SBS has launched a Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for the future location of its planned new SBS production hub and talent incubator in Western Sydney. The company is seeking proposals for a premises in Western Sydney that can support a best-in-class television, digital, and audio production facility with the space, infrastructure, environment, accessibility, and amenity needed to foster the next era of SBS’s news and media excellence and contribute to the growth of the region’s creative economy.
SBS Managing Director James Taylor showed enthusiasm for the expansion of the production facilities: “For 50 years SBS has told stories that inform, inspire, entertain, and authentically reflect people and communities across Australia. As we look to our network’s future, we are excited to be expanding our production facilities to one of the country’s fastest growing and most diverse regions. This is a rare and valuable opportunity to establish a lasting physical presence for SBS in Western Sydney. It will strengthen our long-standing and already deep connections with local communities, support the development of new First Nations, multilingual, and community-led content and partnerships, and enable us to share even more compelling stories with our diverse audiences across Australia," commented.
The Australian Government announced the expansion of SBS to Western Sydney at the end of last year and has provided SBS with funding to prepare a detailed business case to develop a Western Sydney production hub and talent incubator. The EOI is the first step in identifying a suitable location for the production hub, which is envisaged to become a home for more distinctive SBS programs, including news and current affairs, First Nations stories, multilingual audio services, and screen content. It will provide local communities with improved access to SBS jobs and education pathways and greater opportunities to connect with Australia’s most trusted news media organisation.2
The EOI opens on AusTender for three weeks and will close at 2:00pm AEST on Wednesday 28 May 2025. All interested parties with proposals for premises in Western Sydney are invited to submit their proposals for SBS’s consideration, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the EOI.
Meanwhile, SBS Western Sydney Project Director Simon Hayes mentioned other aspects that will be taken into consideration: “SBS’s evaluation of proposals will be informed by several functional requirements to ensure the premises can support a modern, 24/7/365 media organisation delivering live studio-based production output, which is a technically complex and specialised operating environment. SBS will also consider other factors including visibility of the premises to the broader community, access to public transport and surrounding amenity, capacity to contribute to SBS’s sustainability goals, and to ensure a fully accessible facility," expressed.
After the conclusion of the EOI and evaluation process, short-listed respondents will be invited to participate in a Request for Proposal process. SBS anticipates determining a preferred location for the new production hub in late 2025. SBS is required to submit a detailed business case to the Australian Government at the end of this year for funding assessment for the SBS Western Sydney Production Hub. Subject to budgetary and other approvals, SBS is planning for the new hub to be operating from late 2028.
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