Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware
that this post contains names of deceased persons.
Alone Australia heads back to Tasmania, Australia returns to Eurovision
New docos presesnted by Rachel Griffiths, Jacki Weaver
Great Australian Road Trips, Robodebt docos
3 x SBS Digital Original Dramas
Returning: Handmaid’s Tale, Rogue Heroes, Vigil, Blue Lights
NITV: Big Backyard Quiz, Journey Home: David Gulpilil, Dreaming Big, Our Medicine
SBS and NITV today unveiled their 2025 programming highlights to advertisers and media at a luncheon event at Sydney Town Hall.
In 2025 SBS will look back to five decades in Australia (its radio roots were at 2EA in Sydney and 3EA in Melbourne).
Next year Alone Australia heads to the West Coast Ranges of Tasmania, while Australia is confirmed to compete at Eurovision in Basel.
Rachel Griffiths and Jacki Weaver present new docos, while Melissa Leong, Nazeem Hussain, Claudia Karvan and Steph Tisdell undertake Great Australian Road Trips. Who Do You Think You Are? also profiles Claudia Karvan, plus Marc Fennell and Mark Coles Smith. There are docos on Robodebt, DNA and true crime in Central Australia.
In local Drama there are three Digital Originals Moonbird, Warm Props & Moni which will screen on NITV or SBS VICELAND. SBS primary channel has not announced a flagship local drama for 2025.
Managing Director of SBS James Taylor said, “Over five decades, SBS has evolved from two multilingual radio stations to one of the world’s most distinctive multiplatform broadcasters. Within an ever more competitive landscape, SBS stands alone with its long history of truly representing Australia. As SBS prepares to mark this 50th milestone next year and look to the next 50, we will continue to lead the way in being a media network for all Australians – through storytelling that explores and reflects contemporary Australia, through digital innovation, and through our commitment to sustainability.”
SBS Director of Television Kathryn Fink said: “SBS has continued to redefine entertainment with bold, human stories that connect us all. Our success is underpinned by our truly unique offering, with SBS On Demand the linchpin of our network. In 2025, our content slate will inform and entertain, with landmark documentaries including 2.6 Seconds, Robodebt and The Idea of Australia with Rachel Griffiths, and returning hits like Alone Australia, The Handmaid’s Tale and Rogue Heroes. SBS will continue to go places other networks won’t, to ignite important conversations that challenge, move and inspire all Australians.”
SBS
New:
NB: SBS Digital Original Dramas Moonbird, Warm Props & Moni to screen on NITV or SBS VICELAND
The Idea of Australia
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 60 mins
This bold and provocative series asks the question – what is ‘The idea of Australia’ and what could we become? Presented by Rachel Griffiths, the four-part documentary explores the myths that bind us and the events and people that have shaped our democracy, place in the world, cultural identity and the relationship between non-Indigenous and First Nations peoples. By delving into Australia’s history, the series interrogates the past to make sense of the present and imagines an even better future. The Idea of Australia is a Blackfella Films production for SBS. Major production investment from SBS and Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW.
Australia: An Unofficial History
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 60 mins
In this 3-part series, presented by screen icon Jacki Weaver, we crack open a forgotten vault of Australian government films – now stored in the National Film and Sound Archive- that unearth a kaleidoscopic vision of Australia in the 1970s. Featuring an all-star cast of commentators including Benjamin Law, Jan Fran and Zoe Coombs Marr, and behind-the-scenes insights from the people who made and featured in these revealing films like Phillip Noyce, Dr Gary Foley and Jacki herself, the series offers a fun, insightful, and nostalgic exploration of a decade of political and social change when the idea of Australia was completely reimagined and the modern nation we know today came kicking and screaming into existence. Australia: An Unofficial History is a Stranger Than Fiction Films production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. Financed with support from The Post Lounge and Screen NSW who also supported post, digital, and visual effects.
