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Australian television history has been made with last month’s launch of the Special Broadcasting Service’s 24-hour dedicated multilingual news channel, SBS WorldWatch.
For the first time, news bulletins and programs from international broadcasters in more than 35 languages are airing around the clock. There are no English subtitles (these will be available on SBS OnDemand) and no danger of programs being bumped by special events such as the World Cup, Eurovision or the Tour de France.
WorldWatch - Mandarin News (left to right): Michelle Chen, Rena Li and Jeff Kuan.Credit:
In another first, two locally produced, prime-time news bulletins in Arabic and Mandarin were launched in February on SBS OnDemand, and now air weeknights at 8pm and 8.30pm respectively on SBS Worldwatch, delivering Australian news to Arabic and Mandarin-speaking communities.
News presenter Hadil AlSwaiedi says the significance of her Arabic bulletin for the 321,728 Australians for whom Arabic is their primary - and in many cases only language - cannot be underestimated. AlSwaiedi said the viewers she spoke to before the launch were thrilled.
“They said: ‘Even if we speak or understand English, we prefer to hear the news from Arabic sources, from people who speak Arabic’. They said that it gave them more confidence to hear it in their native language. In addition to that, the new arrivals who aren’t aware of anything around them, any news or information can help them. It’s a great opportunity for us to present to each house in our community.”
The former Iraqi journalist and music presenter, who moved to Australia 13 years ago as a foreign correspondent for Iraqi TV, says the pandemic brought into sharp relief the need for a local news service for non-English speaking people.
WorldWatch - Arabic News (left to right) Hadil AlSwaiedi, Nissrine Khadra Daher and Ali Bahnasawy.Credit:
“Australia (by comparison) doesn’t have that much awful news content,” she said. “It’s a peaceful country. Most of the Arabic community has escaped war, so for them, there is not a lot of engagement. Whereas now, during COVID, they find themselves lost and needing more and more news about the virus and about the politics.
“The government found that, during the COVID crisis, it’s become harder to reach all communities. So it’s a good time for us to inform our community.”