Diversity matters – SBS unveils 2015 line-up

26 Australian commissions, 40 years of radio, 22 platforms and 600 free online movies

Australia’s most unique broadcaster today unveiled a 2015 programming slate which goes to the heart of its Charter to reflect the changing face of the nation.

In 2015, SBS is the only network Australian audiences can come to for a point of difference and stories that truly reflect modern, multicultural Australia: stories about who we are, where we have been and where we are going.

Inspired by the bigger picture in news and current affairs, documentary, entertainment, movies, drama, food and sport, SBS will build on its reputation in the areas it is famous for and shine a light on the events and issues which bring all Australians together.

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: “I am proud that 40 years on after our beginnings as a two station radio network, SBS today is delivering Australian audiences the most innovative, ground-breaking, award-winning programs, across all platforms. We are an irreplaceable part of today’s multicultural Australia, the network perfectly positioned to reflect our diversity and we are looking forward to a strong, dynamic 2015.”

SBS Director of Television Tony Iffland, said: “Programs that explore and celebrate diversity shape the 2015 schedule, with some exciting commissions you simply wouldn’t see on any other network and the best, boldest and premium programs from across the world that attract a global following. We will engage the nation with event television, provoke debate and discussion with documentaries, explore different cultures through the beauty of food, bring depth to our news and current affairs, and passion to our movies and entertainment.”

In 2015, SBS will bring audiences over 26 new Australian commissioned programs reflecting the people, culture and stories of today’s Australia.

Alex Dimitriades and Aden Young star in The Principal, a dramatic story of intrigue set against the backdrop of a boys’ high school in turmoil in South West Sydney; in an Australian first, the inmates of a Darwin prison are shown in a new light, sharing their feelings, faults and experiences through song in Prison Songs; and Paul McDermott joins SBS to host new comedy series Room 101.

Poh Ling Yeow will open up the warm, sometimes chaotic, but always delicious embrace of her family and friends in Poh and Co; Luke Nguyen hits the United Kingdom, Silvia Colloca heads to her homeland in Made in Italy with Silvia Colloca, and Destination Flavour traverses Scandinavia.

Shaun Micallef heads to India to immerse himself in the Hindu world of Gods, Gurus and the Ganges in Shaun Micallef’s Stairway to Heaven; the cast of Angry Mile have a unique front row seat into Australian life from behind the spits of meat in the cultural institution that is the great Aussie kebab shop; and internationally acclaimed SBS series Go Back to Where You Came From, the format rights of which have sold into 12 countries, returns, as does the celebrated genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? for its seventh Australian season, featuring big names like Geoffrey Rush and David Wenham.

RocKwiz, Eurovision and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will be bigger, better and more colourful than ever. SBS continues to grow the world game of football by bringing the A-League to all Australians, and will take audiences to France for pinnacle cycling event the Tour de France, in its 24th year on SBS.

As NITV goes into its third year as a free-to-air channel part of SBS, it will tell more distinctly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories to all Australians, so that a national audience can benefit from the channel’s insights and links to the nation’s First Peoples. NITV News continues to make its mark and Casey Donovan will explore all things Indigenous music in Fusion, plus much more.

In 2015, SBS Radio turns 40 and the network will celebrate the special connections it has forged with the multicultural communities who built today’s Australia and helped SBS to earn its reputation as the broadcaster of more languages than any other globally.

SBS’s leadership in digital delivery will expand even further with SBS ON DEMAND on 22 platforms, more than any other Australian media company. Social television will be front and centre of event programming and the network will continue to be wherever audiences are through a record on demand offering, including 600 Movies on Demand in Australia’s largest free online movie library.

Director of Advertising Sales Andrew Cook said: “SBS programming in 2015 is premium, innovative, influential and it’s diverse – that’s our point of difference. We believe in being known in the market for curating quality content for those hard to reach audiences and with our unique research, SBS Media can provide agencies with insights into understanding multicultural Australia today.”

