SBS appoints Sandra Bender
SBS has drafted Sandra Bender into the role of head of subscription channels for Pan TV.
The announcement:
Sandra Bender has been appointed to the new role of Head of Subscription Channels for SBS subsidiary PAN TV.
PAN TV operates both the new arts channel STVDIO (which started transmission on April 1) and the World Movies Channel.
Ms Bender comes to the position with a strong background in entertainment and the arts and has most recently been Executive Director of Arts Development with the Australia Council. In this role, she has provided leadership for the arts sector across audience and market development both nationally and internationally, managing key initiatives such as Australia’s presence in the Venice Biennale.
Prior to joining the Australia Council, Sandra worked with a number of private and public arts institutions. In her 15 year career, she has produced independent film, established a private gallery and programmed a series of music festivals and live arts events.
Canadian-born, Ms Bender has worked within major public arts organisations in Canada in public programming and audience development. She has toured throughout Asia, South America, Europe and North America with a number of performing artists and travelling exhibitions.
“Sandra has the rare combination of entrepreneurial skills in the entertainment business with a deep experience in the arts. Her creative leadership, together with our super-experienced production team brings a valuable new dimension to our subscription TV channels,” SBS Chief Operating Officer Richard Finlayson said.
“The investment in our subscription TV business, PAN TV, is part of our strategy to reach Australians on all platforms and generate much-needed resources for development of local productions on our free to air channels,” Mr Finlayson said.
Ms Bender, who will start in her new role on September 15, said STVDIO and World Movies offered endless opportunities to report on the events and opinions shaping the arts world.
“They explore the creative process and profile Australian and international artists, filmmakers and major arts events,” Ms Bender said. “I want people across Australia to experience and enjoy this high quality film and arts content and ultimately be influenced by the originality, inventiveness and creativity of artists and the arts,“ she said.
Source: SBS press release
