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Later this year, the Australian Government will be considering SBS's funding for the period 2009-2012. The period between now and the 2009 Federal Budget will be one of the most important in the history of SBS. Speaking on their [link=http://www.sbs.com.au/future/]website[/link], SBS managing director Shaun Brown said

'SBS has ambitious plans for the future and hopes to broaden and deepen the range of programs and content it broadcasts on television, radio and online. But, without a considerable new investment by the Government, SBS will not be able to continue to deliver its unique service and we are likely to be marginalised in the new digital media environment.' (www.


If SBS received more funding, Mr Brown said it would be used to:

* add at least 100 more hours per year of original Australian multicultural programming on television by 2012.

* expand SBS's programming of the best of overseas content across four digital TV channels by 2013 starting with a fully fledged second channel (SBS World) next year

* create nine, new digital radio channels over the next six years

* make all our content available streamed or on-demand over SBS online service

“Public broadcasters such as SBS are well placed, although not well resourced, to experiment and innovate in the digital space,” he said.