2023 Upfronts: SBS

• Three Aussie prime-time dramas: Safe Home, dramedy While the Men Are Away and anthology Erotic Stories.
• Survival series Alone filmed in Tasmanian wilderness
• New docos featuring Julia Zemiro, Jess Hill, John Safran, Cal Wilson.
• Who Do You Think You Are with Barry Humphries, Rhonda Birchmore, Derryn Hinch.
• International drama: Rogue Heroes, The Doll Factory, Django, Wolf.
• Returning: Every Family Has a Secret, Mastermind.

In 2023, for the first time ever, SBS will deliver three original prime-time dramas, Safe Home starring Mabel Li & Virginia Gay, anthology Erotic Stories and dramedy While the Men Are Away.

SBS unveiled their 2023 programming highlights to advertisers at a lunch time event at The Cutting, Barangaroo, today.

Amongst the highlights are survival series Alone filmed in the Tasmanian wilderness with a $250,000 prize; consent documentary Asking For It, The Big School Swap filmed in Brisbane; cultural dating series The Matchmakers; John Safran, Cal Wilson, and Adam Liaw in Who The Bloody Hell Are We?; Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro and Inside Sydney Airport (working title).

NITV also marks 10 years as part of SBS, The Cook Up with Adam Liaw is back for 2 seasons, new shows with Luke Nguyen, Khanh Ong and Poh Ling Yeow, there’s a new output deal with Nordic distributor BETA Film & Viaplay Group, and additional news bulletins for SBS World Watch -more on those soon.

“The Australia you see when you walk out your door each morning is what you see in everything we do at SBS. Contemporary Australia shines through our storytelling, and through our storytellers. Our content offer is an open invitation to all Australians to feel a sense of belonging and over the year ahead, we’ll deliver more original local content across our network than ever before,” said James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS.

“SBS is the media network for the Australia of today – and tomorrow – continuing to innovate our services for a rapidly evolving population. No other network connects with Australians like we do, and we’re proud to be reaching more people than ever before with a unique content offering, the best digital user experience as rated by audiences, and a compelling commercial proposition that positions brands in a trusted and safe environment.”

SBS Director of Television and Online Content, Kathryn Fink said: “2023 is set to be a bumper year across the network, with a record number of SBS Original dramas and documentaries that will entertain, inspire, and break new ground. And before we get there, we’ve got all 64 matches of the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 live and free to all Australians.

“SBS invests in award-winning content that speaks to who we are as a nation and can have real, meaningful impact. We’re also proud to be driving change and supporting a future for our industry where everyone belongs. We want the stories we see on screen – not just on SBS – to truly represent Australia, and we invest in more than a dozen initiatives that break down barriers and support career pathways and progression for the storytellers that will lift our entire sector to new heights.”

But SBS is yet to confirm Eurovision: Australia Decides for early 2023, leaving it unclear if the nation will choose the act or SBS as host broadcaster will.

New:

Drama:

Safe Home
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
Safe Home is a thriller full of twists and turns. It is a story of a young woman – Phoebe – who leaves a successful job to work at a family violence legal centre, but finds her life turned upside down when she gets entwined in a brutal murder. As interconnecting stories unfold, relationships are tested and Phoebe must navigate a path that isn’t always clear, and people and events that aren’t always as they appear. The Bold Type’s Aisha Dee leads an exceptional cast including recent Logie-nominee Mabel Li (New Gold Mountain, The Tailings), Virginia Gay (Judy & Punch, Winners and Losers), Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age, Red Dog) and Antonia Prebble (Westside, Outrageous Fortune). From the award-winning producer behind Offspring, Puberty Blues and RFDS, this is Imogen Banks’ first series under her new production company Kindling Pictures. Directed by 2021 AACTA awardwinning director Stevie Cruz-Martin (The Tailings, Pulse) and created by acclaimed playwright Anna Barnes, Safe Home was inspired by Anna’s time working at a family legal centre in Melbourne. The series is written by Anna alongside Michelle Law, Jean Tong and co-produced by Emelyne Palmer. Safe Home is a Kindling Pictures production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and financed with support from VicScreen. Banijay are managing international sales.

