Sbs Swings Into The Sixties Television
Illawarra Mercury
Friday May 21, 1999
FLOWER power rules a week of change as SBS Television prepares for the new century with a fresh schedule.
From Sunday, the multicultural broadcaster will instigate major timeslot changes but will soften the blow by dedicating a week of programming to the Swinging Sixties.
Block programming events have proven popular with SBS audiences in past years and the array of documentaries, music programs, comedies and films on offer is likely to soothe transition woes. Despite an increase in audience share of more than 10 per cent last year, the broadcaster is determined to toe a more traditional line.
``The new schedule will bring SBS more into line with normal viewing patterns across the other networks, increasing the accessibility of our programming," said SBS head of television Peter Cavanagh.
Major changes include renaming the popular World News at Nine as World News Tonight and screening it in the 9.30pm timeslot, The Cutting Edge moves to 8.30pm on Tuesdays, About Us jumps from Wednesday to Friday nights at 8.30pm, Insight screens at 8.30pm on Thursdays and The Movie Show will appear on Wednesdays at 8pm.
There will be a new 60-minute drama series on Thursdays, a 30-minute documentary series on Fridays and Dateline will move to Wednesday nights when it returns.
``We can't afford to rest on our laurels. As viewer choice increases with the availability of pay television and other competing forms of entertainment, it's more important than ever for free-to-air television to be user-friendly," Cavanagh said.
The '60s is certainly a user-friendly decade on which to build consumer confidence. The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix (pictured), The Supremes and Bob Dylan lead the musical charge while films and documentaries cover everything from the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Kennedy to images from the Vietnam War. Check your guides for details.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury