Communications & mediaStatutory authorityExists today
Special Broadcasting Service Corporation
SBS
December 1991 – present
Previously Special Broadcasting Service (1978–1991).
National multilingual and multicultural broadcaster providing radio, television and online services, including National Indigenous Television (NITV).
Names over time
- Special Broadcasting Service1978–1991
- Special Broadcasting Service Corporation1991–present
How it came into existence
The Special Broadcasting Service continued as a corporation with its own charter under the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991.
Legislation: Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991
Changes during its life
- 12 December 2012Relaunched National Indigenous Television (NITV) as a free-to-air channel operated by SBS.
Main functions
- Multilingual radio and audio services
- Multicultural television channels
- National Indigenous Television (NITV)
- Online and streaming services
- Subtitling and translation
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Accountable authority
- Special Broadcasting Service Board – Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 sections 5 and 7, with reference to sections 27(2) and 37(2) notes (membership section 8)
- ABN
- 91 314 398 574
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))