Goodbye VICELAND, hello (again) to SBS2 as multichannel revamp chases viewers aged 25-54.
SBS VICELAND rebrands as SBS2 on Friday 21 August, following the conclusion of SBS’s partnership with VICE Media.
Aimed at 25-54 audiences who are “culturally curious and seeking programming that is smart, surprising, sexy and different, surprising,” SBS is pitching SBS2 as “entertainment with real bite.”
This brings the target demo down from the current 35-54 of VICELAND. The schedule offers entertainment on Mondays, films on Tuesdays, factual on Wednesdays, and “spicy” on Fridays. The channel is expected to remain High Definition MPEG4 (TBC).
Amongst the programming highlights is new AMC series The Vampire Lestat, starring Aussie Sam Reid (the third instalment of Interview with the Vampire), Adam Hills: The Last Leg, Alone, a new series for car-lovers hosted by Danny Estrin Precious Metal: A Love Story, RAW Comedy, Minx and iconic movies.
SBS Acting Head of Network Programming, Natalie Edgar said: “SBS2 is about building on everything Australians already love about the channel while broadening its appeal for contemporary audiences.
“In an increasingly competitive media landscape, Australians have a strong connection with the SBS brand and our distinctive approach to storytelling.
“Bringing the channel back under the SBS banner creates a clearer destination for audiences across broadcast and streaming, while giving us greater opportunity to connect viewers with the stories, characters and cultural moments they won’t find anywhere else.
“Whether it’s premium drama, thought-provoking documentaries, live sport, entertainment or the next great obsession, it will be a place for audiences who are curious, passionate and looking to be entertained.”
SBS TWO launched in 2009 becoming SBS2 from 2013 – 2016.
The change will take place at 5am AEST on Friday 21 August 2026.
Additional content announcements will be revealed in the lead-up to launch.
SBS2 will continue serving up the distinctive mix of exclusive documentaries, sport, comedy and entertainment audiences already know and love, while broadening its appeal amongst audiences 25-54 through a richer mix of premium drama series, entertainment, fandom-driven content and shared viewing experiences.
The kind of television that makes viewers sit up, lean in and occasionally ask: “Can they show that?”
The answer is yes. It’s SBS.
The SBS2 launch slate is packed with compelling characters, big ideas, passionate fandoms, modern relationships and the kind of stories that make people immediately message a friend and say, “You have to watch this.”
Just like the channel, the schedule has also had a glow up. Designed to give audiences consistency, SBS2 will deliver a curated weekly rhythm that promises destination viewing. No more decision paralysis – Monday nights become entertainment-led, Tuesdays are dedicated to iconic films, midweek brings factual storytelling and Fridays will offer something a little more spicy.
Leading the line-up is the highly anticipated The Vampire Lestat, the new season of Interview With The Vampire, a series fans can sink their teeth into, alongside a slate spanning premium drama, documentaries, comedy, live sport and entertainment.
Fair warning: your watchlist is about to get longer.
Cult favourites to your new obsession
Some people are into starships. Some can talk about Quentin Tarantino films for three straight hours.
SBS2 doesn’t judge.
From celebrating 60 years of Star Trek with The Centre Seat: 60 Years of Star Trek to deep diving into the global Alone franchise, a Quentin Tarantino season and The Hunger Games franchise, SBS2 is home to the stories people genuinely love getting lost in.
We are also ready to turn your curiosity into obsession with addictive dramas lined up including The Dropout, Fleishman Is In Trouble and Minx.
People worth following
Behind every great story is someone worth following.
The SBS2 launch line-up features an eclectic mix of journalists, comedians, actors, scientists and storytellers, including Orna Guralnik (Couples Therapy), Sean Bean (Original Gangsters), David Duchovny (Secrets Declassified), Adam Hills (The Last Leg), Raven-Symoné (Scrabble) and Mayim Bialik (Celebrity Jeopardy!).
SBS favourite Danny Estrin of Voyager also swaps the Eurovision stage for the driver’s seat in Precious Metal: A Love Story, uncovering the stories, memories and passions hidden behind some of Australia’s most beloved cars.
Ideas worth exploring
The world isn’t getting any simpler. Luckily, curiosity never goes out of style.
From artificial intelligence and the future of work to hidden histories, engineering marvels and the forces shaping modern life, SBS2 continues to serve up stories that entertain while making audiences see the world a little differently.
The launch slate includes The Future with Hannah Fry, Will AI Take My Job?, Engineering By Catastrophe, History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren and more.
Up close and unfiltered
SBS2 continues a long-standing SBS tradition of exploring intimacy, relationships and human connection through titles including Couples Therapy, The Naked World and Secrets of the Bunny Ranch.
Thoughtful, revealing and occasionally provocative, these are stories that go beyond the surface.
Live and loud
Live cycling. Stand-up comedy. Movie marathons. Special events. The occasional excuse to stay up far later than intended.
With La Vuelta, RAW Comedy, Asian All Stars Comedy Gala and a calendar of themed programming events, SBS2 is built for viewers who love shared cultural moments as much as discovering something unexpected.
Across drama, documentaries, comedy, entertainment, sport and culture, SBS2 is for audiences who are curious, passionate and always looking for their next fixation.
It’s the same fearless SBS spirit, now with an even bigger appetite.