SBS is currently available to watch free to air on the following channels:
Channel 3 – SBS ONE in SD MPEG-2
Channel 30 – SBS ONE HD in HD MPEG-4
Channel 31 – SBS Viceland in HD MPEG-4
Channel 32 – SBS World Movies in HD MPEG-4
Channel 33 – SBS Food in SD MPEG-2
Channel 34 – NITV in SD MPEG-2
Channel 35 – WorldWatch in SD MPEG-4
From Tuesday 5 December 2023, NITV on channel 34 will be upgraded to HD MPEG-4
with its SD MPEG-2 version still available on channel 36. SBS Food on channel 33 will also be upgraded to the MPEG-4 broadcast format. Some older, non-compatible TV sets may not support this format and will no longer be able to decode the channel.
SBS ONE HD (Ch30), SBS Viceland (Ch31), SBS World Movies (Ch32) and SBS WorldWatch (Ch 35) are already in MPEG-4. If you can currently watch these channels, you will be able to continue watching SBS Food after the upgrade. If you currently cannot watch the above channels on your current TV set, you will also no longer be able to watch SBS Food after the upgrade.
To continue to enjoy all your favourite SBS channels, the easiest and cheapest solution, while continuing to use your current TV set, is to install a modern digital set top box. A digital set top box is a device with a very small footprint, easy to install and available in all good electronics stores for around $50.
Why are we upgrading our channels to MPEG-4?
MPEG-4 provides higher-quality pictures for TV viewers, especially when compared to non-MPEG-4 compatible receivers using MPEG-2. This improvement is due to MPEG-4's more efficient compression, allowing for better image quality. Viewers with MPEG-4-compatible receivers can enjoy enhanced visuals and a more satisfying television experience compared to the older MPEG-2 technology.