SBS staff are worried about loosing their jobs to outsourcing as the broadcaster ascertains whether it is more cost effective and technologically better to outsource their presentation and playout departments. Other areas could go. But a spokesperson for SBS said news, current affairs and sport would not be outsourced.
Meanwhile one of the unions representing workers at SBS, the Community & Public Sector Union (CPSU) is taking a multi-pronged approach to save jobs and address the underlaying issue, the commercialisation of SBS. With the slogan SBS — without the special…it’s just BS the CPSU has launched a campaign that calls on the Minister to provide greater funding for SBS. 
The one page online letter, which can be signed by anyone, concludes by saying “I call on you and your Government to demonstrate your support for SBS by providing more triennial funding for SBS so that it can meet its Charter Obligations and cease the commercialization and outsourcing of SBS work. Without adequate funding from your Government, SBS can no longer be ‘special’ and it is just another broadcasting service. Our community is relying on you and your Government to support SBS and will be watching what happens on 9 May 2012 very carefully”.
Ordinary members of the public, including people not working at SBS may sign the online letter.
Cheaper to outsource, really? I’m not fooled. SBS was ‘special’ once but now it’s really special… special as in cheap! A poor commercial look a like. I still love sbs but would love it a whole lot more if they stopped ripping the guts out of it. I haven’t forgotten. This government broke their promise to fund sbs free of commercial influence. I question the motive of SBS management too. Outsource SBS and all the culture will be lost forever.
More strength not less to our old style Special Broadcasting Service. More funding for in house programmes and more quality programming. Make the SBS Board responsible for improving not imasculating SBS.
Support Scott Ludlam’s Bill too, please.
Please phase out disruptive in-program advertising on SBS.
Without the special it’s just BS, and we all know BS stands for!
Ads in SBS programs are disruptive,Especially in foreign language films.
Seldom watch anymore because of the advertising during programs. Bunch them together before each program. The Canadians did this years ago as you used to. SBS has really messed itself up. Terrible shame.
TV Advertising? My pet hate! So intrusive and meaningless. I love SBS, but the advertising it has been forced to adopt to retain enough working funds, spoils the wonderful programs put to air. At least if they were all in one bunch, they would be less intrusive that way.