Rules is developed by Metamorflix and Karla Hart Enterprises, with support from NITV, Screen Australia, Screenwest and Lotterywest.
NITV’s biggest audience driver, the Marngrook Football Show is back for its 11th year. Again hosted by Grant Hansen and Gilbert McAdam and presented by Leila Gurruwiwi and Shelley Ware, the program will combine the latest footy news, all-star interviews and in-depth analysis, with a unique spotlight on the Indigenous contribution to AFL. Also in football news, NITV’s NRL football show, Over the Black Dot, will welcome back hosts George Rose, Owen Craigie and Djuro Sen for a second season with the show focusing on all levels of rugby league, with the core story driver being the national rugby league.
Australia’s longest running Indigenous current affairs program, Living Black will return to NITV for its 25th season in 2018 with a six-part series hosted by Karla Grant. Karla will also host NITV’s current affairs program The Point which is back for its third season. Its lineup of presenters will provide a daily wrap up of the stories and issues that matter to First Australians.