While the Men Are Away
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 8 x 30 mins
While the Men Are Away is a queer, revisionist historical dramedy set in 1940’s rural Australia. It is a fun, sexy story, full of heart and adventure; a story of a group of misfits finding their power while the men are fighting in WW II. The story centres around two Women’s Land Army recruits who arrive from Sydney to the country and undergo a heady course in race relations, rural politics, spirituality, sex, personal growth – oh, and farming. While the Men Are Away is created by Alexandra Burke (Sissy), Kim Wilson (Wentworth) and Monica Zanetti (Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)), and written by Wilson, Zanetti, Magda Wozniak (Bad Behaviour), Enoch Mailangi (All My Friends Are Racist) and Sam Icklow (The Moth). It is produced by Lisa Shaunessy of Arcadia, whose feature Sissy premiered at SXSW Film Festival this year and it is the companies first television series, following years of successful feature films. While the Men Are Away is an Arcadia production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and financed with support from Screen NSW. Red Arrow Studios International are managing international sales.

Erotic Stories
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 8 x 30 mins
Erotic Stories is an anthology of contemporary tales about lust, desire, and longing, but with an SBS twist. Each story explores desire from a different character perspective and spotlights diverse experiences of sex and intimacy across age, sexuality, race, gender and disability. Sexy, warm hearted and erotic these are moving stories that say something real and relatable about modernity, connection, sex and desire. Erotic Stories is a Lingo Pictures production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. ITV are managing international sales.

Documentary:

Alone
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 11 x 1hr
Alone is a smash hit around the world. Now it is coming to SBS, for a new Australian series. In this unique survival series, participants compete against others but more profoundly, they compete against themselves. There is no crew, no producers, just survival. Alone Australia will see 10 Australians with survival skills dropped off, alone, into separate parts of the Tasmanian wilderness, where they’ll be challenged by the merciless forces of nature, hunger, and the perhaps the toughest challenge of all: loneliness. The goal is to survive alone for as long as possible with a limited amount of survival equipment but can leave or ‘tap out’ at any time they wish. The survivalist who lasts the longest wins $250,000. Alone Australia is an ITV Studios Australia production for SBS.

Asking For It (previously Yes. No. Maybe)
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
In 2021 investigative journalist Jess Hill and the team from Northern Pictures journeyed into Australian homes to explore a national crisis, domestic abuse, with See What You Made Me Do. In the bold, new, thesis driven series, Asking For It, Jess will use first-person testimony to explore the status of consent in Australia, following an explosive year of this issue in the headlines. Asking For It is a Northern Pictures production for SBS. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS.

The Big School Swap
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
In a bold, trailblazing social experiment, six students from one of Australia’s biggest Islamic schools embark upon a school swap with six other students from mainstream high schools in Brisbane. The hope is that it will bridge cross-cultural divides in Australia and help students to thrive beyond the school gates. If successful, it could be rolled out across the whole country. But the stakes are high, with complex hot button topics, pushback, and anxiety from within the school and community, and many chances for it to go very wrong. The Big School Swap is a Southern Pictures production for SBS. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and financed with support from Screen Queensland.

The Matchmakers
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
In today’s dating world of dating apps and social media, we enter the world of matchmakers who, for many cultures, is the preferred way to find the right partner. This three-part observational documentary series dives into the unique and private world of old traditions, religion, family values and culture through matchmaking. It’s a universal quest for love and marriage in contemporary Australia. Is there such a thing as love at first sight? What does ‘happily ever after’ mean? And what’s love got to do with it? The Matchmakers is a BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand production for SBS. Principal production investment from Screen NSW in association with SBS.

Who The Bloody Hell Are We?
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
In this playful, surprising and revelatory series, three presenters uncover the rich, overlooked history of Australia. John Safran, Cal Wilson, and Adam Liaw set the record straight by exploring the impact of Jewish, Kiwi, and Chinese immigration. In doing so, they write back into our history books the vanished, banished and demonised, to help us discover a fuller picture of ourselves and better understand ‘Who The Bloody Hell Are We?’ This series is a Chemical Media production for SBS. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and financed with support from VicScreen.

Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 10 x 1hr
A visually spectacular 10-part series presented by Julia Zemiro, transporting viewers across our Great Southern Land by foot in an entertaining waltz through history, geography, science, travel, and culture. Julia meets ordinary and extraordinary Australians who reveal surprising and littleknown stories along each stunning journey. Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro is a Mint Pictures production for SBS.

