| SBS World Movies | |
| Launch Date: | (pay TV) (free-to-air revival) |
| Closed Date: | (pay TV) |
| Picture Format: | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed on pay TV) |
| Network: | SBS Television |
| Owner: | Special Broadcasting Service |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Area: | Nationally |
| Former Names: | World Movies (1995–2018) |
| Sister Channels: | SBS SBS HD SBS Viceland SBS WorldWatch SBS Food NITV |
| Terr Serv 1: | Freeview SBS |
| Terr Chan 1: | Channel 32 |
SBS World Movies is an Australian free-to-air television channel showing international movies. The channel features foreign language films, documentaries, independent, annual films, art films and mainstream cinema and interviews with international movie stars. It was previously known simply as World Movies and was available on Foxtel. It was revived on Channel 32 as a free-to-air channel on 1 July 2019.
The channel began broadcasting in October 1995, coinciding with the launch of Foxtel. It launched on Optus TV in May 1998.[1] World Movies was created by its founding CEO Laurie Patton on behalf of a syndicate that included the private company of Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes, the Australian Radio Network (ARN) and public broadcaster SBS. SBS provided access to its inventory of English language subtitles and the other shareholders funded the setup costs. In October 2009, SBS announced its intention to buy out the other shareholders, giving it full ownership of the channel.[2]
World Movies was owned and operated by SBS Subscription TV, a subsidiary of SBS. The two have a close working relationship, with films premiering on World Movies 12 months before becoming available on the SBS free-to-air channels.
On 3 November 2014, World Movies launched a HD simulcast on Foxtel.[3] On 31 January 2018, World Movies ceased broadcasting on Foxtel, although movies could still be seen On Demand in a section called "World Movies".
The channel was revived on free-to-air television on 1 July 2019. It is available on channel 32 in high definition, replacing the standard definition broadcast of SBS Viceland, which will continue to be broadcast on channel 31 in HD.[4]
A promo loop started broadcasting in some areas on 18 June 2019, and in the rest of Australia on 23 June 2019.
The channel launched on 1 July 2019 at 10am with the 2018 French film Remi Nobody's Boy.
World Movies broadcasts foreign films spoken in over 200 languages and covers all genres of film, including action, adult, horror, vintage foreign film, as well as independent cinema.
The channel also broadcasts documentaries and interviews with high-profile members of the foreign film community. Past interviews have included German Director Wim Wenders, Spanish actress Paz Vega, and French star Clotilde Hesme.
In 2005, World Movies and SBS ran their program 25 Films You Must See Before You Die, which showcased one film per week from 1 March to 16 August 2005.[5]
The films chosen were:
From 3 April to 18 September 2007, the World Movies channel showed 25 Docs You Must See Before You Die.[6]
World Movies aims to promote the importance of foreign film in Australia through partnerships and events. The channel works closely with local foreign film festivals, including the Italian Film Festival, French Film Festival and German Film Festival.
In September 2011, World Movies launched a free foreign marathon event at Palace Verona Cinema in Sydney. The event invited guests to attend a marathon of free foreign films at the cinema including the French comedy Amélie.