SBS’s Bethan Arwel-Lewis

Earlier this year, SBS initiated a search for its most “daring, unflinchingly fearless and boundary-smashing factual format” yet. The Australian broadcaster issued a call out for impactful ideas for new unscripted series, with up to A$50,000 in development funding on offer. Bethan Arwel-Lewis, SBS’s commissioning editor of factual, talks to TV Formats about the search for big, bold factual formats.

TV FORMATS: What led to the creation of the new factual format development funding?
ARWEL-LEWIS: SBS is always on the search for bigger and bolder ideas. It’s ingrained in our DNA to share stories that surprise audiences, smash boundaries, tackle important issues and dive headfirst into ideas that can captivate the nation. Part of this initiative is to maintain that momentum and push it even further.

TV FORMATS: What are the types of stories and formats you’re looking to get from the initiative?
ARWEL-LEWIS: We are looking for daring and ambitious original concepts for factual formats that delve into inequality and social cohesion, tackling the fault lines of Australian society. We want ideas that will challenge audience expectations, have the potential to trigger national debate and can create an impact.

This is the first initiative of its kind at SBS, and what we anticipate are fresh new takes that reflect the diverse experiences of individuals across the country. As always, pitches must align with our unique Charter at SBS, which underpins our approach to exploring and celebrating diversity and confronting the challenges that divide our society. They should resonate with a broad audience on both linear television and our leading streaming platform, SBS On Demand.

TV FORMATS: What kind of support will SBS provide?
ARWEL-LEWIS: We’re prepared to support creatives and their bold and daring ideas with a pool of up to A$50,000 in development funding available for winning projects. We’re excited to work with Australian creatives to develop what could be SBS’s next channel-defining hit.

TV FORMATS: How is this type of factual entertainment performing in today’s market?
ARWEL-LEWIS: When we hit that sweet spot with factual programming that gets the nation talking and has a meaningful impact, we see how that can resonate with a wide audience. We’ve seen incredible success with Alone Australia, which took an international format and made it uniquely Australian with a strong connection to our purpose as a broadcaster. Some of our most successful programs have been documentary series that compel audiences to engage in discussions we need to have as a nation—sometimes in surprising ways, like First Contact and Go Back to Where You Came From—both formats which have traveled internationally.

We are excited to go even further through this initiative to develop stories that viewers won’t find anywhere else.

TV FORMATS: Talk to me about SBS’s approach to risk-taking.
ARWEL-LEWIS: At SBS, we tell stories and center experiences that have often been overlooked on Australian screens and are always searching for the stories and people that have been underrepresented and then really bring them out to shine in the spotlight.

With this initiative, we’re taking risks to a new level with up to A$50,000 in development funding ready to back our claim. We genuinely want to hear groundbreaking ideas that have the potential to take Australian programming by storm, with daring and risk-taking stories that create real impact.

TV FORMATS: What does it take for a concept to stand out in today’s competitive landscape?
ARWEL-LEWIS: To stand out, a concept must offer fresh perspectives with inventive approaches to help uncover the issues we face in society. Whether it’s through format-flipping or genre-bending, ideas must challenge audience expectations and spark national conversation.

TV FORMATS: Above all, what’s driving SBS’s factual format strategy?
ARWEL-LEWIS: Our factual format strategy is driven by our commitment to continue inspiring, purposefully provoking and challenging misconceptions to open up new worlds for audiences.

By embracing risk-taking in our storytelling, we challenge the framework of traditional factual programming with the goal of producing genuinely groundbreaking television with the power to create positive change.