FOOD HIGHLIGHTS
SBS’s popular Thursday night food programming is set to get bigger and better with more series from some of Australia’s leading chefs of diverse and colourful backgrounds.
– Made in Italy with Silvia Colloca – (10x30min). Actress, opera singer and author of hit cookbook Silvia’s Cucina, Silvia Colloca takes a journey back to her homeland to introduce her family and share her love of healthy, hearty Italian fare in an Italy rarely seen by tourists.
– Poh and Co. – (6x30min) Poh and Co. opens up the warm, sometimes chaotic, but always delicious embrace of acclaimed cook, artist and lover of life, Poh Ling Yeow, and her extended network of family and friends. Much more than just a food program, Poh and Co is a ground-breaking series that sets out to explore the moments that, when strung together, combine to make up a busy, complex, but rewarding life.
– Gourmet Farmer Afloat – (6x60min) The trio from Gourmet Farmer; Matthew Evans, Nick Haddow and Ross O’Meara, embark on an epic sailing adventure to circumnavigate Tasmania in a wooden yacht, following in the wake of the first Europeans to chart this fascinating island.
– Luke Nguyen’s United Kingdom – (10x30min). In this exciting brand new food journey Luke travels and cooks his way across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, discovering the wonderful food delicacies of the island.
– Destination Flavour Scandinavia – (6x30min) Scandinavia is the hottest place in the food world right now and the must-visit destination for food lovers. This six episode series will sample the culinary delights of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Host Adam Liaw will cook classic Scandinavian dishes, learn traditional cooking methods and also provide his own spin on the central themes found throughout Scandinavian food.
– Shane Delia’s Moorish Journeys – (10x30min) Shane Delia is the authority in Australia on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food and this season will follow him as he travels through Morocco and Southern Spain, tracing the origins of Moorish food. His mission is to seek out the best tips, techniques and ingredients, before returning to his Test Kitchen and developing a travel inspired menu. Once cooked, meals will be served to diners in his restaurant.
– Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: Cosmopolitan Cook – (10x30min) Rachel Khoo uncovers a world of culinary inspiration on her travels to Europe and beyond. Immersing herself in different cultures and cuisines she records her findings in her notebook and uses these gems of inspiration back in her London kitchen – cooking up a host of delicious new dishes for friends.
– Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London – (10x30min) Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London finds the acclaimed cook and food writer living back in the city where she was born and bred, getting re-acquainted with one of the world’s most exciting capitals and its fantastic food.
– Raymond Blanc How to Cook Well – (6x30min) Raymond Blanc believes becoming a good cook is all about mastering the basic techniques. In this new series Raymond teaches food lovers to become good cooks by mastering the basics with a range of recipes, from simple to ambitious.

DOCUMENTARIES
SBS will build on its 35 year pedigree in documentary and once again be the home for landmark documentary series in 2015, with a host of ground-breaking commissions that will push boundaries and stir debate.
New
– Shaun Micallef’s Stairway to Heaven – (1x60min) Shaun Micallef heads to India to immerse himself in the Hindu world of Gods, Gurus and the Ganges, on his quest for the meaning of life.
– After the Wave – (1x60min) Ten years after the Boxing Day Tsunami this is the untold story of Australia’s extraordinary role in what became the world’s greatest forensic detective operation, which saw the eventual identification and return of 4000 loved ones to their families in 40 different countries over five years – a remarkable scientific and humanitarian achievement.
– The Great Australian Race Riot – (3 x 60min) Best-selling author, columnist, and raconteur Peter FitzSimons explores the secret history of Australian race riots and reveals how violent mobs of every colour and culture have shaped the nation. In this landmark three-part series he demonstrates how mobs of every ethnicity have regularly transformed our nation – for better as well as worse.
– Prison Songs – (1x60min) In an Australian first the inmates of a Darwin prison are shown in a unique and new light, sharing their feelings, faults and experiences in the most extraordinary way – through song.
– Angry Mile – (3x60min) Angry Mile is an innovative three-part series about a hidden multicultural institution, the Kebab shop, on the frontline of Australians behaving badly. From behind the spits and skewers of meat, these workers have a unique front row seat on multicultural Australian life.
– Struggle Street – (3x60min) This three-part observational documentary about a Western Sydney housing commission community gives viewers an unprecedented window into a world and community that is ignored at best, and at worst demonised by the media. It has real issues, heart and humour.
– Richard Hammond’s Wildest Weather – (3x60min) Richard Hammond’s Wildest Weather is a ground breaking new three-part series that will see Richard explore weather in a way that’s never been done before. Setting up enormous experiments and using a whole barrage of innovative technology, he will reveal the hidden world of weather in stunning detail.
Returning
– Go Back To Where You Came From – (3x60min) Three years after the second series of Go Back to Where you Came From, the government, policies, public opinion and issues have all changed. Yet how we treat refugees and asylum seekers is still a hot button topic. Host Dr David Corlett returns to guide the six participants as they visit new countries, including Syria and Iraq.
– Who Do You Think You Are? – (8x60min) The celebrated genealogy series returns to SBS in 2015 for its seventh Australian season. Celebrity participants such as Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, and Luke Nguyen take a journey into their family history in this fascinating chronicle of the evolution of Australia’s national identity.

