SBS On Demand: Everything you need to know

Back in the dark days of dial-up, SBS introduced many young Australians to the birds and the bees through its risqué late-night programming. 

While the ease with which one can access online pornography means SBS no longer serves that purpose, our nation's "Sex Between Soccer" broadcaster has carved out its own place on the web: SBS On Demand. 

And before you ask, yes, there are still plenty of raunchy foreign films.

• What is SBS On Demand?
• How much does SBS On Demand cost?
• What's on SBS On Demand?
• How can I watch SBS On Demand?
• SBS live stream
• SBS On Demand data usage
• SBS On Demand FAQs

What is SBS On Demand?

SBS On Demand serves as SBS's catch-up service, encompassing programming from SBS, SBS Viceland, NITV, and SBS Food. On top of this, there's a massive library of web exclusive movies that you can stream for free.

How much does SBS On Demand cost?

SBS On Demand is completely free to use; all you need to do is register an account. Alternatively, you can sign in using your Facebook or Google account.

What's on SBS on Demand?

On top of SBS On Demand's catch-up content (essentially, what's been on TV in the past week), manages to score big exclusives from time to time. These have included the adaption of Margaret Atwood's dystopian The Handmaid's Tale, The X-Files, and Fargo.

There's also a sizeable selection of movies and documentaries, ranging from weird foreign flicks you've never heard of to cult classics. You won't mind many big-budget blockbusters, but you'll find plenty of interesting titles.

How to watch SBS On Demand

To stream shows and movies through SBS On Demand, you'll need an active internet connection and a compatible device.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options for watching SBS On Demand. You can watch SBS On Demand on your iPhone, iPad, or your Android device. You can watch SBS On Demand in a web browser on a PC or Mac. Some smart TVs even come with SBS On Demand preinstalled.

In terms of watching SBS On Demand on your TV (without the need for a smart TV app), we've got a quick overview of which devices are compatible with which services below. You'll find SBS On Demand in the sixth column.

Streaming device compatibility

---

Apple TV (2015+)

*

Fetch TV

Chromecast

**

***

Hubbl

Amazon Fire devices

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 5

Xbox One

****

Xbox Series X

****

Xbox Series S

****

---

* Foxtel Now is only available through Airplay, and not as a standalone app.

** Chromecast 1st Generation is no longer supported by Kayo. For optimal streaming using Chromecast, Kayo recommends Chromecast Ultra and latest 3rd generation.

*** Foxtel Now is streamed through the Foxtel GO app.

**** Kayo Sport is only available on Xbox One S (2016), Xbox One X (2017), Xbox Series S (2020), and Xbox Series X (2020) models.

---

Legend

Netflix

Stan

Amazon Prime Video

Disney+

Binge

Paramount+

Apple TV

Kayo Sports

BritBox

Hayu

Foxtel Now

HBO Max

Streaming Device Compatibility

Apple TV (2015+)
Telstra TV 3
Fetch TV
Chromecast
Hubbl
Amazon Fire devices
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X

---

Once you've got your equipment sorted, the easiest way to register for SBS On Demand is through its website: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand. If you don't have an account already, click the Sign In / Sign Up button.

Here you can sign in using your Facebook or Google account, or Create A New Account. You'll need to put in some standard information: your name, email, a password of your choice, and your year of birth. You'll get a verification email to confirm your registration, and you'll be ready to watch after you click the enclosed link.

SBS live stream

In addition to catch-up content, you can also use SBS On Demand to live stream any of the broadcaster's channels using your internet connection. The following SBS channels are available online: 

• SBS
• SBS Viceland
• NITV
• SBS World Movies
• SBS Food

What are the best broadband plans for SBS On Demand?

Video is one of the most demanding things you can use an internet connection for, but in most cases, SBS On Demand will use less than other streaming services. At "very high" quality, you're looking at 700MB per hour. Other services will typically use between 1GB and 3GB per hour, and up to 7GB per hour if you're watching in 4K. 

Here's a look at how much each of SBS On Demand's quality settings will use in terms of data per hour, and over the course of 30 hours (assuming one hour of viewing per night per month). 

If the SBS On Demand app you're using doesn't let you pick quality, you should assume it's streaming at very high quality. If you're watching a live stream, SBS On Demand may use as much as 1,200MB per hour.

We tend to recommend that serious streamers should opt for a plan with at least 500GB per month, but if you're exclusively watching SBS On Demand, you could easily get away with a smaller allowance. Unlimited internet plans are best if you don't want to monitor your usage, and they're now available almost everywhere, including on the NBN. 

In terms of speed, if you're an NBN user, you can watch Stan on even on the basic 12Mbps plan (NBN 12). However, in most cases, a 50Mbps plan (NBN 50) or higher is a better choice. 

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio