{"id":10790,"date":"2024-08-26T08:50:30","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T12:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/worldscreen.com\/"},"modified":"2024-08-27T09:56:38","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T13:56:38","slug":"sbss-bethan-arwel-lewis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/sbss-bethan-arwel-lewis\/","title":{"rendered":"SBS\u2019s Bethan Arwel-Lewis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this year, SBS initiated a search for its most \u201cdaring, unflinchingly fearless and boundary-smashing factual format\u201d 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\u2019s commissioning editor of factual, talks to TV Formats <\/em>about the search for big, bold factual formats.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0What led to the creation of the new factual format development funding?
\nARWEL-LEWIS:\u00a0<\/strong>SBS is always on the search for bigger and bolder ideas. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0What are the types of stories and formats you\u2019re looking to get from the initiative?
\nARWEL-LEWIS:<\/strong>\u00a0We 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0What kind of support will SBS provide?
\nARWEL-LEWIS:<\/strong>\u00a0We\u2019re 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\u2019re excited to work with Australian creatives to develop what could be SBS\u2019s next channel-defining hit.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0How is this type of factual entertainment performing in today\u2019s market?
\nARWEL-LEWIS:<\/strong>\u00a0When 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\u2019ve seen incredible success with\u00a0Alone Australia<\/em>, 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\u2014sometimes in surprising ways, like\u00a0First Contact\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Go Back to Where You Came From\u2014<\/em>both formats which have traveled internationally.<\/p>\n

We are excited to go even further through this initiative to develop stories that viewers won\u2019t find anywhere else.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0Talk to me about SBS\u2019s approach to risk-taking.
\nARWEL-LEWIS:<\/strong>\u00a0At 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.<\/p>\n

With this initiative, we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0What does it take for a concept to stand out in today\u2019s competitive landscape?
\nARWEL-LEWIS:<\/strong>\u00a0To stand out, a concept must offer fresh perspectives with inventive approaches to help uncover the issues we face in society. Whether it\u2019s through format-flipping or genre-bending, ideas must challenge audience expectations and spark national conversation.<\/p>\n

TV FORMATS:<\/strong>\u00a0Above all, what\u2019s driving SBS\u2019s factual format strategy?
\nARWEL-LEWIS:<\/strong>\u00a0Our factual format strategy is driven by our commitment to continue inspiring, purposefully provoking and challenging misconceptions to open up new worlds for audiences.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The commissioning editor of factual talks about the search for big, bold factual formats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":10791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,69],"tags":[3913,223],"class_list":["post-10790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-interviews","category-top-stories","tag-bethan-arwel-lewis","tag-sbs","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\nSBS\u2019s Bethan Arwel-Lewis - TVFORMATS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/sbss-bethan-arwel-lewis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SBS\u2019s Bethan Arwel-Lewis - TVFORMATS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The commissioning editor of factual talks about the search for big, bold factual formats.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/sbss-bethan-arwel-lewis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TVFORMATS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-26T12:50:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-27T13:56:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/08\/Bethan-Arwel-Lewis.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"479\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"299\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kristin Brzoznowski\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kristin Brzoznowski\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/sbss-bethan-arwel-lewis\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/sbss-bethan-arwel-lewis\/\",\"name\":\"SBS\u2019s Bethan Arwel-Lewis - 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