SBS Radio – Hebrew and Yiddish to stay
Fears that SBS were about to dump their Hebrew and Yiddish programming were put to rest when the multicultural broadcaster announced its new schedule for 2013.
Currently the broadcaster transmits two hours of Yiddish on AM on Wednesdays and Sundays plus the National Radio Network [NRN]/
The figures indicate that 10,233 listened to Yiddish in 1996 but that figure has dropped to 1,762 in 2011.
Nevertheless, the broadcaster will broadcast a news report in Yiddish within the Hebrew language program on Sundays at 11 a.m. It will also be available on NRN, Digital Radio SBS Radio 1, Digital TV [SBS Radio1] online at sbs.com.au/yiddish, iPhone and android apps [SBS Your language] and podcasts.
Hebrew statistics have shown a major swing upwards. In 1996 there were 5,910 listeners but that figure had grown to 9,667 in 2011.
SBS are planning two hours of programming each week as the Yiddish broadcast with the web site for the Hebrew programming being sbs.com.au/hebrew.
The Jewish community’s negotiations with SBS were conducted by ECAJ Executive Director, Peter Wertheim, and the CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff. “Given the pressures on SBS Radio to cater for large new minority communities, it is not surprising that some of the smaller, more established ethnic communities had their programs shifted from analogue to digital radio”, Wertheim said. “In these circumstances the Jewish community can be well satisfied that we have retained the existing two-hour time slot for an Australia-wide Jewish program on SBS analogue radio every Sunday between 11:00am and 1:00pm. The program will mostly be in Hebrew but with English and Yiddish elements. This is especially pleasing”.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff commented: “This outcome is one with which the Jewish community will be very happy. SBS clearly has to juggle the needs of an ever-increasing number of constituencies which make up multicultural Australia and we appreciate the consideration it has given to those of the Jewish community.”
Yes I’m very sorry to lose the Yedish program first thank you very muche to the re,porter for a gret 38 years and 32 for me I’m a Yedish speaker I mat my wife in Israel we spokt Yedish she is from Oddesa I’m from Romania we got merid we amigreit to Australia the Yedish in: Mama lushen
I hop all thes will be reported to SBS they don’t now what men for Europain Jews we lived and livin with Yedish anfortunaly the Yedish despair we have to making stay in live ;Lahim Yedish;