SBS Essential

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)

This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "SBS Essential" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (September 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Television channel

SBS Essential

Country| Australia
Broadcast area| Nationally
Network| SBS Television
Programming
Language(s)| English
Picture format| 576i (SDTV)
Ownership
Owner| Special Broadcasting Service
Sister channels| SBS
SBS HD
SBS World News Channel
History
Launched| 14 October 2002
Closed| 25 January 2007
Availability
Terrestrial
SD Digital| 31

SBS Essential was a Special Broadcasting Service television channel available to digital television viewers in Australia. It began broadcasting on 14 October 2002, and was discontinued on 25 January 2007.

SBS Essential broadcast news headlines, sports headlines, weather and program information. The channel also made use of SBS' SMS Code schedule service, where viewers could SMS a program number to SBS, and when the program was soon to air, SBS would SMS the viewer back. The channel was automated, fed via RSS news from SBS' website.

## SBS Sports +[edit]

SBS Sports + was a highlights loop service provided on SBS Essential during major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup. The service allowed for digital television viewers to review specific moments, or to catch up on the progress of another game.

## Criticisms[edit]

The Special Broadcasting Service was often criticised for broadcasting SBS Essential by HD Digital enthusiasts. This was mainly due to the channel consuming bitrate from SBS's other Digital Television services such as SBS TV, the SBS World News Channel, and SBS HD. Due to similar reasons the channel was removed from SBS' line-up in early 2007.

## Closure[edit]

SBS ceased transmission of SBS Essential on 25 January 2007. The reasons for the closure include the fact that many of the services that were provided by SBS Essential, were available via the onscreen electronic program guide on SBS TV and elsewhere on the digital TV channel line-up. Also, SBS and the SBS World News Channel schedule are freely available in newspapers and on the internet.

Another major reason for the closure was that SBS Essential consumed about 10%–15% of SBS's national digital TV bandwidth, of which will now be available for other uses. It is speculated however, that subject to Government funding, SBS will introduce new digital services over the coming years.

## Identity[edit]

SBS Essential's on-air look was changed several times, between the channels launch and closure. The channel previously had a blue and cream colour scheme, with an abstract design.

On 22 May 2006, SBS Essential had a revamp of its on-air presentation. The design was then simple, and allowed for higher text legibility, as the channel broadcast with a low bitrate.

## See also[edit]

* Special Broadcasting Service
* SBS
* SBS 2
* SBS World News Channel

* v
* t
* e

Special Broadcasting Service

SBS Television|

| Free-to-air channels|

* SBS
* SBS HD
* SBS Viceland (HD)
* SBS World Movies (HD)
* SBS Food
* NITV
* SBS WorldWatch

|

Defunct channels|

* SBS Essential
* SBS World News Channel
* STUDIO
* World Movies

SBS Radio|

| Analogue stations|

* SBS Radio 1 (AM)
* SBS Radio 2 (FM)
* SBS Radio (FM, where SBS Radio 1/2 analog were not available)

|

Digital stations|

* SBS Radio 3
* SBS Radio 4
* SBS Chill
* SBS PopAsia
* SBS PopAraby
* SBS PopDesi

Online|

* SBS on Demand

See also|

* SBS independent
* SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra
* Programs
* SBS Sport
* SBS World News

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template