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In the archive
free-to-air programming 

Hours of local and imported programming broadcast by the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), 1996/97–2008/09

2008/09 | 2004/05–2007/08 | 2000/01–2003/04 | 1996/97–1999/00

2008/09

These tables show the number of hours of local and imported programming broadcast annually by the SBS in each program category, and the share this represents of total hours broadcast.

On 1 June 2009, SBS Television’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE, and SBS TWO – a digital-only, free-to-air channel – began broadcasting.

The largest share of broadcast hours on SBS ONE in 2008/09 went to imported news/current affairs (35 per cent), followed by imported movies (11.9 per cent), imported documentaries (10.9 per cent) and local news/current affairs (9.9 per cent), which represented the largest share of local programming.

See also Archive: SBS program types and Australian content.

Type of programming1 No. hours broadcast
2008/09
SBS ONE SBS TWO
Local Import. Local Import.
Total 2,163 4,774 133 460
Animation/shorts 15 66    
Comedy2 29 90    
Documentary 286 753 0 20
Drama2 23 305 0 127
Entertainment 188 170    
Movies 34 825    
News/current affairs3 685 2,431 35 313
Short films/fillers     7 0
Sport4 651 134 4 0
Other5 252 0 87 0
Type of programming1 Share of total hours broadcast
2008/09
SBS ONE SBS TWO
Local Import. Local Import.
Total 31.2% 68.8% 22.4% 77.6%
Animation/shorts 0.2% 1.0%    
Comedy2 0.4% 1.3%    
Documentary 4.1% 10.9% 0.0% 3.4%
Drama2 0.3% 4.4% 0.0% 21.4%
Entertainment 2.7% 2.5%    
Movies 0.5% 11.9%    
News/current affairs3 9.9% 35.0% 5.9% 52.8%
Short films/fillers     1.2% 0.0%
Sport4 9.4% 1.9% 0.7% 0.0%
Other5 3.6% 0.0% 14.7% 0.0%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia from Special Broadcasting Service Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
Table shows all programming hours broadcast except for advertisements, promotions or community service announcements. Some related categories reported by SBS have been combined by Screen Australia to aid annual comparisons.
Includes repeats.
1. Over the years some categories identified by SBS have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped, or has not yet begun.
2. Comedy and drama were reported as a single category in 2004/05.
3. News and current affairs were reported as a single category from 2002/03 up to, and including, 2006/07.
4. Local sport includes all sport produced by SBS covering Australian events and international events where a significant proportion of the event is produced by SBS (commentary team, analysis, journalists) and the program is tailored for an Australian audience. In previous years only Australian-based events and SBS sport programs such as The World Game were reported under local. In 2008/09, 139 hours of first-release Australian-based events and SBS sport programs were broadcast (6 hours repeat).
5. Comprises the weather reports known as WeatherWatch, except for WeatherWatch Overnight.