Inside Sydney Airport (Working Title)
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 10 x 1hr
This SBS Original documentary series is a television first, with privileged access allowing producers to capture the dramas, challenges and life changing moments that occur daily at one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. With up to 180,000 people traversing the International and Domestic terminals each day, the pressures of time, weather, technology and the unpredictable human element constantly test the training and teamwork of Sydney Airport’s crews. Inside Sydney Airport is an ITV Studios Australia production for SBS. Principal production investment from SBS with an international broadcaster.

Returning:

Who Do You Think You Are?
The network also welcomes the return of some of its most successful commissioned documentary series with the fourteenth season of Who Do You Think You Are? Announced today, Barry Humphries, Rhonda Burchmore and Derryn Hinch are among the prominent Australians uncovering the secrets of their ancestry this year.

Every Family Has a Secret
Noni Hazlehurst returns for the fourth season of fan favourite Every Family Has a Secret.

Australia Uncovered
Single documentaries will be celebrated with another season of the acclaimed Australia Uncovered.

Eurovision Song Contest
TX: May 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Eurovision is the world’s largest live musical event, it’s a serious cultural force and a whole lot of fun. This year it reached over 175 million viewers. Kalush Orchestra’s victory for Ukraine was celebrated around the world. In 2023, Liverpool, home of The Beatles, will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. Australia will be sending an artist to compete in the contest that has launched some of the world’s biggest stars including ABBA and Celine Dion. SBS is also celebrating broadcasting this distinctive contest for 40 fabulous years. Produced by Blink TV for SBS.

Celebrity Letters & Numbers
TX: Early 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 12 x 1hr
Each week, three celebrity contestants compete in a hilarious version of the classic show Letters and Numbers. Hosted by Michael Hing and featuring wordsmith David Astle in Dictionary Corner, the series offers endless nuggets of wisdom that you never knew you didn’t know! Over at the board, numbers expert Lily Serna explains mathematical techniques in a way that makes complete sense. The compulsive play along letters and number games are back with the allimportant conundrum buzzer round to crown the winning celebrity. Produced by ITV Studios Australia for SBS.

Mastermind
TX: February 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 84 x 30mins
After four successful Australian seasons, the toughest quiz on TV, Mastermind is back. Contenders battle it out for the coveted title of Australia’s Mastermind. Host Marc Fennell injects fun into this classic format, whilst staying true to the classic Mastermind troupes of the spotlight, the chair and some very obscure specialist subjects. Mastermind is a BBC Studios production for SBS.

The Big Fat Quiz of Sport
TX: Early 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 90mins
The Big Fat Quiz of Sport is a sports quiz for people who don’t like sport. The panellists will be comedians and entertainers rather than sports people and questions will concentrate on famous personalities and quirky facts, rather than statistics or ‘who scored that goal?’.

International:

Drama:

New:

Rogue Heroes
TX: March 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand.
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1 hr
From the creators of Peaky Blinders, Rogue Heroes is a dramatised account of how the world’s greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of WWII. The series centres on David Stirling, an eccentric young officer, who is hospitalized after a training exercise gone wrong. Convinced that traditional commando units do not work, Stirling creates a radical plan that flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare. Portraying David Stirling is actor Connor Swindells, best known for his role as Adam Groff in Sex Education and for drama series Vigil. He will be joined by Skins actor Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne, Game of Thrones’ Alfie Allen as Jock Lewes, The Wire’s Dominic West as Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke and Atomic Blonde star Sofia Boutella as Eve. The series is written by Steven Knight, creator, and writer of Peaky Blinders.

The Doll Factory
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1 hr
Set in London, 1850, The Doll Factory tells the story of Iris, who paints dolls for a living alongside her twin sister, Rose. Iris dreams of becoming an artist. By night, she secretly paints herself naked. Silas is a taxidermist who owns a shop filled with his creations. He dreams of one day finding an item so unique he will be catapulted to fame. Louis is a painter and member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, searching for his next muse. When Iris meets Silas, and then Louis, she is offered an opportunity to escape and start a new life. To do so, she must abandon her sister, sacrifice her reputation, and launch herself into the unknown. But as Iris’ world expands, a story of dark obsession begins to unfold. The Doll Factory was a #1 bestseller in the Times and #2 bestseller in The Sunday Times in hardback and praised by the Sunday Times as ‘a remarkable example of historical fiction’. It has been translated into 30 languages. Adapted by rising writer Charley Miles it will be produced Buccaneer Media (Marcella, Crime, Whistable Pearl). Sacha Polak (Hanna, Dirty God) is on board as director, Suzanne McAuley (Magpie Murders, Maigret) is producer and Julie Harkin (I May Destroy You, Becoming Elizabeth) is casting director.

