“The Feed” will no longer be broadcast on linear television from July, with broadcaster SBS instead chasing younger audiences who are viewing content online.
The shift comes as the broadcaster readies to launch a specialist documentary unit.
“The Feed” launched in 2013 and currently screens at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays.
SBS said “The Feed” will now deliver short-form original stories, explainers and comedy for digital platforms.
Mandi Wicks, SBS’ director of news and current affairs, acknowledged the legacy of “The Feed” TV program and said SBS is proud of everything it has achieved.
“‘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 in digital platforms, and we are looking forward to putting more focus on crafting content for those audiences,” she said.
“‘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.”
She also noted “The Feed” will now have expanded digital resources.
The new specialist documentary unit will be overseen by managing editor of current affairs, Lanneke Hargreaves.
Over 2022 and 2023, it will produce two documentary series fronted by “The Feed” alumni Marc Fennell.
Fennell also fronted “Framed” at the end of last year, which examined the theft of a Picasso from the National Gallery of Victoria in the 1980s. It was SBS’ most successful digital original commission.
Hargreaves said: “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.”
Fennell said he can’t wait to get started with the new project.
“The new documentary unit includes some of the most talented, young, diverse journalists and filmmakers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with,” he said.
“Building off the success of ‘Framed’, I can’t wait to start digging into new unique stories that only SBS can tell.”
The final episode of “The Feed” on TV will air on SBS on June 28.
The broadcaster will make announcements about the new series later this year.
