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SBS suspends studio audiences, visitors, travel.

How has SBS been faring amid the current crisis?

While much news has surrounded Seven, Nine, 10 and ABC responses to COVID-19, how has SBS been faring?

The broadcaster has suspended also suspended studio audiences, but Insight is continuing.

Last week Eurovision was confirmed as not proceeding, by the European Broadcasting Union.

Here are the other changes recently implemented by the multicultural broadcaster.

Current measures include:

  • Implementation of flexible working where possible, including supporting employees through necessary technological support;
  • Suspension of non-business critical internal and external meetings and all events and visitors at SBS offices;
  • Suspension of audiences for all studio recordings;
  • Suspension of non-essential domestic and international employee travel;
  • Implementation of ‘social distancing’ in the workplace measures to minimise risk for employees working in business-critical roles;
  • ‘Pooling’ news resources with other Australian broadcasters where appropriate.

“SBS plays an essential role to keep Australians informed, and as we navigate the evolving COVID-19 situation, we are focused on ensuring communities have access to accurate and up-to-date information through our trusted news and radio services,” a spokesperson said.

“Across the network, and like broadcasters across the world, we are assessing the potential impacts to our programming and productions as a result of these unfolding and unprecedented circumstances, and will continue to make adjustments as required.

“As an organisation, we have implemented significant preventative measures to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of employees, whilst simultaneously ensuring that we have the required systems and assurances to continue providing television, radio and digital services to the audiences who need this information more than ever.”

Update: SBS World News relocates after positive test

4 Responses

  1. I was thinking about this the other day. Going forward the government will need to cut costs. Is 2 national broadcasters essential? Couldn’t we simply have an ABC foreign language channel to show foreign news etc? Popular SBS programs like Who Do You Think You Are? could also move to the ABC. Currently some SBS primetime programs barely rate 200k and many don’t exactly fit into it’s stated purpose either.

  2. They are still muddling over le tour de france…..surely if the Olympics in July have been put off….this must be also….I dont know why the organisers are not taking action now….The contagion is very unlikely to be resolved in 3 months.

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