DRAMA
New
– The Principal – (4x60min) Alex Dimitriades and Aden Young lead a compelling multicultural cast in SBS’s new four-part drama series from the producers of Rake and Jack Irish and the writers of EAST WEST 101. Murder mystery collides with powerful human drama as Alex Dimitriades, The Principal, tries to save one of Australia’s most challenging multicultural schools from extinction.
– The Legacy – From the creators of Borgen and The Killing, The Legacy is modern family portrait which tells the story of four siblings trying to cope with their mother’s death, which has turned all of their lives upside down.
– Mammon – This new six-part Norwegian thriller follows Peter Verås, an uncompromising journalist for one of Norway’s most respected newspapers, who is drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal when he uncovers evidence of a financial fraud involving the country’s elite.
Returning
– Rectify – From the creators of Breaking Bad hails the second season of one of the most explosive, edgy drama series to come out of the United States. Starring acclaimed Australian actors Aden Young (I, Frankenstein) and Adelaide Clemens (The Great Gatsby).
– Fargo – Critically acclaimed drama series Fargo will return for a second season of dark humour and intrigue. Season 2 will go back in time to focus on the experiences of a young Lou Solverson (the father of Molly, from Season 1), a state police officer. Series creator Noah Hawley has confirmed that the new season will continue to draw inspiration from original Fargo masterminds, the Coen Brothers.
– Masters of Sex – Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan return to SBS in 2015 as real-life pioneers of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson, in the third season of Masters of Sex.

ENTERTAINMENT
New
– Room 101 – (10x30min) Hosted by Paul McDermott, this new 10-part comedy entertainment series will present a refreshing approach to the celebrity interview, inviting guests including Ray Martin, Julia Zemiro, HG Nelson, Julia Morris, Dave Hughes, Noni Hazelhurst, Matt Preston, Nazeem Hussain, Poh Ling Yeow, and Vince Colossimo to offload their pet hates and consign them to oblivion in Room 101.
Returning
– Eurovision – Eurovision has become one of the most popular television events in Australia. Next year is the 60th anniversary of Eurovision and with the official theme ‘Building Bridges’ already announced by host country Austria, SBS can reveal we have our Eurovision engineers Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang already working on how we can build a bridge to Vienna and join the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015.
– Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – SBS’s focus for 2015 will be event television that really gets the nation talking. This year, for the first time in 12 years, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras returned to free to air television, and next year it will move from SBS 2 to SBS ONE. A global beacon of pride and inclusion, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the world’s largest and most-loved LGBTQI celebrations, providing an opportunity to commemorate a universal message of diversity and equal rights.
– RocKwiz Salutes The Decades – (6x60min) Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis and the RocKwiz Orkestra return in 2015 with RocKwiz Salutes the Decades. These shows will honour and explore the local and international music scene from the decades including the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and more. Each episode will feature iconic performers, and trivia representing each decade.
– Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Golden Globe winning comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine is armed and ready to fire for a second season on SBS ONE in 2015. Man-child detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and his misfit band of law enforcers at the 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department are back to solve crime and wreak general havoc, at the dismay of their no-nonsense Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher).

SPORT
– Football – In 2015, SBS will bring audiences the best football from home and abroad. SBS’s 2015 football line up will include the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League finals plus the launch of the new season, the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League final, the 2014/15 Europa League finals plus all of the Matilda’s games at the 2015 Women’s FIFA World Cup. SBS’s The World Game website will also continue being the online football hub in Australia, giving football fans news and highlights that are available anytime, anywhere.
– Cycling – SBS is home to the 2015 Cycling season, with all the action from Europe’s Grand Tours: the 2015 Vuelta a Espana, the 2015 Giro d’Italia and the 2015 Tour de France. SBS will broadcast every stage of the Tour de France live and exclusive on TV, streamed online and via the award-winning Tour Tracker app, as well as for the first time a next-day afternoon replay of each stage from the night before. The 2015 race route has been announced, with the grand depart from Utrecht, Netherlands. With the inclusion of cobblestones, a race changer in the 2014 Tour, as well as the return of the legendary Alpe d’Huez, and an historic passing through the World War One battlefields of the Somme in tribute to the ANZACs, the 2015 Tour will be one not to miss.

