SBS launch new digital station

SBS3 will be a new digital station launching in April.

SBS recently undertook a review of all their radio programming and will be increasing the number of languages from 68 to 74 in the first change to its schedule in 18 years.

New languages introduced will include Malayalam, which is spoken in southern India, Dinka (South Sudan), Hmong (South East Asia), Pashto (Afghanistan and Pakistan), Swahili (East Africa) and Tigrinya (Eritrea and Ethiopia).

Broadcast hours will also be increased for Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi and Punjabi.

Due to the extra languages needing to be included on the roster, SBS will reduce broadcast hours for some on the analogue service or may move them to SBS3, which will broadcast 21 different languages.

Mandi Wicks, SBS director of audio and language content, says:

"The revised schedule will enable SBS to better deliver on its charter obligations by better servicing the largest communities with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and offering more services to emerging high-needs communities."

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