Margaret rates SBS a dud

It’s lucky SBS programming isn’t a film, otherwise longtime SBS personality Margaret Pomeranz would be likely to give it about two stars. Pomeranz has criticized SBS Management for pursuing a line led by commercialisation, accusing it of sacrificing its once-former glory.

Pomeranz left SBS along with her co-host David Stratton for the ABC in 2004, citing problems with its “new direction.”

Her comments follow the public exit of newsreader Mary Kostakidis last week and a recent shift towards advertisements during programmes, including World News Australia.

“You could perhaps justify the changes if they proved more relevant to more Australians,” she told Crikey. “But the reverse has been the case. SBS news was respected, valued and watched. In its new, more commercial incarnation it is actually less watched.”

Pomeranz retains some hope for the independent branch of SBSi, but fears the network is being primed for future sale.

“If you move away from the reasons that SBS was established in the first place, if it loses its distinctive identity, why should Government be called upon to fund it?”

Would David disagree?