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2004/05–2007/08

Type of programming1 No. hours broadcast
2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
Local Import. Local Import. Local Import. Local Import.
Total 1,670 5,156 2,006 4,976 1,586 5,220 1,708 5,133
Animation 9 17 9 24 11 6 2 20
Arts 17 100 27 100 27 128 13 88
Documentaries, incl. series 227 720 287 547 359 720 363 806
Drama and comedy, incl. series2 55 249  
Drama2   18 211 18 252 32 286
Comedy2   17 48 17 86 6 55
Education 57 0 21 0 21 1 21 0
Entertainment series     86 0 46 0 111 0
Factual ent. 59 0 132 56 11 0    
Movies/features 6 975 12 918 18 907 13 843
News and current affairs3 422 2,434 487 2,380 558 2,477  
News3   433 2,477
Current affairs3   229 0
Performance, incl. dance, opera, variety 10 34 2 45 1 88 3 38
Shorts, incl. fillers 346 48 371 43 280 54 49 51
Sport4 462 579 537 604 211 496 162 470
Other5   271 0
Type of programming1 Share of total hours broadcast
2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
Local Import. Local Import. Local Import. Local Import.
Total 24.5% 75.5% 28.7% 71.3% 23.3% 76.7% 25.0% 75.0%
Animation 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% <0.1% 0.3%
Arts 0.2% 0.2% 0.4% 1.4% 0.4% 1.9% 0.2% 1.3%
Documentaries, incl. series 3.3% 10.5% 4.1% 7.8% 5.3% 10.6% 5.3% 11.8%
Drama and comedy, incl. series2 0.8% 3.6%  
Drama2   0.3% 3.0% 0.3% 3.7% 0.5% 4.2%
Comedy2   0.2% 0.7% 0.2% 1.3% <0.1% 0.8%
Education 0.8% 0% 0.3% 0% 0.3% <0.1% 0.3% 0%
Entertainment series     1.2% 0% 0.7% 0% 1.6% 0%
Factual ent. 0.9% 0% 1.9% 0.8% 0.2% 0%  
Movies/features 0.1% 14.3% 0.2% 13.1% 0.3% 13.3% 0.2% 12.3%
News and current affairs3 6.2% 35.7% 7.0% 34.1% 8.2% 36.4%  
News3   6.3% 36.2%
Current affairs3   3.3% 0%
Performance, incl. dance, opera, variety 0.1% 0.5% <0.1% 0.6% <0.1% 1.3% <0.1% 0.6%
Shorts, incl. fillers 5.1% 0.7% 5.3% 0.6% 4.1% 0.8% 0.7% 0.7%
Sport4 6.8% 8.5% 7.7% 8.7% 3.1% 7.3% 2.4% 6.9%
Other5             4.0% 0%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia from Special Broadcasting Service Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
Table shows all programming hours broadcast except for advertisements, promotions or community service announcements. Some related categories reported by SBS have been combined by Screen Australia to aid annual comparisons.
Includes repeats.
1. Over the years some categories identified by SBS have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped, or has not yet begun.
2. Comedy and drama were reported as a single category in 2004/05.
3. News and current affairs were reported as a single category from 2002/03 up to, and including, 2006/07.
4. Only Australian-based events and SBS sport programs such as The World Game were reported under local.
5. Comprises the weather reports known as WeatherWatch, except for WeatherWatch Overnight.

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2000/01–2003/04

Type of programming1 No. hours broadcast
2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04
Local Import. Local Import. Local Import. Local Import.
Total 1,290 5,129 2,022 4,635 1,787 5,242 1,718 5,248
Animation 1 23 19 25 24 29 5 15
Arts         11 139 17 123
Cooking 16 52 13 3 7 4 2 24
Documentaries, incl. series 165 641 190 766 215 727 174 641
Drama and comedy2 44 145  
Drama2   45 130 11 195 17 196
Comedy2   13 49 37 30 17 52
Education 124 0 121 0 109 0 146 0
Magazine 82 0 86 0 44 10 56 0
Movies/features 16 1,415 5 1,219 20 1,185 10 1,168
Music 10 10 13 9        
News and current affairs   505 2,784 415 2,471
News3 272 2,297 291 2,247  
Current affairs3 157 0 163 0  
Performance, incl. dance, opera, variety 4 88 1 92 0 1 4 26
Shorts, incl. fillers 12 69 >1 57 35 46 378 58
Specials 5 34 7 0  
Sport4 394 357 1,057 39 771 91 478 476
Type of programming1 Share of total hours broadcast
2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04
Local Import. Local Import. Local Import. Local Import.
Total 20.1% 79.9% 30.4% 69.6% 25.4% 74.6% 24.7% 75.3%
Animation <0.1% 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% 0.1% 0.2%
Arts   0.2% 2.0% 0.2% 1.8%
Cooking 0.2% 0.8% 0.2% <0.1% 0.1% <0.1% <0.1% 0.3%
Documentaries, incl. series 2.6% 10.0% 2.9% 11.5% 3.1% 10.3% 2.5% 9.2%
Drama and comedy, incl. seres2 0.7% 2.3%  
Drama2   0.7% 1.9% 0.2% 2.8% 0.2% 2.8%
Comedy2   0.2% 0.7% 0.5% 0.4% 0.2% 0.7%
Education 1.9% 0% 1.8% 0% 1.6% 0% 2.1% 0%
Magazine 1.3% 0% 1.3% 0% 0.6% 0.2% 0.8% 0%
Movies/features 0.2% 22.0% 0.1% 18.3% 0.3% 16.9% 0.1% 16.8%
Music <0.1% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1%        
News and current affairs   7.2% 39.6% 6.0% 35.5%
News3 4.2% 35.8% 4.4% 33.8%  
Current affairs3 2.4% 0% 2.4% 0%  
Performance, incl. dance, opera, variety 0.1% 1.4% <0.1% 1.4% 0% <0.1% 0.1% 0.4%
Shorts, incl. fillers 0.2% 1.1% <0.1% 0.9% 0.5% 0.7% 5.4% 0.8%
Specials 0.1% 0.5% 0.1% 0%        
Sport4 6.1% 5.6% 15.9% 0.6% 11.0% 1.3% 6.9% 6.8%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia from Special Broadcasting Service Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
Table shows all programming hours broadcast except for advertisements, promotions or community service announcements. Some related categories reported by SBS have been combined by Screen Australia to aid annual comparisons.
Includes repeats.
1. Over the years some categories identified by SBS have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped, or has not yet begun.
2. Comedy and drama were reported as a single category in 2000/01.
3. News and current affairs were reported as a single category in 2002/03 and 2003/04.
4. Only Australian-based events and SBS sport programs such as The World Game were reported under local.

