SBS has initiated a Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a new production hub and talent incubator in Western Sydney.

The EOI process is open for three weeks, concluding at 2:00pm AEST on Wednesday 28 May 2025. It marks a significant step in SBS's strategic expansion into one of Australia's fastest-growing and most diverse regions.

The broadcaster is in search of premises in Western Sydney capable of supporting television, digital, and audio production facilities. The new hub is intended to bolster SBS's news and media excellence while contributing to the growth of the region's creative economy. The Australian Government has provided funding for SBS to develop a detailed business case for the hub.

The proposed facility is expected to support the development of First Nations, multilingual, and community-led content. The EOI represents the initial phase in identifying a suitable location for the hub, which will encompass news, current affairs, and screen content. SBS aims for the new hub to be operational by late 2028, contingent on budgetary and other approvals.

SBS Managing Director James Taylor said: "For 50 years SBS has told stories that inform, inspire, entertain, and authentically reflect people and communities across Australia. As we look to our network's future, we are excited to be expanding our production facilities to one of the country's fastest growing and most diverse regions.

"This is a rare and valuable opportunity to establish a lasting physical presence for SBS in Western Sydney. It will strengthen our long-standing and already deep connections with local communities, support the development of new First Nations, multilingual, and community-led content and partnerships, and enable us to share even more compelling stories with our diverse audiences across Australia."

The EOI documentation is available on AusTender under the Approach to Market ID: SBSWesternSydney25. SBS will evaluate proposals based on several criteria, including functional requirements, visibility, access to public transport, sustainability goals, and accessibility.

SBS Western Sydney Project Director, Simon Hayes, said: "SBS's evaluation of proposals will be informed by several functional requirements to ensure the premises can support a modern, 24/7/365 media organisation delivering live studio-based production output, which is a technically complex and specialised operating environment.

"SBS will also consider other factors including visibility of the premises to the broader community, access to public transport and surrounding amenity, capacity to contribute to SBS's sustainability goals, and to ensure a fully accessible facility."

Short-listed respondents will be invited to participate in a Request for Proposal process, with a preferred location expected to be determined by late 2025. Western Sydney is defined by 13 local government areas, including Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith, The Hills Shire, and Wollondilly.