SBS programs safe… for now

THE future of Jewish programs on SBS Radio are not at risk, at least for the time being.

Jewish leaders met SBS executives and were reassured there were no plans to cut the Yiddish or Hebrew radio programs in the immediate future, but there were still fears for the long term.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry executive director Peter Wertheim and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff were told if there were government funding cuts then the 17 programs, including Yiddish and Hebrew, that had a temporary recess over the summer, may be at risk.

They told SBS managing director Michael Ebeid, audio and language content director Dirk Anthony and audio and language content strategy and planning manager Thang Ngo about the importance of the shows. Ebeid and Anthony said no decision had been made to cut the Jewish programs “for the moment”.

They said when SBS assessed which programs were to be saved, preference would be given to language groups with higher numbers of people, lack of proficiency in English and the most recent arrivals in Australia.

As a result, Alhadeff has called on members of the community to use SBS’s online services and particularly the SBS iPhone app. “That will give SBS actual numbers to work with and will boost our case that its programs are important to our community,” he said.

SBS corporate communications manager Jane McMillan did not comment specifically on the future of either program but said there were no plans for a rescheduling of programs. “SBS regularly reviews its language programming on television and radio to ensure it is meeting the communications needs of the Australian community.

“If a review of the SBS radio schedule does go ahead in 2012, the needs of Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities, particularly high needs groups and new arrivals, will form consideration of a revised schedule.”

JOSHUA LEVI

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff

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