The Secret DNA of Us
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 60 mins
Presented by Marc Fennell alongside experts Rae Johnson and Brad Argent, this unique and ambitious series will DNA test four Australian towns to discover the surprising history and hidden connections of our nation. The series will explore the changing identity of Australia through the lens of our genetic code and the secret history it uncovers. Each episode will expose not only the emotional, personal and familial discoveries of individuals, but also the genetic and historic connections that unite us. This groundbreaking new series will be an exploration of multicultural Australia as never seen before. The Secret DNA of Us is made by Eureka Productions for SBS. Major production investment from SBS and Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW.
2.6 Seconds
TX: 2025 on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 4 x 60 mins
A teenager is killed by a young policeman. Three shots. Less than three seconds apart. 2.6 Seconds is a true crime documentary series, a truth-telling of a fatal meeting between two young men in an isolated community in Australia’s central desert. One black, the other white. The tearing apart of their lives and that of their families, and the clash of two notions of justice. 2.6 Seconds is a co-commission between SBS and NITV with the production of Blackfella Films. Major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Produced in association with ALL 3 Media International.
Great Australian Road Trips
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 60 mins
In each episode two high-profile Australians hit the road to discover the rich diversity of this Great Southern Land, along the way revealing untold stories, one pit stop at a time. Great Australian Road Trips will pair friends Claudia Karvan with Steph Tisdell and Melissa Leong with Nazeem Hussain. Each pair hosts three episodes each, using their cracking banter and chemistry along our highways and byways. Dirt tracks and glistening oceans will form the canvas on which to feature surprising and revealing Australian stories told by four gifted stars. Great Australian Road Trips is a Mint Pictures production for SBS.
Robodebt (Working Title)*
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 3 x 60 mins
The Robodebt scandal ranks as one of the darkest chapters in Australian history. In a highly politicised campaign to claw back money from social welfare recipients allegedly ‘rorting’ the system, $1.8 billion was extracted from over half-a-million people between 2015 – 2019, leading to thousands of Australians struggling to survive and multiple suicides. Robodebt is an ambitious hybrid series combining powerful factual storytelling with high-end drama to tell the story of this notorious scandal that struck at the heart of inequality and social cohesion in Australia. The series will gain access to the victims, the journalists, whistleblowers and those on the inside, testifying to give us the full emotional and dramatic picture of the story as it unfolded, for the very first time. *Working title.
Returning:
Alone Australia
Season 3
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 10 x 60 mins
The record-breaking smash hit survival series Alone Australia returns for a third season. This time, 10 survivalists will be dropped into the cold and rugged landscape of The West Coast Ranges, Tasmania, lutruwita. In this new location the 10 participants face extreme flooding, an abundance of wildlife and deep personal revelations. The harsh conditions ignite never-before-seen innovation and survival skills, forcing the human spirit to its very limit. With no camera crews they must try to survive by their own wits and ingenuity to be the last person standing. Alone Australia Season 3 is an ITV Studios Australia production for SBS.
Who Do You Think You Are? Australia
Season 16 TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 8 x 60 mins
Well-known Australians play detective as they go in search of their family history, and along the way, secrets of their ancestors are revealed. Travelling to far flung places around Australia and the world, eight celebrities seek to find the definitive answer to where they came from and who they really are. The well-known Australians tracing their family tree in this season include Claudia Karvan, Marc Fennell and Mark Coles Smith. Who Do You Think You Are? Australia Season 16 is a Warner Bros. production for SBS.
Eurovision Song Contest 2025
TX: May 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
The Eurovision Song Contest returns to SBS in 2025! The world’s largest live music event is a serious cultural force and a whole lot of fun, celebrating music and artistry from across the globe. This year’s event reached over 163 million viewers across the globe live from Malmö, Sweden, after Loreen’s historic 2023 win in Liverpool, UK. In 2024, Switzerland’s Nemo took out the title with their song The Code. Australia has participated in the contest since 2015, creating a legacy of sending truly unique artists to share their talents on the biggest platform in the world. Who will represent Australia in Basel, Switzerland 2025?
