SBS PopAsia
| Company type | Digital radio platform |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, Music |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Digital radio, online streaming, mobile applications, television program (2011–2018) |
| Website | www |
SBS PopAsia is an Australian digital radio platform that primarily features pop music from East and Southeast Asia, accessible through digital radio, online streaming, and mobile applications. Initially, it appeared as a two-hour segment on the SBS youth radio show Alchemy before evolving into a dedicated digital station in 2010.
A television version sharing the same title aired on SBS and later on SBS Viceland from 2011 until 2018, showcasing nonstop Asian pop music videos. The program was originally hosted by Jamaica de la Cruz until 2016, after which Andy Trieu assumed hosting duties until the show's conclusion in 2018.
Listeners and supporters of the station are commonly referred to as PopAsians.
History
SBS PopAsia originated as a weekly two-hour feature called the Asian Pop Show on SBS's youth-focused programme Alchemy. Due to increasing popularity and strong online interaction, it expanded into a full-time digital radio station in 2010.
The TV adaptation launched in late 2011 on SBS’s free-to-air channel with a two-hour Sunday morning broadcast. By 2013, its duration extended to three and a half hours during prime weekend slots on SBS Viceland (previously SBS2). In 2014, the timeslot returned to two hours on Sunday mornings and was further reduced to one hour from March 2016 until the final episode aired on 8 July 2018.
Radio
Since its inception in 2010, SBS PopAsia has been available nationwide via DAB, the official SBS mobile application, and channel 307 on Freeview.
The station provides a variety of digital radio programs catering to different Asian pop music scenes:
Current segments
- Breakfast Requests: Tracks selected by listeners through social media and phone calls.
- BTS Hit Zone: Dedicated to music by South Korean boy band BTS.
- C-pop Central: Concentrates on Mandopop and Cantopop styles.
- Filipino Buzz: Spotlights Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and Pinoy pop.
- Girl Group Alumni: Features both recent and classic releases from girl groups.
- J-pop Nation: Showcases contemporary J-pop hits.
- K-drama OST: Plays soundtracks from popular Korean drama series.
- K-Wave: Focuses exclusively on K-pop originating from South Korea.
- V-Pop Vibes: Highlights Vietnamese artists and V-pop tracks.
- PopAsia Party: Weekend segment with energetic Asian pop tunes for a party atmosphere.
- SBS PopAsia's Top 30 Countdown: Weekly ranking of the leading Asian pop songs.
- Sunday Night J-rock: Dedicated to Japanese rock, metal, and heavier music genres.
- The Anime Hour: Broadcasts theme songs from various anime series.
- The Old School Arvo: Plays timeless hits across different artists.
- We Love Boybands: Focused on music from Asian boy bands.
Former segments/shows
Beats & Bars: Hip-Hop A one-hour program featuring hip-hop, rap, and R&B tracks from Asian countries including South Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Boyband Friday Previously devoted entire Fridays to boy band music throughout the day.
The New Music Show
Hosted by Andy Trieu, this program highlighted new releases alongside pop culture updates and artist interviews.
Live@5 Show
Airing between 2011 and 2014, this digital radio countdown featured Australia's most popular Asian pop songs with audience participation through Twitter and Facebook voting. It was replaced in 2014 by Hashtag Hits, which introduced live hashtag voting via Twitter.
Hashtag Hits
Debuting in 2014, the Hashtag Hits program engaged audiences through daily Twitter and Facebook polls to select the top eight songs along with a challenger track. Live voting commenced at 4:30pm (AEST), during which listeners used the #Hashtag of their preferred song from the top nine via tweets or posts. In June 2014, the Titanium Status was introduced, awarded to any song that maintained the number one position for eight consecutive days. Contrary to expectations that EXO's Overdose would be the first recipient, it was Super Junior M's Swing, a fellow labelmate, that achieved this milestone. Additional Titanium Status tracks included GOT7's A, Beast's Good Luck (achieving this thrice), Infinite's Last Romeo, Super Junior's Mamacita (twice), and Infinite's Back. Notably, all Titanium Status songs were performed by Korean male groups.