Django
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 10 x 1hr
The story is set in the Wild West in the 1860s and 1870s. Sarah and John have founded New Babylon, a city of outcasts, full of men and women of all backgrounds, races and creeds, that welcomes everyone with open arms. Haunted by the murder of his family eight years earlier, Django is still looking for his daughter, believing she may have survived. He is shocked to find her in New Babylon, about to marry John. But Sarah, now a grown woman, wants Django to leave, as she fears he will put New Babylon in jeopardy if he stays. However, Django, believing the city is in danger, is adamant that he will not lose his daughter twice. Cast includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Noomi Rapace, Nicholas Pinnock, and Lisa Vicari.

Wolf
TX: May 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1hr
Jack Caffery is a restless 34-year-old cop burdened by the guilt of a past family tragedy. After landing in hot water with his superiors, he goes on yet another wild chase by revisiting an old case – a gory crime that happened years ago. A few miles away, a wealthy local family is being held hostage in their remote home and their ordeal is the stuff of any great horror film, becoming increasingly bizarre and terrifying. This is no random crime, and their fate relies entirely on Jack. If only he was able to let the ghosts of the past go, he might be able to connect the two stories and save them. Wolf is based on the Mo Hayder series of novels.

Conviction: The Case of Stephen Lawrence
TX: April 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
Stephen Lawrence’s family searches for justice following their son’s murder at the hands of a racist gang and uncovers complacency and racism in the UK police force. The cast is led by Steven Coogan as DCI Clive Driscoll.

Vigil
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1hr
A murder on a Royal Navy submarine unveils a deep conspiracy. Created by Tom Edge, the cast of Vigil includes Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans, Paterson Joseph, Adam James, and Gary Lewis.

The Vanishing Triangle
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand Number of
Episodes: 6 x 1hr
Set in 1990s Dublin, The Vanishing Triangle is based on true events of the time. Lisa Wallace (26) is a young, aspiring, female journalist with a harrowing back story – when Lisa was just 10 years old, she witnessed the murder of her mother by what at the time was assumed to be a home intruder. The killer was never caught and what happened that day has haunted her for her entire life. When Lisa publishes a deeply personal piece in the newspaper about her mother’s murder, she has no idea the chain of events that will unfold. The killer makes contact and so begins a cat-and-mouse game that will push Lisa to the limit. Together with David Burke (30s) – a detective struggling with his sexuality – they begin to connect her mother’s killing to recent disappearances of young women and suspect an undetected serial killer may be responsible.

Returning:

The Handmaid’s Tale S6
TX: 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
The Handmaid’s Tale has been renewed for a sixth and final season. The stage is set for a finale that will decide June’s (Elisabeth Moss) fate.

War of the Worlds S3
TX: 23 November 2022 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 8 x 1hr The third season of this dynamic adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel sees the war between the survivors and the aliens reach a new turning point as a strange phenomenon grips countless people across the globe. Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment) reprises his role as Bill Ward, along with brand new talent, including BAFTA Award-winner Molly Windsor (Three Girls), Ernest Kingsley Junior, Madeleine Worrall, and Oliver Hembrough.

The Responder S2
TX: Late 2023 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1hr
BAFTA Winner Martin Freeman returns as the troubled Liverpool police officer, Chris Carson in Season 2 of the critically acclaimed series.

Documentary:

New:

Michael Palin: Into Iraq
TX: April 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
Michael Palin embarks on an epic 1,000-mile, revelatory journey through Iraq. An extraordinary view of a place scarred by conflict and the birthplace of civilisation – this is the real Iraq. This fantastic series follows Michael as he embarks on a 1000-mile odyssey, following the course of the great Tigris River from its source in eastern Turkey to the Persian Gulf. Most of his journey will be through Iraq and Michael will visit Mosul and Erbil, before following the river to Tikrit. He then moves on to Baghdad, exploring bustling city life and the Green Zone. As he heads further south Michael sees the legendary sites of Babylon and Ur before completing his journey on the coast of Iraq. During his travels Michael is driven by the urge to meet the people of this vast but young and troubled country, as well as discovering a huge variety of breath-taking landscapes, and extraordinary historic sights and cultures. He experiences what life is like for the 40 million people who live in Iraq today and explores its ancient history as Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilisation.

