SBS scored an additional $158.1 million over five years in the 2012-13 budget tonight to “ensure it remains a vibrant and dynamic broadcaster” and to give it the resources it needs get a new indigenous free-to-air channel into Australian lounge rooms by the end of the year.
“This represents the most significant funding boost SBS has ever had, and will ensure SBS can continue to provide a unique broadcasting service that includes comprehensive television, radio and online services,” said the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy in a statement.
In the context of Australia being a multicultural society, he described the broadcaster as “one of Australia’s most important institutions” and noted that it was being affected by a rapidly changing broadcasting landscape.
“This additional funding will allow SBS to address its immediate financial pressures, adapt to the changing media environment and build or upgrade its technology capabilities,” he said. But he also implied that the independent production sector would benefit from more commissioning activity.
The National Film and Sound Archive is another institution that will benefit from the budget, being one of eight collecting institutions that has received a funding boost of $39.3 million over four years.