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SBS to close sales division, SBS International.

SBS will close its small international sales department as it moves to external agents to sell titles to the world.

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SBS is to close its sales division SBS International.

The small department, headed by Head of Program Sales Lara von Ahlefedlt, sells SBS content at international trade markets such as MIPCOM in Cannes.

Head of Group Communications Jessica Harris told TV Tonight, “SBS is continuously working hard to ensure it maximises the value of its modest resources on programs and services which deliver on our Charter in an increasingly digital environment for media consumption.

“SBS has enjoyed great success in selling content rights in international markets for our big programs such as Go Back To Where You Came From and Luke Nguyen’s series’, and there continues to be opportunities to sell rights abroad,” she said.

“However, we have identified that it will be more effective to utilise external sales agents with specific expertise in our focus areas and proximity to global markets.”

Industry sources told TV Tonight that at big trade events such as MIPCOM, smaller public broadcasters such as SBS and ABC were up against big internationals, and noted that distributors such as Red Arrow and DCD International had strong success in selling Australian titles through far-reaching deals.

SBS confirmed a small number of redundancies to its International Program Sales team, which also comprises Sales Manager Joyce Smith and Sales & Marketing exec Charlotte Hitchens.

Yesterday SBS announced VICELAND content would be coming to its SBS 2 spectrum and SBS On Demand, alongside locally-produced titles.

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