037/06
9 May 06

Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Corporation funding

Triennial base funding for the SBS will be maintained in real terms for the next three years.

“As promised in the Coalition's 2004 election policy statement, 21 st Century Broadcasting, triennial base funding for SBS will be maintained in real terms for the next triennium and will rise to $90.0 million in 2006–07, $91.9 million in 2007–08 and $93.9 million in 2008–09,” the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan said.

“The SBS is one of Australia 's primary cultural institutions with a very significant and valued role to play in Australian broadcasting.”

The Government will also continue the additional funding, first provided to SBS in 2000–01, for the purchase of overseas programming at a cost of $3.8 million in 2006-07, $3.9 million in 2007–08 and $4.0 million in 2008–09.

This will bring SBS's total funding to $186 million in 2006–07, $188.2 million in 2007–08 and $190.9 million in 2008–09.

SBS is Australia 's multicultural and multilingual public broadcaster.

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

• SBS is one of Australia 's key cultural institutions.

Who will benefit?

• The Australian public

What have we done in the past?

• Last year, in the 2005–06 Budget, the Government continued funding for SBS Independent, SBS's independent commissioning arm at a cost of around $9 million a year.
• In the 2005–06 Budget the Government also provided SBS with one-off funding of $4.7 million for the purchase of sports rights.
• The Government has also agreed to fund the SBS's digital conversion, which is expected to cost in the order of $400 million over the decade.

When will the initiative conclude?

• SBS funding is reviewed on a triennial basis, and is next due for consideration in the 2009–10 Budget.