Mastermind
Season 7
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 85 x 30 mins
The toughest quiz on TV, Mastermind is back for another season. Across 85 episodes, quizmaster Marc Fennell will ask over 14,000 questions to more than 220 contenders. At the end of the season, the 16 weekly winners face a semi-final showdown. In four episodes, each contender will return for a second specialist subject and another shot at general knowledge. One nightly winner earns a place in the special one hour Grand Final and a chance at the coveted title of Australia’s Mastermind! As part of our 50-year celebrations, Mastermind will feature special episodes with favourite faces from SBS over the years. Mastermind is produced by BBC Studios for SBS.
Sydney’s Super Tunnel (Acquired title)
Series 2
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Climb aboard an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s biggest transport infrastructure projects, the Sydney Metro, and meet the people who work on this mammoth undertaking along the way. This series will culminate in the recent opening of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project and show our audience how it was brought from a dream to reality.
International:
Daddy Issues
TX: 2024 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) and David Morrissey (The Walking Dead) star in BBC comedy Daddy Issues, a coming-of-age story for all ages. The show follows Gemma (Wood), who lives for the weekend when she can get plastered and party hard in Stockport, Manchester. But after joining the mile-high club with a random hook-up on her way back from a holiday to Portugal, she falls pregnant, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. She has no other option but to seek support from her crisis-stricken father, Malcolm (Morrissey) and move in together. At heart, Daddy Issues is a classic odd couple comedy about two funny, deeply flawed characters, who just happen to be father and daughter.
Blue Lights Season 3
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
The third series of this critically acclaimed drama centres on rookie police officers working on the frontline in Belfast. Co-created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, Blue Lights is an authentic, gripping and darkly funny drama about ordinary people doing an extraordinary job. Reprising their roles in the forthcoming season are Siân Brooke (Grace Ellis), Martin McCann (Stevie Neil), Katherine Devlin (Annie Conlon), Nathan Braniff (Tommy Foster), Joanne Crawford (Helen McNally), Jonathan Harden (David Johnson), Matthew Carver (Cal Ellis) and Hannah McClean (Jen Robinson).
Virdee
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Virdee is a new detective series based on AA Dhand’s best-selling crime novels and stars Staz Nair (Rebel Moon, Game of Thrones). The six-part series introduces Detective Harry Virdee (Nair), a Bradford cop disowned by his Sikh family for marrying Saima, who is Muslim. Harry struggles with the abandonment, constantly attempting to reunite with his family. With his personal life in chaos, he must hunt down a killer targeting the Asian community.
Sherlock & Daughter
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
In this period mystery starring David Thewlis (Harry Potter franchise, Fargo, Landscapers) as Sherlock Holmes, and Dougray Scott (Crime, Mission Impossible 2) as Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes faces a sinister case risking friends’ lives. After witnessing her mother’s mysterious murder, young Californian Amelia Rojas learns her missing father may be the legendary Sherlock Holmes. She journeys to London to find him, but he is not what she expected. Holmes is stymied. He is unwilling or unable to investigate a sinister case, with roots that stretch from America to Australia. Amelia is determined to prove she has inherited Holmes’ powers of deduction. Holmes sees a chance to test her claim and use her as his proxy. He sets her a challenge: Sherlock’s daughter? Prove it. Crack this case.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Season 6
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Across five seasons, the dystopian world depicted in the adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic novel The Handmaid’s Tale has drawn confronting parallels to the world around us. Next year, the global phenomenon returns with its sixth and final season, returning to Gilead; a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. This season, the counter-revolution seems to be splintering – what will happen to June? Returning cast includes Elisabeth Moss, Max Minghella, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd and O-T Fagbenle. Praise be!
