SBS Unveils Major 2027 Australian Slate With ‘Bondi,’ ‘Homeless 300’ and New Ray Martin Series
SBS has unveiled its 2027 programming slate, with a major collection of new Australian documentaries, First Nations productions and returning series forming the centrepiece of the broadcaster’s plans for next year.
Announced yesterday, the slate includes four new documentaries examining contemporary Australian issues: Ray Martin is Misinformed, Homeless 300, Bondi and the NITV co-commission 2.6 Seconds: Death in the Outback.
Veteran journalist Ray Martin will tackle the increasingly complicated world of artificial intelligence, misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories in Ray Martin is Misinformed, exploring why distinguishing fact from fiction has become increasingly difficult.
Elsewhere, actor Samuel Johnson will host Homeless 300, a new documentary project seeking to challenge perceptions surrounding homelessness by placing the experiences of those affected at the centre of the story.
Bondi will examine the aftermath of the Dec. 14 attack at Bondi Beach through survivors, victims’ families, first responders and members of the community who assisted during the tragedy.
NITV will also mark its 20th anniversary in 2027 with an expanded collection of First Nations programming.
Among the projects is Search for the Snowy, featuring Tony Armstrong and Stephen Curry, alongside Saltwater Cowboys, which follows Malgana entrepreneur Michael Wear and Indigenous startup Tidal Moon as they work to revive Australia’s sea cucumber industry while restoring seagrass in Western Australia’s Shark Bay/Guthaaguda.
The slate also includes In Design, following Biripi, Dunghutti and Kamilaroi woman Georgia Birks as she meets Traditional Owners, architects, artists and others changing approaches to Australian design.
SBS is also bringing back several of its established Australian formats.
Alone Australia, which SBS describes as its most successful commission, will return for a fifth season and move into considerably colder territory, with contestants facing an Arctic winter.
Who Do You Think You Are? will return with Celeste Barber, Brendan Cowell, Shane Janek and Adam Liaw exploring their family histories, while The Cook Up with Adam Liaw is set to reach its 1,000th episode.
Screen Australia has provided production investment across a significant portion of the newly announced Australian slate, including Bondi, Homeless 300, Ray Martin is Misinformed, Search for the Snowy, In Design and Saltwater Cowboys, alongside support from several state screen agencies.
SBS managing director Jane Palfreyman said the 2027 slate reflected confidence in the broadcaster’s distinctive position within the Australian media landscape, spanning local documentaries, First Nations storytelling, international drama, food and sport.
The broadcaster also confirmed an extensive international offering for 2027, including Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Laurie-led espionage drama Legacy of Spies.
But Australian stories remain a major pillar of the newly unveiled slate, with SBS using 2027 to invest heavily in documentaries examining the people, communities and issues shaping the country.