SBS, the Australian national broadcaster has announced today that its managing director Mr. Michael Ebeid will be stepping down after seven years of leadership.

Mr. Michael Ebeid played a key role in negotiating Australia’s participation at the Eurovision Song Contest, thus enabling SBS to partake in the competition.

Michael has played a pivotal part in promoting the Eurovision Song Contest down under and giving it much exposure, bringing the Australian audience one step closer to Europe and its beloved songfest.

SBS has been broadcasting Europe’s favorite television show for circa 30 years. The broadcaster is an associate member of the EBU and has been granted a special invite in order to compete in the contest.

This year saw the country’s fourth consecutive Eurovision participation when Jessica Mauboy took the Lisbon stage with her entry We got love.

Jessica Mauboy flew the Australian flag at Eurovision 2018  with We got love

Michael Ebeid and SBS

Michael joined SBS in June 2011 and has been the man responsible for putting the broadcaster on the map, achieving many goals, successful projects and deals. Under Mr. Ebeid’s leadership SBS has seen a massive transformation and growth with many achievements.

In 2017, Michael was made Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours for “significant service to the broadcast media and multicultural affairs as an executive, innovator and business leader”.

He was awarded the The CEO Magazine‘s CEO of the Year Award the very same year.

Ebeid is set to leave his post at SBS next October, whilst the Australian broadcaster is expected to announce his successor in due course.

Mr. Ebeid officially announced his decision to the broadcaster earlier today.

Mr. Ebeid says:

My decision to step down has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve made.I absolutely love this place and what it stands for… SBS is very much a family.

Serving as the SBS Managing Director has been a real honour and privilege and I depart feeling confident that this is the right time for a new managing director to take the organisation forward.

Mr Ebeid adds:

What we do, makes a difference to people’s lives and helps shape the society in which we live. SBS is the strongest it has been in over 40 years.

We are more relevant than ever and we are ready for the future. Considering the struggle of societies globally to integrate diverse communities harmoniously, SBS today performs a critical role in the Australian community.

Australia in Eurovision

The Aussies were invited to participate at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna as a one off occasion, but our neighbours down under embraced the contest with such enthusiasm they were invited back again in 2016, 2017 and  2018.

We have no reason to believe that they will not be back next year in Israel; it is more than likely that the Israeli national broadcaster KAN will extend an invite to SBS in order to participate at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

Australia nearly walked off with the coveted trophy in 2016 with Dami Im, who won the jury vote but placed 2nd in the overall vote. The country has achieved 3 top 10 placings in its short four year Eurovision history.

Dami Im achieved an honorable 2nd placing at Eurovision 2016 with her entry Sound of silence