SBS Radio changes: Channel refresh plus two new stations for Asia region music

SBS Radio has launched two new digital radio stations and refreshed its SBS Radio 3 channel, all available on digital television from today. The two new stations are SBS PopAsia and SBS PopDesi.

The two new 24-hour music channels celebrate music from different genres for Australian audiences. SBS PopAsia will focus on Asian pop, including from Korea (K-Pop), Japan (J-Pop) and China (C-Pop). SBS PopDesi will feature a selection of Indian music hits from bhangra to Bollywood.

Meanwhile, the SBS Radio 3 refresh will see the channel broadcast news from the BBC World Service (previously airing on SBS Radio 4), as well as special events coverage.

Following the introduction of these new digital radio stations, VAST (Viewer Access Satellite Television) audiences will have access to all SBS Radio services – SBS Radio 1, SBS Radio 2, SBS Radio 3, SBS Arabic24 and music channels SBS PopAsia, SBS PopDesi and SBS Chill.

All Foxtel satellite and cable platform users will have access to SBS Radio 1, SBS Radio 2 and SBS Chill.

SBS Director of Audio and Language Content Mandi Wicks said: “SBS continues to explore new ways to connect diverse audiences with our distinctive multiplatform services. With the inclusion on digital television, all the SBS Radio services will now be accessible to our audiences, Australia wide.”

Some viewers may be required to retune their televisions in order to receive the newly launched channels. Other televisions will automatically detect changes to the channels and retune. Most televisions, set-top boxes, personal video recorders (or PC tuner cards) purchased from 2009 onwards will be compatible.