SBS confirms plans to launch dedicated 24-7 news channel in 2022

SBS has confirmed it will expand its free-to-air broadcast line-up with the launch of a new channel in 2022

The new broadcast channel, WorldWatch will premiere early next year and will provide Australian TV viewers access to a 24hr feed of news bulletins selected from around the world.

As part of the launch of the new channel, SBS will commence producing two new local 30-minute weekday news bulletins in the Arabic and Mandarin languages.

WorldWatch news programming has been a key feature of the SBS daytime line-up since 1993. The decision to move this content to a dedicated channel will enable the broadcaster to deliver news content on over 30 languages with a fixed schedule that will no longer be interrupted by the broadcaster’s sports commitments.

Confirming the new channel, SBS Managing Director James Taylor told SMH:

“Since it was established, SBS has been providing opportunities for Australians to connect with news, information and entertainment in their preferred language,”

“The launch of a free-to-air multilingual news channel, along with the creation of new TV news bulletins in Arabic and Mandarin tailored to the needs of these communities in Australia, demonstrates our commitment to the core, critical and unparalleled services that SBS provides.”

SBS already broadcasters five free-to-air channels; SBS, SBS Viceland, NITV, SBS Food and SBS World Movies.

The multi-cultural broadcaster was the first in Australia to utilise the Mpeg4 broadcast format. A move that has enabled it to provide more services on its spectrum, including three high-definition channels.

Source – SMH