SBS / NITV: Referendum programming

SBS and NITV will offer comprehensive rolling news on October 14, Referendum Day, in addition to specialist programming before and after.

On the night of the vote, a two-hour live program The Point: Australia Decides will simulcast on NITV and SBS at 7.30pm featuring a panel of guests, live crosses to journalists in every state and territory as all eligible Australians make their decision on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

SBS World News will also simulcast on SBS and NITV at 6.30pm and 9.30pm, presented by Anton Enus, and NITV News presenter, Natalie Ahmat.

Tanya Denning-Orman, a proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and Director of Indigenous Content at SBS, said: “October 14 represents a critical moment in Australia’s history, and across the SBS network we’re focused on ensuring all Australians have the information they need before they vote – whatever you decide, be sure you’re making an informed decision.

“At the heart of our plans for the days ahead continues to be ensuring the voices and perspectives from First Nations communities across the continent are heard, and that Australians have the opportunity to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and cultures through diverse programming beyond our news and current affairs coverage.

“As a part of that, we’re excited to announce Sounds of Solidarity – an incredible music showcase on NITV that will inspire all Australians, celebrating the power of Blak excellence through music and culture, while also providing a safe space for mob on Referendum day.”

Ahead of Referendum:

The Point: Referendum Countdown
Tuesday 10 October. Live on NITV at 7.30pm. Encoring on SBS at 10.30pm.
With just days left until the crucial vote, a panel of key players including No campaigner Nyunggai Warren Mundine and Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo join hosts Narelda and John Paul live in studio to discuss all the latest developments and biggest moments of the referendum campaign.

Insight
Tuesday 10 October at 8.30pm on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand
In this episode, Your Voice. Your Vote., Walkley award-winning journalist and Living Black Executive Producer Karla Grant asks Australians how they will vote in the referendum and what discussions they’re having with friends, family and colleagues. This special referendum episode looks at the differing personal opinions of a variety of everyday Australians.

SBS News in Arabic – Referendum Special
Thursday 12 October at 8pm on SBS World Watch, SBS On Demand, YouTube and Facebook
Presented by SBS Arabic TV News Presenter Ali Bahnasawy, this special program recorded in studio brings together an audience of Arabic-speaking Australians for a townhall discussion exploring perspectives from community members about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and featuring representatives from the yes and no campaigns answering questions.

 

Saturday October 14

Sounds of Solidarity
12.30pm on NITV
Filmed in Brisbane on the Triple A Murri Country (98.9 FM) balcony as part of a co-production partnership with BIMA (Brisbane Indigenous Media Association), Sounds of Solidarity showcases a range of music genres, from contemporary pop and rock to traditional Indigenous music, hip hop, and electronic beats. NITV is unearthing the best performances broadcast over the years as well as some of the greatest hits of all time, interspersed with regular referendum news updates. The program incorporates interviews to explore the social, political, and cultural context in which Indigenous music is created. Viewers will learn about the ongoing struggles and triumphs of First Nations peoples and the role of music in the Australian cultural landscape.

SBS World News
Live on NITV and SBS from 6.30pm
With live, coast to coast coverage, Anton Enus and Natalie Ahmat report the news of the day as the first Australian states and territories begin counting referendum votes as polls close.

The Point: Referendum Road Trip
Australia Decides
Live on NITV and SBS from 7.30pm. Also available on SBS On Demand.
Join hosts, proud Wuthathi and Meriam man John Paul Janke and Whadjuk Noongar woman Narelda Jacobs, and a team of experts, in this two-hour episode as Australia decides whether to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s Constitution through a Voice to Parliament.

SBS World News
9.30pm on NITV and SBS
In the second edition on referendum night, Anton Enus and Natalie Ahmat bring viewers up to date in real time on the referendum, featuring the expertise of the team from The Point along with a network of reporters around the country.

SBS News digital
Throughout the day, SBS News will be delivering rolling coverage across its digital platforms, including a live blog and updated vote tallies every 90 seconds on the SBS News website and on the SBS News app, as well as live streams of key moments.

Following the Referendum:

Living Black
Monday 16 October on NITV at 8.30pm.
In 2017, the Uluru Statement’s key proposal of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament was famously rejected by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying that it was “neither desirable nor capable of winning acceptance at a referendum”. So how has Australia found itself going to the polls on a referendum that was “never meant to happen”? Living Black takes a look back at how we got to this historic point for the nation and hears from some of the key Indigenous figures involved.

The Point: Referendum Road Trip
Aftermath
Tuesday 17 October. Live on NITV and SBS at 7.30pm.
A few days after the referendum, join Narelda, John Paul and a panel of experts to unpack what is known of the result and the implications for Australia.

Tuesday 24 October. Live on NITV at 7.30pm.
In the final episode of the year, Narelda, John Paul and special guests discuss the aftermath of the referendum result and recap the biggest moments of 2023.

An SBS On Demand Voice Referendum with Auslan collection also includes more than 60 short form news and explainer videos from SBS News and across the network, with new content added daily, and captions where available. In addition to short-form factual programming and full episodes of NITV’s The Point: Referendum Road Trip with Auslan, content with a lighter tone rounds out the offering.

Victoria Hunt, Manager of Access Services at SBS, said: “Delivering accessible content and resources is part of what we do at SBS. In the lead up to this historic referendum, providing accessible information is more important than ever to ensure all Australians can fully engage with the debate and make informed decisions about the nation we live in.”