SBS increases radio hours for Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil and introduces Malayali broadcast from April 2013
SBS Audio and Language Content Director Mandi Wicks announces changes to SBS radio schedule
November 30, 2012
SBS today released a new Radio Schedule to be launched on-air in April 2103. The new Radio Schedule will bring the languages broadcast on SBS’s analogue radio service into line with today’s Australia. The last major review of the SBS Radio Schedule was more than 18 years ago in 1994, and during that time Australia’s demographics have changed significantly.
The relative size of some languages spoken has changed and new languages are being spoken in Australia as a result of changing migration patterns. The new SBS Radio Schedule includes six new languages, more programming for language groups which have grown significantly during the past 18 years and a new digital-only schedule for 21 languages.
To accommodate these new languages SBS will create a new digital radio channel, which will also be available via digital TV, online and mobile apps. SBS will continue producing content in all languages on the current radio schedule. The total number of language programs on the new SBS Radio Schedule will increase from 68 to 74, and SBS will continue to be the most multilingual radio broadcaster in the world.
For the first time SBS will deliver news and information in Malayalam, Dinka, Hmong, Pashto, Swahili and Tigrinya. The program hours for many of SBS’s existing language programs such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi and Punjabi will increase substantially to cater for the growing number of people speaking those languages in Australia today. SBS Audio and Language Content Director Mandi Wicks said: “The revised schedule will enable SBS to better deliver on its Charter obligations by better servicing the largest communities with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and offering more services to emerging high-needs communities.”
The new SBS Radio Schedule was developed using a language selection criteria supported by 2011 Census data. In April 2012, SBS Radio released for public consultation the proposed Selection Criteria which outlined how languages would be determined in a review of the radio schedule. Almost 1200 submissions were received during the public consultation and considered carefully in determining the final Selection Criteria.
Following are the changes in Indian language broadcasting.
Hindi increases from 3 to 7 hours; Gujarati from one to two hours; Kannada remains at 1 hour; new addition Malayalam gets two hours; Punjabi increases from one to five hours; Tamil increases from one to 4 hours and Nepali increases from original 1 hour to 2 hours from April 2013.
Here are the new and the old schedules:
HINDI:
Population 1996: 33, 986; Population 2011: 111, 352
Current Radio Schedule
Three hours of programming on the analogue radio schedule (AM) on Monday at 3pm, Wednesday at midday and Sunday at 9am (Sunday’s program also available on NRN ”“ National Radio Network).
New Radio Schedule
Seven hours of programming each week on the analogue radio schedule (AM), daily at 5pm
GUJARATI
Population 1996: 3, 637; Population 2011: 34, 211
Current Radio Schedule
One hour of programming on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Thursday at 2pm (Sydney only).
New Radio Schedule:
Two hours of programming each week on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Wednesday and Friday at 4pm.
KANNADA
Population 1996: 1, 311; Population 2011: 5, 925
Current Radio Schedule:
One hour of programming on the analogue radio schedule (AM) on Sunday at 5pm (Sydney Only).
New Radio Schedule:
One hour of programming on Wednesday at 4pm
MALAYALAM
Population 2006: 7, 090; Population 2011: 25, 109
Current Radio Schedule
No hours of programming.
New Radio Schedule
Two hours of programming each week on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Thursday at 8pm and Sunday at 9pm.
PUNJABI
Population 1996: 10, 940; Population 2011: 71, 229
Current Radio Schedule
One hour of programming on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Thursday at 9pm (midday on the NRN ”“ National Radio Network).
New Radio Schedule
Five hours of programming each week on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Monday to Friday at 9pm.
TAMIL
Population 1996: 18, 688; Population 2011: 50, 151
Current Radio Schedule
One hour of programming on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Sunday at 11am (also available on the NRN ”“ National Radio Network at 2pm).
New Radio Schedule
Four hours of programming on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 8pm.
NEPALI
Population 2001: 2, 489; Population 2011: 27, 153
Current Radio Schedule
One hour of programming on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Saturday at 9am (Sydney Only).
New Radio Schedule
Two hours of programming each week on the analogue radio schedule (FM) on Saturday and Sunday at 4pm
The above programs are also available via:
Ӣ Digital TV (SBS Radio 1)
Ӣ Digital Radio (SBS Radio 1)
Ӣ Online at sbs.com.au/hindi (live and catch up listening)
”¢ iPhone and android app ”“ SBS Your Language app (live and catch up)
Ӣ Podcasts
Ӣ The SBS National Radio Network (NRN). (For broadcast times and frequencies visit sbs.com.au/radio)
Short URL: https://indiandownunder.com.au/?p=2000