Dinosaur with Stephen Fry
TX: March 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
Presented by legendary actor, writer, and dinosaur enthusiast Stephen Fry, this exhilarating fourpart landmark event will chronologically tell the definitive story of 165 million years on Earth – from the dawn of the dinosaurs to their extinction. The series immerses audiences in a new and magical Dinosaur World constructed by CGI experts, palaeontologists, and scientists. Each episode will see a new species introduced to the Dinosaur World including packs of raptors, a grazing herd of diplodocus, and a majestic Tyrannosaurus rex.

Planet Reef
TX: March 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
Follow an international mission developing ground-breaking solutions to save the Great Barrier Reef and its 9,000 unique species from destruction. These species interact with the coral to form a complex and delicate ecosystem dependent on each other for survival. Yet today the coral – and therefore all the organisms that depend on it are gravely at risk. In a visually stunning series, filmed in one of the most beautiful natural habitats on Earth, an international award-winning crew has followed a team of scientists for five years. Their mission is to develop ground-breaking technological solutions to save the reef from destruction.

Mariupol: The People’s Story
TX: February 2023 on SBS
Number of Episodes: 1 x 90 min documentary This is the definitive story of the destruction of Mariupol, told with exclusive access to the people who lived there. It’s a deeply personal human story told with the highest documentary values – it is a story of great significance.

The US and the Holocaust
TX: January 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 2hrs
The US and the Holocaust is a three-part, six-hour series that examines America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century. Americans consider themselves a ‘nation of immigrants,’ but as the catastrophe of the Holocaust unfolded in Europe, the United States proved unwilling to open its doors to more than a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of desperate people seeking refuge. Through riveting firsthand testimony of witnesses and survivors who as children endured persecution, violence and flight as their families tried to escape Hitler, this series delves deeply into the tragic human consequences of public indifference, bureaucratic red tape and restrictive quota laws in America. Did the nation fail to live up to its ideals? This is a history to be reckoned with.

Gloriavale: New Zealand’s Secret Cult
TX: February 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 90 min documentary
Gloriavale: New Zealand’s Secret Cult is an observational documentary examining the widespread abuse inside the infamous Gloriavale Christian Community cult and the institutional failures that have allowed it to continue. With unprecedented access to the notoriously secretive community, the filmmakers follow a lone family as they mount a ground-breaking legal case against the cult’s powerful leaders. Long associated with allegations of sexual and physical abuse, human rights violations and fraud, the true extent of Gloriavale’s crimes and the cruelty of its leaders is exposed as the Ready family risk losing their home, their community and those they love for a chance to bring positive change to Gloriavale.

My Grandparents’ War S2
TX: March 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
This second season of My Grandparents’ War from Wonderhood Studios will feature films fronted by Keira Knightley, Kit Harington, Toby Jones and Emeli Sandé, each exploring their grandparents’ extraordinary stories from conflicts that shaped the 20th Century. Filmed in historic locations from the killing fields of Kenya to the mountains of Monte Cassino in Italy, each star retraces their grandparents’ footsteps and is deeply moved as they uncover the life and death decisions their family faced. My Grandparents’ War delivers a fascinating new biographical insight into some of the world’s biggest stars and explores how their grandparents’ experiences of war shaped their own lives and the world we live in today.

The American Presidency with Bill Clinton
TX: February 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1hr
Hosted and executive produced by former US President Bill Clinton, this series explores the history of the American presidency and the struggle for a more perfect union across multiple themed episodes – race, extremism, the struggle for rights, presidential vision, and global power. This premium series features expert commentary from renowned authors, historians and witnesses to history including Pulitzer Prize-winners Jon Meacham and Annette Gordon Reed, as well as Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Dr. Edna Medford Green, Dr. H.W. Brands and George Takei. Across each one-hour episode, it takes a comprehensive look at a wide variety of presidential action that moved the US forward, like President Eisenhower ordering the 101st Airborne Division into Little Rock, AR to ensure the safety of the ‘Little Rock Nine,’ President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation, and Lyndon B. Johnson signing into law what has been called the most important piece of Civil Rights legislation to date – the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The American Presidency also tackles presidential decisions that further divided the country, like Herbert Hoover’s ‘repatriation drives’ that led to the mass expulsions of Mexican American citizens during the Great Depression and FDR’s Executive Order 9066 leading to nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans being systematically rounded up and forced into prison camps.