Rogue Heroes
Season 2
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
The boys are back! Hit series Rogue Heroes, which charts the formation of the eponymous British special forces unit (the SAS) during the darkest days of WWII, returns for a second series. Season two promises a return to action with the troops in Spring 1943. Paddy Mayne takes control of the SAS following David Stirling’s capture, and now attention must turn from the conflict in North Africa to mainland Europe. The ensemble cast welcomes the return of Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne, Connor Swindells as David Stirling, Sofia Boutella as Eve Mansour and Dominic West as Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke. Gwilym Lee (The Great, Bohemian Rhapsody) joins season 2 as Bill Stirling — David Stirling’s brother and founder of the 2SAS regiment; alongside Con O’Neill (Happy Valley, Our Flag Means Death) as General Sir Bernard Montgomery.
Smilla’s Sense of Snow
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
BAFTA winner Amma Asante (The Handmaid’s Tale, Belle) directs this epic, genre-bending action thriller based on the bestselling novel by Peter Høeg. Set in a near future, surveillance state, the multi-layered story centres on Smilla Jaspersen, a fascinating and unique heroine living in Copenhagen. Amid this futuristic world, dominated by a looming energy crisis, Smilla keeps to herself, until she meets a young Inuit boy who finds a way into her heart. When the boy suddenly dies in mysterious circumstances, Smilla is driven to understand why. As her search for answers takes her to the icy landscapes of Greenland and into the midst of dangerous political power plays, Smilla’s own extraordinary abilities will be key to unlocking the truth – about the boy and about her own identity.
Vigil
Season 2
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Suranne Jones returns as Amy Silva in this follow-up to the BAFTA-nominated BBC crime series set on a submarine. The sequel sees DCI Amy Silva (Jones) and DS Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) looking into a dark conspiracy in the world of the British Air Force in a brand-new investigation. Following a string of suspicious fatalities, the pair must enter the secret world of drone warfare to catch a killer.
Playing Nice
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Playing Nice is based on the J.P. Delaney book of the same name. Set against a sweeping Cornish landscape, two couples discover their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up, and face a horrifying dilemma: do they keep the sons they have raised and loved, or reclaim their biological child? Couple Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar) are thrown into the world of the other couple, Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay). But while they initially agree on a solution, Pete and Maddie soon learn they can’t trust the other couple, and ulterior motives are at play. As tensions escalate, Pete and Maddie are forced to go to extreme lengths to protect their family.
Travels with Agatha Christie with Sir David Suchet
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Before becoming the world’s best-selling author, Agatha Christie embarked upon her own round-the-world “Grand Tour” in 1922, visiting countries such as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Now, 100 years on, Sir David Suchet is going to get closer than ever to his literary hero by following in Agatha Christie’s footsteps, using her own words and photographs as his guide. Amongst the thrill of adventure, David will reflect on how life was very different in 1922. He compares the attitudes of the British Empire at that time with how those countries thrive in the present day, understanding the impact of colonialism and discovering the locals’ opinions of Britain one hundred years on.
Wilderness with Simon Reeve
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Adventurer Simon Reeve journeys deep into the heart of some of Earth’s last great wildernesses. On our increasingly crowded planet, there are still a few remote areas where nature has the upper hand: the last great wildernesses. In this series Simon Reeve ventures further into the unknown than he ever has before to unlock their secrets and experience nature at its most beautiful and fragile. He explores the Pacific Ocean’s spectacular Coral Triangle and Africa’s vast Congo Rainforest; the sweeping Kalahari desert and the awe-inspiring ice-fields of Patagonia.
The Wonders of Europe
Season 2 & 3
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Narrated by Hugh Bonneville, we plunge viewers into the history of one iconic European monument per episode. Based on quality research and meticulous 3D reconstructions, this documentary series traces the construction of breathtaking historical sites and takes you on a journey to meet some of the most prestigious figures in European history.
