SBS will discontinue The Feed as a linear broadcast show after 9 years on air, to screen on digital only from July.
The show has been a showcase for talent including Marc Fennell, Jan Fran, Mark Humphries, Patrick Abboud, Andy Park, Patrick Hing, Alice Matthews and Alex Lee. Whilst its audience has mostly been online, this week it drew just 49,000 overnight viewers.
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, Mandi Wicks says: “The Feed has undergone several iterations since its inception in 2013, always delivering unique and distinctive stories for a younger audience. The Feed’s content performs well on digital platforms, and we are looking forward to putting more focus on crafting content for these audiences.
“The Feed has also been an amazing place to discover and develop young and diverse Australian journalists, producers and editors, and we believe the new direction will play to the strengths of the current talented and creative team and continue to serve as a talent incubator for SBS.”
SBS will also form a specialist documentary unit from within The Feed team for long-form factual series overseen by Managing Editor of Current Affairs Lanneke Hargreaves. They will produce two documentary series during 2022/23, for SBS On Demand, fronted by Marc Fennell.
“Marc Fennell has been the face of The Feed for nine years and we are pleased he will still be front and centre as we create this specialist documentary unit, producing more Australian stories told in a unique and engaging way for audiences,” said Lanneke Hargreaves, SBS Managing Editor of Current Affairs.
“The new documentary unit includes some of the most talented, young, diverse journalists and filmmakers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with,” said Marc Fennell. “Building off the success of Framed, I can’t wait to start digging into new unique stories that only SBS can tell.”
“We want to acknowledge the ongoing legacy of The Feed TV program. It is a testament to the talent of all those involved along the way. SBS is proud of everything The Feed has achieved and believes the team, with expanded digital resources, will continue that legacy,’ said Wicks.
The final episode of The Feed on TV will air on SBS on June 28.