SBS has confirmed it will advance several shortlisted proposals as part of its search for a future site for its Western Sydney production hub, following a nationwide expression of interest (EOI) process.
The project, which aims to establish a world-class television, digital, and audio production facility in one of Australia’s most diverse regions, will now move into a formal request for proposal (RFP) phase. This will allow SBS to more deeply assess the operational feasibility and community alignment of each potential location.
Submissions were evaluated against a range of strategic and functional criteria, including the ability to support high-end media production infrastructure and to reflect SBS’s mission to serve Australia’s multicultural communities.
Darren Farnham, Chief Technology Officer at SBS, said the organisation was “incredibly encouraged” by the calibre of responses received. “This next stage brings us closer to creating a production hub that will amplify First Nations and multilingual voices, support new content partnerships, and foster the next generation of diverse media talent.”
Simon Hayes, SBS Western Sydney Project Director, added that the RFP phase would explore “how each potential premises can support SBS’s specialised and highly technical operational needs and community impact objectives.”
A final site selection is expected by late 2025, pending the outcomes of the RFP process and approval milestones. The selected site will underpin a detailed business case to be submitted to the Australian Government as part of funding considerations.
The proposed hub is set to become a home for content across SBS’s portfolio, including news and current affairs, First Nations storytelling, multilingual programming, and community-led initiatives, while also supporting local jobs and education pathways.
More information about the project is available here.