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1996/97–1999/00

Type of programming1 No. hours broadcast
1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00
Local Import. Local Import. Local Import. Local Import.
Total 1,491.2 4,470.2 1,520.5 4,590.1 1422.6 4537.1 1,658.1 4,871.0
Animation   0.1 2.4 0 26.4 1.7 5.7
Children’s 0.7 12.1   1.8 3.0  
Cooking 0 38.6 0 41.5 3.9 31.7 5.6 31.9
Current affairs 142.3 0 178.6 0 141.7 0 159.4 0
Documentaries, incl. series 88.2 755.2 94.0 656.1 106.2 671.3 159.9 690.0
Drama and comedy, incl. series2 5.0 307.5 2.0 218.2  
Drama2   11.8 95.9 31.5 140.0
Comedy2   2.4 25.1 9.7 45.4
Education 570.4 0 187.2 0 108.8 0 136.6 0
Magazine 94.2 0 91.8 0 98.1 0 137.2 0
Movies 0 1,439.6 1.8 1,563.3 3.2 1412.6 2.9 1,430.4
Music 1.8 5.9 1.0 10.4 31.5 3.7 6.0 4.5
News 161.6 1,759.3 223.5 1949.2 236 2124.2 275.4 2,345.6
Performance, incl. opera, dance 0 13.1 0 7.5 0 25.4 0 80.8
Shorts,
incl. Eat Carpet, fillers		 0.5 74.2 0.1 65.8 2 61.2 4.6 68.4
Specials 8.7 64.8 7.6 75.6 9.4 56.6 16.3 28.4
Sport3 418.0 0 733.0 0 665.78 0 711.3 0
Type of programming1 Share of total hours broadcast
1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00
Local Import. Local Import. Local Import. Local Import.
Total 25.0% 75.0% 24.9% 75.1% 24.4% 75.6% 25.4% 74.6%
Animation   <0.1% <0.1%   0.5% <0.1% 0.1%
Children’s <0.1% 0.2%   <0.1% 0.1%  
Cooking 0% 0.6% 0% 0.7% 0.1% 0.5% 0.1% 0.5%
Current affairs 2.4% 0% 2.9% 0% 2.5% 0% 2.4% 0%
Documentaries, incl. series 1.5% 12.7% 1.5% 10.7% 1.8% 11.1% 2.4% 10.6%
Drama and comedy, incl. series2 0.1% 5.2% <0.1% 3.6%  
Drama2   0.2% 1.5% 0.5% 2.1%
Comedy2   <0.1% 0.4% 0.1% 0.7%
Education 9.6% 0% 3.1% 0% 1.9% 0% 2.1% 0%
Magazine 1.6% 0% 1.5% 0% 1.8% 0% 2.1% 0%
Movies 0% 24.1% <0.1% 25.6% <0.1% 23.6% <0.1% 21.9%
Music <0.1% 0.1% <0.1% 0.2% 0.5% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1%
News and current affairs 2.7% 29.5% 3.7% 31.9% 4.3% 35.3% 4.2% 35.9%
Performance, incl. opera, dance 0% 0.2% 0% 0.1% 0% 0.4% 0% 1.2%
Shorts,
incl. Eat Carpet, fillers		 <0.1% 1.2% <0.1% 1.1% <0.1% 1.0% 0.1% 1.0%
Specials 0.1% 1.1% 0.1% 1.2% 0.2% 1.0% 0.2% 0.4%
Sport3 7.0% 0% 12.0% 0% 11.2% 0% 10.9% 0%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia from Special Broadcasting Service Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
Table shows all programming hours broadcast except for advertisements, promotions or community service announcements. Some related categories reported by SBS have been combined by Screen Australia to aid annual comparisons.
Includes repeats.
1. Over the years some categories identified by SBS have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped, or has not yet begun.
2. Comedy and drama were reported as a single category in 1996/97 and 1997/98.
3. Only Australian-based events and SBS sport programs such as The World Game were reported under local.

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