What is "Play from Start"?
"Play from Start" lets you restart a live program from the beginning while it is still airing on SBS, SBS VICELAND an selected live events including the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The restart point is based on timings provided by the SBS On Demand electronic program guide (EPG), which may occasionally be a few minutes inaccurate if programs run over or under schedule. As a result, when selecting “Play from Start”, you may briefly see the final minutes of the previous program before your chosen program begins. If this occurs, you can manually scrub forward to reach the start of the selected program.
How do I access this feature on the SBS On Demand?
Start a live stream on SBS On Demand. You will be asked whether you want to “Watch Live” or “Play from Start.”
Select “Play from Start” to watch the current program from the beginning.
Alternatively, you can select "Watch Live" and then click on the "Play from start" button in the bottom of the video player. You will then be taken to the start of the current program.
Click "Play from start" again if you want to go to the beginning of the previous program. This will work as long as the program is within the 120-minute rewind window.
Is there a limit to how far back I can restart?
Yes, live playback of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is limited to 120 minutes. If the program exceeds this duration and you select "Play from Start", you'll be taken back up to the 120-minute point and will see a message indicating the limit has been reached.
In some cases, if the live broadcast has been running for longer than 120 minutes, you may enter the stream partway through the match and see the current score, which could spoil your viewing experience. Viewers are more likely to encounter this during FIFA World Cup broadcasts because the live stream usually starts around 30 minutes before kick-off and includes a pre-game show. As a result, the 120-minute threshold may be reached before the match has finished.
We have also updated the messaging shown within SBS On Demand. When a program started more than two hours ago, viewers will be informed that the beginning of the program is no longer available and will be given the option to either "Watch Live" or "Go Back 2 Hours". The two-hour limit is intended to make viewers aware that they may enter the broadcast after the event has started and could see the current score, potentially spoiling their viewing experience.
This update is being progressively rolled out across SBS On Demand platforms. It is now live across:
SBS On Demand website (both desktop and mobile)
What devices currently support "Play from Start"?
This feature is currently available on:
- The SBS On Demand Website
- Samsung, LG, Hisense Smart TVs
- Android & Google Televisions
- Android & iOS Mobile Apps
- Apple TV
- Foxtel iQ3, iQ4, iQ5 set top boxes
- Hubbl Glass and Hubbl Puck
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
Unfortunately, Play from Start is not supported on Fetch devices, HbbTV services or Chromecast playback. If you're planning to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026, you'll need to use one of the supported SBS On Demand devices listed above to access Play from Start.
I was taken to the wrong part of a program—what should I do?
If you're only seeing a small overlap (usually a few minutes), then this is expected due to timing differences in the EPG. You'll need to manually skip forward or scrub ahead a few clicks to catch up with the live stream.
However, if you're being taken significantly back into the wrong content (e.g. 20+ minutes), please contact us so we can investigate.
Why am I seeing ads when I restart a program?
When you choose "Play From Start" on SBS On Demand’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the stream begins from the start of the live broadcast, including the pre-game show and any ad breaks that originally aired.
This means you may enter the stream during an ad break, depending on where the live broadcast was at that point. Ads cannot be skipped during live playback, so you’ll need to watch through the ad break before the program resumes.
"Play from Start" does not add extra ads — it simply reflects the same ad breaks that are part of the live broadcast, whether on SBS On Demand or our linear channels. The ads shown may differ, but the overall ad load is the same as live viewing.”