Irresistible: Why We Can’t Stop Eating
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Featuring medical doctor and academic Dr Chris van Tulleken, who wrote the best-selling book Ultra-Processed People, this documentary explores why ultra-processed foods are so irresistible and how they have come to dominate our food culture. We now eat an extraordinary range of ultra-processed foods, which are the product of brilliant advances in industrial chemistry and scientific research. Created by scientists and sold to us by marketeers, there’s a lot to love about them: they’re hyper-delicious, super-convenient, have long shelf-lives and are extremely cheap. But a growing body of evidence is linking these industrially produced products to our declining health. This documentary features interviews with food industry insiders who talk openly about the way in which popular foods have been designed to be irresistible.
Ancient Greece by Train
TX: 2025 on SBS and SBS On Demand
Professor Alice Roberts gets exclusive access to some of the most recently uncovered archaeology in Greece as she travels the country by train.
News & Current Affairs:
In 2025, SBS World News leads nightly coverage of global stories for Australian audiences, while SBS’s dedicated 24-hour channel SBS WorldWatch features news bulletins from leading international broadcasters in more than 35 languages. On Tuesday nights, Australia’s favourite show for nuanced discussions around taboo topics, Insight returns with host Kumi Taguchi, followed by Australia’s longest running international current affairs program Dateline to explore issues that deepen our understanding of the world around us and our place in it. Following 2024’s Came from Nowhere and Red Flag: Music’s Failed Revolution, the SBS News documentary team fronted by Marc Fennell is back with two new docuseries.
Sport:
In 2025, SBS will serve up the best in sports you won’t see anywhere else. SBS is Australia’s Home of Cycling and will continue to exclusively broadcast all the Grand Tours in professional cycling: the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a España and the iconic Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes. More highlights in cycling for 2025 include the Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes, the inaugural Australian ProVelo Super League cycling series and the Women’s and Men’s European Cycling Spring Classics.
As SBS gears up for the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup 26, SBS is exclusively broadcasting 54 South American CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying matches featuring some of football’s biggest names.
SBS continues to build a catalogue of sport events providing live and on demand access to a unique variety of sports including World Athletics, Indoor Volleyball, Sail GP, International Gymnastics and Figure Skating and a raft of Motorsport events including the jewel in the crown: the iconic Dakar Rally.
Still to Come:
Going Places with Ernie Dingo season 6
TX: 31 October 2024 on NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand Number of Episodes: 12 x 60 mins
Led by Australian icon and proud Yamatji man, Ernie Dingo, this popular travel and lifestyle program unearths and explores stunning locations and activities across Australia. In season six, Mark Coles Smith, Aaron Fa’aoso, Bianca Hunt and Rae Johnston join Ernie, meeting Indigenous peoples and local legends, who reveal surprising and inspiring Australian stories. The team showcase destinations in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory. Season 7 of Going Places with Ernie Dingo will premiere in 2025.
The Jury: Death on the Staircase
Premieres Wednesday 6 November at 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 5 x 60 mins
What would you do if someone’s life was in your hands? In an Australian first, SBS Original The Jury: Death on the Staircase takes inspiration from a smash-hit format from Channel 4 in the UK to provide insight and analysis on how juries work. Over fiveunmissable episodes, the series re-enacts a real manslaughter trial* with actors reciting real court transcripts word-for-word. But just as in a real court, the new jury is made upof 12 everyday Australians. The series exposes the laws and traditions of the court,encouraging the audience to reflect on all it does right, and where the scales of justicemight be skewed. Will the jurors come to the same verdict as the original trial? The Jury: Death on the Staircase is a Northern Pictures production for SBS. Major production investment from SBS in association with Screen Australia. Financed with the assistance of Screen NSW, who also supported post, digital, and visual effects. Based ona format created by ScreenDog Productions and distributed by Blue Ant Studios. *Names dates, locations and images have been changed to protect identities in the original trial. *Names dates, locations and images have been changed to protect identities in the original trial. ‘
Michael Mosley’s Wonders of the Human Body
TX: Wednesday 6 November 2024 at 7.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand
Michael Mosley: Wonders of the Human Body features a special tribute to the late TV presenter by his wife Dr. Clare Bailey. Dr. Michael Mosley takes us on extraordinary journey around the human body, putting his body to the test to help you at home understand yours, as he tracks down answers to lots of burning questions. What makes our bodies work and what is really happening on the inside when they go wrong? Using the latest science and medical innovation, Michael delves inside our bodies to reveal the extraordinary marvels which lie within.
