Australia's multilingual television news service SBS WorldWatch will shut down its linear broadcast channel on 18 September, moving entirely to SBS On Demand in a shift the national broadcaster says will allow it to offer significantly more international news content across dozens of languages.
The channel, which currently delivers news bulletins in 38 languages from 49 international broadcasters, will cease transmission on channel 35 and transfer all programming to SBS's free streaming platform. SBS says the transition will expand what it can offer audiences, with plans to increase the number of bulletins available in most languages to two or more each day.
Why SBS WorldWatch is leaving linear television
The move reflects a broader shift in how Australians consume news and current affairs content. SBS says a single linear broadcast channel cannot accommodate the volume of international bulletins it wants to make available, and that streaming removes the constraint of scheduled time slots entirely.
Under the new model, audiences will be able to watch bulletins as soon as they are published, rather than waiting for a designated broadcast window. Additional bulletins in most languages are set to be added progressively over the weeks following the channel's closure.
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, Mandi Wicks, described the service's role as a vital link between Australia's diverse communities and news from their home countries.
"Moving to SBS On Demand gives us the opportunity to build on that service, with more international news bulletins and greater flexibility for audiences to decide when and how they watch," she said.
Wicks also acknowledged the change would require adjustment for viewers accustomed to the familiar rhythm of scheduled television. "We recognise this will be a change for some audiences who are accustomed to watching SBS WorldWatch on linear television. We're committed to supporting them through the transition, while continuing to evolve our services for the future," she said.
What SBS On Demand will offer WorldWatch audiences
SBS On Demand is a free streaming platform accessible to all Australians, available via app on smart TVs, mobile devices and tablets, as well as through the SBS website. It is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
The platform already hosts a substantial library of multilingual content, with more than 15,000 hours of local and international programming across more than 60 languages. That catalogue spans news and current affairs, documentaries, drama, world cinema, food, children's programming, entertainment and sport.
Viewers will be able to access WorldWatch bulletins through the SBS WorldWatch — News In-Language hub, which appears on the SBS On Demand homepage and allows users to search for content in their preferred language.
The platform also features two 24-hour free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels for English-language international news. Selected English-language programs on SBS On Demand are also available with subtitles in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
Support for audiences during the transition
SBS says it is actively working to help audiences navigate the shift, particularly those who may be less familiar with streaming services. Multilingual information and guidance is being provided through SBS Audio language programs and via the WorldWatch channel itself — channel 35 — ahead of the closure date.
SBS Audio, which produces locally made news and community content in more than 60 languages, continues to broadcast across linear radio channels and is also available as podcasts and through SBS On Demand. The full SBS Audio schedule of language programs is accessible on the SBS website, and further transition support is available through the SBS Help Centre.
What happens after 18 September 2026
The SBS WorldWatch linear television channel 35 will permanently close on Friday, 18 September 2026. From that date, all WorldWatch programming will be available exclusively on SBS On Demand, with the number of daily bulletins in most languages expected to grow as new content is added in the weeks that follow.
The transition marks a significant moment for multicultural media in Australia, as one of the country's most distinctive broadcast services completes its move to a fully digital future. For the communities it serves — many of whom rely on SBS WorldWatch to stay connected to news from their countries of origin — the key change is not the end of the service, but where and how they will find it.
Australians wanting to prepare for the shift can visit the SBS On Demand homepage to locate the WorldWatch hub, or contact the SBS Help Centre for personalised guidance.