Portillo In the Pyrenees
TX: May 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
As he approaches a milestone birthday, former British Cabinet Minister and broadcaster Michael Portillo embarks on a journey of self-discovery, walking stretches of the Pyrenees Mountain Range between Spain and France. Travelling from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Michael will criss-cross the border, meeting the people who call this place home and learning about their unique culture and way of life. He will test himself physically as he faces the arduous terrain of the high snowy peaks, whilst encountering moments of solitude and personal reflection.

South America with Simon Reeve
TX: March 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 5 x 1hr
Adventurer Simon Reeve travels the length of South America as he completes the second part of his epic two-series journey down through the entire Americas. Filmed over five episodes, this is an astonishing adventure through some of the most beautiful, fascinating, and remote places on Earth. Simon travels from the top to the toe of the continent. Beginning in Venezuela in the north, he journeys right down to the icy channels of Tierra Del Fuego and ends his adventure in the frozen wilderness of Patagonia and Tierra Del Fuego, where Simon reflects on the greatest journey of his life. Along the way, he encounters an incredible range of characters and environments and investigates some of the great challenges facing the people of South America.

Highclere: The Real Downton Abbey
TX: March 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 5 x 1hr
Highclere Castle has hosted kings, queens, presidents, and prime ministers. Thanks to Downton Abbey, the 300-room house has become its own prime-time star viewed by an estimated 2 million people. Producers Brinkworth TV have unique access to Highclere Castle, home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, whose family have been custodians of the 6000-acre estate for over 250 years. The series will follow the colourful and hands-on Carnarvon family and their team of loyal staff across a busy calendar year of events and activities at the estate as they strive to bring Highclere into the 21st century. It is a constant challenge – to preserve Highclere’s heritage but also make it fit for purpose in the modern age – and pay its way, through a packed calendar of events year-round.

Greatest Discoveries with Dan Snow
TX: February 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
Dan Snow travels in the footsteps of some of history’s greatest discoveries – from lost Pharaoh’s tombs to the revelations of Pompeii, and even the battles to uncover the world’s biggest dinosaur. Dan explores stories of rivalry, ingenuity and determination that led to some of the most important and amazing finds ever made.

Monster: The Mystery of Loch Ness
TX: April 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 1hr
Loch Ness is deep enough to sink a skyscraper and dark enough to hide many secrets. From Two Rivers Media, Monster: The Mystery of the Loch Ness, is the definitive story of the search for the Loch Ness Monster and of those drawn to both the phenomenon and the place. The uncharted waters and sense of mystery has attracted the curious to the banks of Loch Ness by the millions. This landscape has witnessed feuds, fakery and failure that has seen reputations sink into its depths and countless lifetimes sacrificed in pursuit of a monster that the scientific establishment says cannot exist.

The Real Crown
TX: May 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 5 x 1hr
This is the story of a family – a family who have lived under intense public scrutiny. Prince Harry recently described it as akin to living in the Truman Show. Like most families, the Royal Family must deal with crises – feuds, heartbreak, sibling rivalries, affairs, divorces, and deaths. But they also must face assassination attempts, kidnappings, tabloid scandals and terrorist bombs. Across the last seven decades, the Queen steered them through each one of these predicaments.

The World’s Most Beautiful Landscapes
TX: Mach 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 8 x 1hr
Take a breathtaking visual journey through some of the world’s most beautiful and extraordinary landscapes, to admire the wonders and encounter the wildlife, geology, and the rich history of its people.

The Wonders of Europe
TX: April 2023 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville takes the viewers on a grand tour of the architectural landmarks of Europe in The Wonders of Europe. This is a four-part documentary series that tells the story of the people who built some of the biggest and most unique landmarks in Europe – the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, the Temples of the Acropolis, and the Alhambra Complex.

News & Current Affairs:

Australians continue to turn to SBS for news and current affairs providing the bigger picture on international issues, insightful coverage drawing on our unrivalled connections to communities, and impartial stories which give a voice to those unheard elsewhere. Whether it’s SBS World News, Insight, Dateline, NITV News, Living Black or The Point, Australians get access to a truly global newsroom across the SBS network, alongside a team of dedicated First Nations journalists through NITV.