Eat Your Kimchi
Simon and Martina, known collectively as Eat Your Kimchi on YouTube, hosted a weekly radio segment on SBS PopAsia every Friday from 7 to 8pm AEST. Their discussions spanned K-Pop alongside broader aspects of Korean culture, touching on subjects such as cosmetic surgery trends and the FIFA World Cup, mirroring themes from their YouTube channel.
Prince Mak Hour
In 2015, Prince Mak, an Australian member of the K-pop group JJCC, launched his own hour-long radio show broadcast on Tuesdays at 8pm. The program featured Asian pop music selections and offered listeners insights into his experiences as an Asian pop artist.
Television
The SBS PopAsia television program premiered on 7 September 2011 on SBS, initially airing Sundays from 8:30am to 10:30am (AEST). As its popularity increased, an additional episode was introduced on Mondays at 5pm. Following SBS Viceland’s rebranding in 2013 to appeal to younger viewers, the show transitioned there, first airing Sundays from 4 to 6pm before moving to a Sunday morning slot between 9 and 11am. The series concluded with its final broadcast on 8 July 2018.
Classified as PG-rated, the show was designed as a family-friendly music program. Episodes were accessible online through PopAsia’s website or SBS On Demand for up to seven days after airing.
Audience interaction
Initially incorporating Tweets and Facebook messages intermittently during episodes, the program later shifted exclusively to displaying live audience tweets in real time.
Advertisements
Commercials targeting fans of Asian culture were featured during breaks. For instance, campaigns by the Korean Tourism Office included promotions such as PSY's "Wiki Korea" tourism initiative.
Three-in-a-row
This interactive game invited viewers to identify a shared theme among three Asian pop music videos. Audience engagement was encouraged via social media platforms. Previous themes included beaches, vampires, and Australian Asian pop artists. Viewers were also welcomed to propose their own three-in-a-row themes for future episodes.
Double Play
Each week, audiences voted on Twitter and Facebook to decide which of two artists would have two music videos showcased in the upcoming episode.
PopAsia 101
PopAsia 101 was a weekly feature presented by 'PopAgent' Jay K that delivered concise artist profiles within Asian pop music. These short segments offered overviews of musicians’ careers, notable songs, and interesting trivia, serving as an introduction to Asian pop culture. Featured artists included Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, 365daband, and EXO among others. The series also covered special topics such as Flash Mobs and Australian Asian Pop Tours. These videos remain available on PopAsia’s official YouTube channel.
| Release date | Artist | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 18 April 2012 | Super Junior | South Korea |
| 23 April 2012 | EXO | South Korea |
| 29 April 2012 | Show Lo | Taiwan |
| 6 May 2012 | Girls' Generation | South Korea |
| 14 May 2012 | Perfume | Japan |
| 28 May 2012 | Kyary Pamyu Pamyu | Japan |
| 1 July 2012 | Big Bang | South Korea |
| 8 July 2012 | 2NE1 | South Korea |
| 24 June 2012 | IU | South Korea |
| 11 July 2012 | miss A | South Korea |
| 30 July 2012 | CNBlue | South Korea |
| 30 July 2012 | Scandal | Japan |
| 5 August 2012 | Psy | South Korea |
| 16 September 2012 | Yui | Japan |
| 1 October 2012 | BoA | South Korea |
| 8 October 2012 | U-KISS | South Korea |
| 28 October 2012 | TVXQ | South Korea |
| 27 December 2012 | Rainie Yang | Taiwan |
| 11 March 2013 | Thanh Bui | Vietnam |
| 18 March 2013 | Passpo | Japan |
| 7 January 2013 | Ailee | South Korea |
| 29 January 2013 | 2AM | South Korea |
| 25 February 2013 | GReeeeN | Japan |
| 1 April 2013 | Leehom Wang | Taiwan |
| 8 April 2013 | NS Yoon-G | South Korea |
| 17 September 2013 | Kara | South Korea |
| 10 December 2013 | C-Clown | South Korea |
| 10 March 2014 | Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (re-issue) | Japan |
| 7 December 2014 | Cyndi Wang | China |
| 7 December 2014 | Epik High | South Korea |
| 7 December 2014 | VIXX | South Korea |
| 4 April 2016 | Taeyang | South Korea |
- Dates represent when PopAsia uploaded these PopAsia 101 episodes onto YouTube.