Osher Günsberg: A World of Pain
Premieres Thursday 21 November at 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
In this new authored documentary, Osher Günsberg: A World of Pain, presenter Osher Günsberg spearheads a very personal investigation into the causes of chronic and persistent pain. He meets the individuals and families it affects, and reveals what surprising new science, medications and alternative therapies are being used to treat and manage it. Osher Günsberg: A World of Pain is a Lune Media production for SBS, with principalproduction investment from Screen Australia, with support from Screen NSW.
The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan
Season 4 TX: Late 2024 on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
Comic Romesh Ranganathan leaves his comfort zone and travels to some of the most beautiful and dangerous places around the world. In season four, he visits Uganda, Rwanda and Madagascar.
Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics
TX: Late 2024 on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
This feature documentary investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ever made breaks down into “microplastics.” These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, and mix into the soil, becoming a permanent part of the environment. Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers. What is the impact of these invisible invaders on our health? And can anything be done about it?
NITV
SBS Director of Indigenous Content, Tanya Denning-Orman, said: “As a network, SBS will continue to lead the way in First Nations storytelling, with NITV at the heart of our commitment to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a vital voice in the media. We have a powerful line-up of Blak excellence coming in 2025, and from today, the best of First Nations storytelling has a dedicated streaming destination with the launch of our new SBS On Demand hub, NITV Muy Ngulayg. We thank the Western Torres Strait communities for their input and feedback on the use of this term which means inner knowledge, as we invite all Australians to learn and be inspired by stories from the world’s oldest storytellers.”
News & Current Affairs
In 2025, NITV will continue to deliver comprehensive coverage of the issues that matter most to Australia’s First Nations communities. A new season of Walkley Award-winning Living Black, Australia’s longest running Indigenous current affairs television program, will see host and executive producer Karla Grant interview inspiring and influential people and investigate critical national and international issues via compelling personal stories. The Point returns after a momentous year of connecting with communities nationally, to understand important local issues, while also highlighting possible solutions. Host John Paul Janke will discuss the stories you need to know through a unique Indigenous lens. Throughout the year, our dedicated team of NITV journalists will continue to deliver breaking news from across the country. Natalie Ahmat, Michael Rennie, Breanna Holden and the team return six days a week with regular editions of NITV News and our Friday national wrap program Nula.
New
Moonbird
TX: 2025 on NITV, SBS On Demand and SBS Viceland
Number of Episodes: 6 x 10 mins
Set on a remote Tasmanian island, a recently sober father tries to reconnect with his son through a traditional muttonbirding season, only to face cultural and personal crises that threaten their relationship and force them to confront their family’s disturbing history. Proud palawa creatives, Nathan Maynard and Adam Thompson, lead with their company Kutikina Productions: the first-ever Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company. Moonbird is a co-production between Kutikina Productions and Sheoak Films. Maynard (director and writer) and Thompson (writer and producer) are joined by Catherine Pettman (producer) as creatives on this project. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with development and production support from Screen Tasmania. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and SBS.
Warm Props
TX: 2025 on NITV, SBS On Demand and SBS Viceland
Number of Episodes: 6 x 10 mins
Caught between set life and home life, Charlie Flogim is thrust back to her remote hometown of Broome where she’s forced to deal with a chaotic film shoot and face the one person she vowed never to see again. Will her narcissistic boss convince her that her career is more important than family? Or will Charlie see what truly matters and fight for what’s right? All this before the Warm Props take off at the turning of the tides. Warm Props is an upbeat and biting series created by Jub Clerc, co-written by Kimberley Benjamin, directed by Clerc and Benjamin, and produced by Jodie Bell for Ramu Productions. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and SBS.