SBS 2
SBS 2 will continue to entertain younger Australians with edgy, provocative and comedic programs, combining a unique Australian perspective in new commissioned series and diverse cult classics from across the world.
– Danger 5 – (7x30min) Allied super-team, Danger 5 reunite on SBS 2 on Sunday January 4, 2015 at 9:30pm, after years of far-flung obscurity, to stop Hitler’s ultimate quest for world domination in a 1980’s excess soaked universe of neon, ninjas, discos, dinosaurs, pizza and prom-queens.
– The Feed – After a successful 2014 adding a fresh perspective on the latest local and international headlines, with incredible insights into the latest pop-culture trends and technology news, host Marc Fennell and presenters Jeannette Francis, Andy Park and Patrick Abboud will return in 2015 to dish up a new serving of the stories that only they could find, and only SBS 2 could broadcast.
– Tropfest – This year the team behind The Feed will produce the SBS coverage of Tropfest, Marc Fennell and Adam Spencer return to the helm, with Jeannette Francis joining them for hosting duties of the broadcast of the world’s largest short film festival.
– Unplanned America – (6x30min) SBS 2’s own hipster documentary makers are back for a second series in Unplanned America. Three Aussie mates, Gonzo, Nick and Parv, throw out travel guides and maps for another road trip around the land of the free and home of the brave, seeking lesser seen subcultures off the beaten track.
– International Drama – SBS 2 in 2015 will bring younger audiences the best in international drama, fast-tracking the third season of acclaimed drama Orphan Black, launching new Belgian thriller Cordon, and continuing to deliver a strong serving of sci-fi and zombies with new seasons of Lost Girl, and The Walking Dead.
– Documentaries – SBS 2 will continue telling real life stories like you’ve never seen them before, with an impressive documentary slate in 2015. SBS 2 will premiere new series Reality Trip, the 4th and 5th season of Don’t Tell My Mother as well as several other powerful documentaries in their weekly Slice documentary slot.
– Comedy – SBS 2 seeks to bring audiences the best local and international comedies and 2015 will be no exception, with the third season of Drunk History, and Season 19 of award-winning series South Park.

NITV
NITV reaches around 2 million Australians per month and is a channel all Australians can be proud of, offering all Australians the chance to share and celebrate Indigenous heritage, culture and stories. In its third year free to air since it joined SBS, NITV will continue to tell unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories.
– The Marngrook Footy Show – Unique, good humoured and popular Footy show Marngrook, will return for a new season in 2015.
– Kriol Kitchen – (10x30min) Ali and Mitch Torres will return next year for a second helping of Kriol Kitchen exploring the food, culture and history of Asian influences on local Broome cuisine.
– Express Yourself – (2x60min) hosted by our King of stand-up comedy Sean Choolburra, NITV presents some of the best of Indigenous comedians Australia has to offer in this new two-part comedy series.
– Fusion – (10x30min) Now in its second season, music show Fusion, hosted by singer Casey Donovan, is back with a fresh new look and a heap of Indigenous music.

Beyond 2015
SBS Director of Television, Tony Iffland, also revealed in a sneak peak for 2016, that in a major coup for the network, SBS has secured the rights to a four-part documentary series “Inside Heston’s World” following Heston Blumenthal as he moves his restaurant The Fat Duck from Berkshire to Melbourne. Cameras will follow the culinary whizz for a year as he moves his entire staff of 50 from the UK to Australia in one of the biggest business stories of the decade.

THE EVENT
SBS’s Upfront 2015 event on Friday 14 November transformed inner city Luxe Studios into a multi device screening room, representing the current landscape of media consumption in Australia. After SBS executives, SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid, Director of Television Tony Iffland and Director Advertising Sales Andrew Cook presented the 2015 line up to guests, the screening room opened up to reveal a bustling, marketplace of street food market stalls showcasing international flavours, the 2 Italian Boys proffering wines, buskers playing a myriad of eclectic tunes, the Gelato Messina cart offering a sweet treat, and a room full of SBS faces from all three channels, SBS ONE, SBS 2 and NITV.

A little about…
Gelato Messina: was founded with the simple goal of making gelato in the most honest, simple way possible. We use only the best ingredients and we make everything from scratch, cutting no corners along the way. We also push ourselves to be creative in our endeavours so that we are always moving forward. We are very passionate about gelato and about dessert. We love gelato and we want our customers to share that experience with us and with their friends and family.

2 Italian Boys: The passion for a good drop and good food brought us together. Making Wines that complement the food we love is our business. We live in Australia but our origins are Italian. It’s from there, we learnt the ancient Art of Wine making and the secrets that have been passed down from generation to generation. Highly innovative techniques, combined with a deep respect for tradition have given life to our unique range of wines. Today we have friends sharing our Wines all over the World and we’re loving it!