On SBS (English)
Schedule: https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/channel/SBS
ANC The World Tonight – from Philippines broadcaster ABS-CBN Manila, Philippines
APAC Weekly – from APAC Network, Brisbane, Qld Australia
DD India news – from India Public Broadcaster Prasar Bharati / Doordarshan (DD)
BBC News at 10 – from British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) London, UK

Sport:

SBS is Australia’s cycling network and will continue to broadcast the iconic Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes after securing the exclusive broadcast rights until 2030. Other major cycling events include the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a Espana, the Paris-Roubaix Femmes, the Women’s and Men’s Australian National Road Series as well as the Women’s and Men’s European Cycling Spring Classics.

Still to Come:

FIFA World Cup
This year marks the return of the event that stops entire nations, the FIFA World Cup. An event like no other, the World Cup unites people from all walks of life in celebration of the global game of football. As the official broadcaster of the tournament, SBS will give all Australians a front row seat to all the action from Qatar with all 64 matches live and free on television and live streamed on SBS on Demand. The ‘FIFA World Cup Hub’ on SBS On Demand is the digital home of this year’s event where Australians can catch up on all the latest World Cup news, results, match replays, highlights, analysis, short-form video extras, mini matches, and more to enjoy anytime and anywhere. 

Infiniti
TX: 17 November 2022 on SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1 hr
The ISS, the International Space Station has gone silent. The crew is in distress. Simultaneously, a decapitated and waxed body is found on a roof in Kazakhstan. Positive identification leaves no room for doubt – the body belongs to an American astronaut currently on a mission on the ISS. A French astronaut, dismissed from the space program, and a Kazakh cop, disowned by his ranking hierarchy, set out to solve this mysterious paradox. Cast stars Céline Sallette, Daniyar Alshinov and Vlad Ivanov.

Barrumbi Kids
TX: 18 November 2022 on NITV
Number of Episodes: 10 x 30mins
Barrumbi Kids tells the rollicking, coming-of-age story of Tomias and Dahlia – two best friends growing up in a magical and remote Northern Territory community. This series celebrates the value of unstructured outdoor play, living with the consequences of their shenanigans, engaging with the physical world and above all, making your own fun! A fast-paced drama with action, humour and heart. Through fishing, hunting dancing and schooling, the children learn about themselves, each other and living in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures. Barrumbi Kids is an Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd and Tamarind Tree Pictures Pty Ltd production for NITV. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen Territory. Financed with support from the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Screen Queensland and Screen NSW.

The Language Of Love
TX: 25th of November 2022 on SBS VICELAND
Number of Episodes: 8 x 1hr
Davina McCall presents this dating show in which British and Spanish singletons pair up at an estate in Andalucia to see if they can find romance despite the language barrier. Ricky Merino interprets how the relationships are developing.

Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne
TX: November 2022 on SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 1hr
An unmissable documentary series, on a journey spanning the globe, Cara Delevingne takes a frank, fearless, fascinating look at gender, attraction and sexual identity. From the love hotels of Mexico City and the feminist pornography scene in Barcelona, to sexually fluid communities in South Africa, suburban homes and beyond, Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne delves into unique and fascinating human stories, diverse forms of sexual expression and attraction, and groundbreaking research. Tackling some of the most profound questions of our time, Cara will put her mind and body on the line as she investigates how technology, science, culture and pornography shape and shift our attitudes towards gender, sexual attraction and identity, taking viewers on a thrilling adventure, pushing boundaries and opening minds.

Kutcha’s Koorioke S2
TX: 4 December 2022 on NITV
Number of Episodes: 10 x 5mins
Kutcha’s Koorioke marks its free to air premiere as it joins the NITV family in its second season. Hosted by acclaimed Mutti Mutti songman Kutcha Edwards, join Kutcha and a stellar group of Indigenous performers, young and old, on a musical journey through Wurundjeri country – the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. Kutcha’s Koorioke is a Brown Cab Productions Pty Ltd and Tamarind Tree Pictures Pty Ltd production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen and Telematics Trust. Financed with support from the City of Yarra.

Taskmaster s11
TX: 5 December 2022 on SBS VICELAND
Number of Episodes: 10 x 1hr
Taskmaster tyrant Greg Davies, with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne, set out to test the wiles, wit, and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians.