One Mind, One Heart
TX: 2025 on NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 90 mins
In this feature-length documentary, a historic political Yirrkala bark petition is discovered and makes its way home to Yolŋu country, evoking the spirit of decades of activism for change. The repatriation provides the opportunity to track the long political campaign – through petition, song, dance, campaigning – to keep culture strong and to have a voice for country. One Mind, One Heart is from writer/director Larissa Behrendt (The First Inventors) and producer Michaela Perske (Larapinta).Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with Screen NSW. Financed with support from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Spectrum Entertainment, Documentary Australia and Philanthropy via the Shark Island Institute.
Our Medicine
NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 30 mins
Our Medicine is a ground-breaking observational series which takes viewers behind the frontline of our strained medical services and joins patients on their emotional journeys through the system. Alongside incredible access to some of the oldest traditional healing practices in the world, the series tracks the day-to-day challenges of medical professionals working in some of the busiest hospitals and jurisdictions in Australia. Our Medicine shines an important light on First Nations professionals and communities taking back control of Indigenous health. Our Medicine is a Karla Hart Productions and Periscope Pictures production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV. Financed with support from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund.
Skin in the Game
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
Marlee Silva aka ‘Rocket’s Daughter’ – rugby league legend Rod ‘Rocket’ Silva – tells her untold and personal story of the NRL past and present. In this intimate documentary, she reveals the truth about the nation’s most loved sport, through her own family story and intimate interviews with hard-to-reach rugby royalty. Marlee uncovers what the sport has done, and is doing, for Indigenous peoples, and families – just like hers. Across her journey, she interrogates the complex interplay of race, gender and class in the national sport – and what this says about us as a nation. Skin in the Game is a Southern Pictures production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with NITV. Financed with support from Screen NSW and the Shark Island Institute.
Dreaming Big
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 6 x 30 mins
This six-part series for NITV takes an intimate look into the lives of gifted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths on the cusp of becoming the nation’s next generation of sports stars. Each episode highlights two young elite athletes, showcasing their relentless pursuit to reach the pinnacle of their chosen field as they navigate family and cultural obligations while remaining focused on their goals. The series will be directed by Andrew Dillon (Le Champion) and Abraham Byrne Jameson (One by One), with writer/producer Richard Jameson (Strait to the Plate season 2) and producer Veronica Fury (And We Danced) also attached. Dreaming Big is a Wirrim Media and Wildbear Entertainment production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with Screen Queensland.
Emily, I Am Kam
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 30 mins
This documentary celebrates the legacy of Australia’s most significant and prolific female artist – Emily Kam Kngwarray and explores the power of her work to protect her country, Alhalker. The film questions what legacy and success looks like for this extraordinary Aboriginal artist, revealing it is much more than the 3,000 paintings Emily left behind. Using archival recordings, audio and visuals from the mid 1970’s onwards, many of which have never been seen or heard, we give Emily the opportunity to speak for herself. Key documentary creatives include First Nations Producer Danielle MacLean, and Executive Producers Hetti Perkins and Kelli Cole. Emily, I Am Kam is a Tamarind Tree Pictures production for NITV with funding from Screen Territory.
Journey Home – David Gulpilil
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 1 x 90mins
David Gulpilil, a Yolŋu man, was one of Australia’s most outstanding Indigenous actors. Since his 1971 debut in Nicholas Roeg’s film ‘Walkabout’ he mesmerised audiences, appearing in over eighteen films. With a career spanning over 50 years, Gulpilil’s contribution to the Australian film industry is part of the history of both the Australian cinema and its representation of Indigenous Australians. This is the story of David Gulpilil’s journey home after his passing in 2021, back to his birthplace in Eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. This is a rare insight into a powerful ceremony of renewal and regeneration – told from the Yolŋu perspective and the perspective of his family. This remarkable event draws a direct line between the contemporary world of international fame and 60,000 years of Indigenous culture. Journey Home is a Savage Films, Brindle Films and Savage Films NT production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Screen Territory and VicScreen. Local distribution by Madman Entertainment. Developed with assistance of NITV, Screen Australia, VicScreen and Screen Territory. Journey Home is written and directed by Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, produced by Trisha Morton- Thomas, Rachel Clements, Jida Gulpilil and Maggie Miles. Executive Producer is Witiyana Marika and Associate Producer is Cathy Gallagher.
