SBS wants docos that make the news, not just the reviews.

SBS had some advice for documentary producers yesterday at the Australian International Documentary Conference to pitch shows that had ‘cut-through’ with viewers in a competitive market.

SBS Commissioning Editor Bethan Arwel-Lewis (pictured, centre) said, “When you’re pitching ideas, being on Charter in and of itself isn’t enough. What we’re looking for beyond that is how we’re looking at (how) broad subject matters can actually be done in a provocative or unique way.

“We’re looking to make shows that make the news, not just the reviews. What we mean by that is we want the programmes we make to go beyond the TV screens. We want them to filter through, making big social debates, to impact people’s lives. Just (in) the way you tackle subject matter, be unique. It’s especially important because we are the smallest Free to Air network.

“We’ve got to compete against other large broadcasters and the streamers. So i we always need to be looking for that cut-through and how to stand out in schedule,” she said.

As an example she recalled 2022’s Life on the Outside.

“We were pitched a lot of ideas about recidivism and that cycle of reoffending. A lot of ideas were quite similar in their approach, interview driven. But it wasn’t until we actually saw the idea of Life on the Outside, which was made by ITV, that it really struck a chord with us SBS. That idea was based on a genuine initiative in the US and it looked at prisoners leaving prison and then going to live with families as a circuit breaker that helped prevent that cycle of reoffending.

“It was hugely ambitious and very risky but also it’s immersive and I think it’s a really good example of how you can look at a subject matter and then allow it to cut-through and be unique. So it’s just worth thinking about that when you’re pitching ideas to us.”