Hypothetical s4
TX: 5 December 2022 on SBS VICELAND
Number of Episodes: 8 x 1hr
Faced with several bizarre hypothetical scenarios, guests are scored on how well they would deal with them. As ever, it is all improvised on the night so expect chaotic act-outs, quick costume changes and lots of laughs!

Strait to the Plate S2
TX: 15 December 2022 on NITV and SBS Food
Number of Episodes: 6 x 24mins
Strait to the Plate’s second season follows the return of Aaron Fa’Aoso as he travels throughout the three western regions (Top Western, Near Western & Central region of the Torres Strait) traditionally known as the Guda Maluyilgal, Kawaialagalgal & Kulkalgal regions of the Torres Strait Islands. Island hopping by dinghy as he visits Saibai, Dauan, Boigu, Thursday Island, Horn Island, Warraber and Masig Islands. Strait to the Plate is a Lone Star Company Pty Ltd for NITV. Produced with investment from Screen Queensland.

No Ordinary Black
TX: 15 December 2022 on NITV
Number of Episodes: 5 x 8mins
No Ordinary Black is a NITV and Screen Australia scripted short film initiative in partnership with Screen NSW, Screen Territory, South Australian Film Corporation and Screenwest. No Ordinary Black is designed to bring thought-provoking First Nations stories to the screen, authored and crafted by First Nations people. Blackfellas Who Can’t Dance: A comedy-drama from writer/director Enoch Mailangi (All My Friends Are Racist) and producer Majhid Heath (Dark Place). This story follows Nathan, who falls in love at a gym but soon finds his love interest is fundamentally different, and the two dance around their desires. This project is also supported by Screen NSW. Blackfellas Who Can’t Dance is a Noble Savage Pictures production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV through the No Ordinary Black initiative. Financed with support from Screen NSW.

Digital Originals – Latecomers
TX: December 2022 on SBS On Demand and SBS VICELAND
Number of Episodes: 6 x 10mins and 1 x1hr
Latecomers is a comedy drama starring influential writer, and disability and women’s rights advocate Hannah Diviney, alongside actor and co-creator Angus Thompson (The Angus Project), New Zealand actor Miriama Smith (Filthy Rich, Harrow) and rising star Patrick Jhanur (Sea Patrol, Troppo).The series is about two strangers with cerebral palsy, Frank and Sarah who, after watching their carers hook up at a bar, become determined to explore their own relationships with sex, and each other. Written and created by Emma Myers, Angus Thompson, and Nina Oyama, Latecomers is directed by Madeleine Gottlieb and Alistair Baldwin, and produced by Hannah Ngo and Liam Heyen through the Digital Originals initiative. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS with the assistance of Screen NSW.

Secrets of Playboy
TX: December 2022 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 12 x 1hr
The documentary series Secrets of Playboy explores the hidden truths behind the fable and philosophy of the Playboy empire through a modern-day lens. The series delves into the complex world Hugh Hefner created and examines its far-reaching consequences on our culture’s view of power and sexuality. Unravelling the glamorous mythology created by the brand over several decades, the series features archival footage and exclusive interviews with insiders from all facets of the Playboy world, many sharing their stories for the first time. Interviews include former Director of Playmate Promotions Miki Garcia; past girlfriends of Hefner’s including Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Sondra Theodore; Hefner’s personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum; Bunny Mother PJ Masten; Playboy Mansion West resident Jennifer Saginor; and members of Hefner’s staff and inner circle, including his personal bodyguard and butler.

Bettany Hughes: From Paris to Rome
TX: December 2022 on SBS and SBS on Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
Historian Bettany Hughes travels across France and Italy to discover what role the arts, culture and the finest foods can play in enriching and inspiring our lives. She begins her journey in Paris, where she explores the Louvre Museum and checks into the five-star hotel where Oscar Wilde spent his last days. Everywhere she goes, Bettany reveals the brilliant impact of the ancient world on European culture. She travels from Paris to Venice, then from Milan to Florence, and Pisa to Palermo, and finally along the Amalfi Coast to Rome.

Absent:

Eurovision: Australia Decides
Life on the Outside
The Australian Wars
Great Continental Railway Journeys
World’s Most Scenic River Journeys
Slow TV
Michael Mosley’s Health Intervention
The Feed
The Orville

Separate posts will follow for NITV, SBS VICELAND, SBS Food, SBS World Movies, SBS World Watch and SBS on Demand.