Returning
Big Backyard Quiz
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Number of Episodes: 10 x 60 mins
Put another shrimp on the barbie and join Steven Oliver in a fun quiz show exploring Australia’s history and culture.
Acquired Movies & Programs
The New Boy
TX: 2025 on NITV, SBS World Movies and SBS On Demand
Directed and written by award-winning talent Warwick Thornton, The New Boy follows a young Aboriginal Australian orphan boy (Aswan Reid) who is brought into a Christian monastery, run by a renegade nun (Cate Blanchett), where he begins to question his faith and loyalty to his heritage. The film won multiple AACTA Awards and also features Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair.
Sweet As
TX: 2025 on NITV, SBS World Movies and SBS On Demand
The Breakfast Club meets the outback in this uplifting coming-of-age road trip movie by Nyul Nyul / Yawuru director Jub Clerc. With problems on the home front, 15-year-old Murra (Shantae Barnes-Cowan) is on the verge of lashing out. That is, until her policeman uncle (Mark Coles Smith) thwarts her self-destructive behaviour with a lifeline: a “photo- safari for at-risk kids”. Murra isn’t entirely convinced, but she soon joins cantankerous Kylie, uptight Sean, happy-go-lucky Elvis, and camp counsellors Fernando (Carlos Sanson Jr) and Michelle (Tasma Walton) on a transformative bus trip to the Pilbara. On the trail, the teens learn about fun, friendship and first crushes, as well as the forces of ‘reality’ that puncture the bubble of youth.
Earth Oven
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Temuera Morrison is hungry! His favourite food of all is the hangi – an Indigenous New Zealand variation of the earth oven that has shaped his entire understanding of his culture. But, these remarkable wonders of the culinary world are not unique to New Zealand. It turns out, earth ovens have been a reliable part of rural kitchens for thousands of years.
Events
Garma Festival
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
NITV will once again deliver comprehensive coverage from the 25th annual Garma Festival, held in Gulkula, North-east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Each year, the Yothu Yindi Foundation brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, non-Indigenous Australians and international visitors, incorporating visual art, ancient storytelling, craft, dance and music, as well as economic, education, governance and youth forums.
DanceRites
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
Hundreds of First Nations dancers from around Australia share their language and customs at the DanceRites festival. Filmed at Bennelong Point, a First Nations meeting place for tens of thousands of years, DanceRites is Australia’s national First Nations dance competition. Produced by NITV.
National Indigenous Fashion Awards
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
The National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), provides a vibrant and exciting platform to celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers, whilst contributing to the capacity building of the sector.
Winds of Zenadth
TX: 2025 on NITV and SBS On Demand
NITV welcomes you to celebrate the culture, ceremony and critical conversations of the Winds of Zenadth Kes Cultural Festival, back in 2025 on Waiben (Thursday Island) in the Torres Strait Islands. Watch the Opening Ceremony, traditional dances, boat races, key speaker forums and much more, streaming free on SBS On Demand, or tune in each night to NITV News and on NITV’s social platforms.
Absent:
Great Australian Walks
Our Law
Little J & Big Cuz
Eddie’s Lil’ Homies,
Eurovision: Australia Decides
Celebrity Letters and Numbers
Every Family Has a Secret
Slow TV
…and anything with Michael Portillo?
SBS VICELAND, SBS Food, SBS World Movies highlights will be published soon.
links to content on ABC
TV Tonight