Interviews
SBS PopAsia has conducted interviews with leading Asian pop stars and groups including BTS, EXO, Jay Chou, as well as digital influencers such as YouTube personalities Mychonny and Eatyourkimchi.
Refer to the Guests and interviewees section for more details.
Video Requests
In 2012, SBS PopAsia launched a video request feature enabling audiences to submit YouTube links to request specific songs. These viewer requests were then aired on PopAsia TV before the corresponding music videos.
Special episodes
SBS PopAsia creates themed episodes to mark various holidays and special occasions:
- New Year's Eve: Extended programming featuring countdowns and messages from Asian pop artists.
- Lunar New Year celebrations
- Australia Day: Showcasing tracks by Asian pop idols with Australian connections, such as Kimberley Chen and Rome from C-Clown.
- Christmas: Airing Asian pop songs with festive themes.
During its initial phase, PopAsia also broadcast artist-centric specials, including one dedicated to SHINee.
Mobile
A complimentary mobile application for iPhone and Android devices is available from SBS PopAsia, offering continuous streaming of its digital radio channel alongside options to purchase songs. The app also provides direct access to the PopAsia website and podcast content.
Podcast
PopAsia’s podcasts can be accessed through the Apple iTunes store, predominantly featuring interviews like recurring conversations with MyKoreanHusband. Occasionally, they include content outside of Asian pop, such as film recommendations.
Guests and interviewees
SBS PopAsia frequently features guests across television, radio, and YouTube formats. Note that interview dates correspond to YouTube upload dates, which may not align with original broadcast schedules.
... [Table continues featuring significant interviews with artists including NU'EST, Rome from C-Clown, Hayana of EvoL, Teen Top, EXO, Super Junior M, B.A.P, Dami Im, Eric Nam, G.Na, Henry Lau, B1A4, Super Junior, Royal Pirates among others] ...| Date | Active Region | Interviewee | Interviewer | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 November 2011 | South Korea | SHINee | Jamaica dela Cruz | Backstage at ANZ Stadium, Sydney | Appeared at 2011 K-Pop Music Festival; second visit to Australia |
| 5 March 2012 | Taiwan | Show Lo & Rainie Yang | Princess Ania | SBS PopAsia studio, Sydney | Recorded online Tourism Australia videos; Show Lo produced three music videos |
| 28 March 2012 | South Korea | Hanbyul (LedApple) | Princess Ania | South Korea (via Skype) | Interview conducted following LedApple’s release of 'Sadness' |
| 29 March 2012 | Taiwan | Lollipop F | SBS PopAsia | Sydney | Their first performances in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia |
| 3 April 2012 | South Korea | SM Entertainment representatives | Princess Ania | SBS PopAsia studio, Sydney | Artist & repertoire representatives Hanna Cho and Gi-Hyun Kim featured |
| 19 April 2012 | South Korea | Jun Won Lee (YG Entertainment) | SBS PopAsia | South Korea | Discussed talent requirements and integration within YG Family |
| 19 April 2012 | Australia | DarrenTP & Ice | Princess Ania | Melbourne, Australia | Finalists in YG Entertainment’s BigBang Cover Competition |
| 24 April 2012 | Taiwan | Dream Girls | Princess Ania | Sydney, Australia | Served as judges in a Chinese singing contest held in Sydney |
| 16 May 2012 | Philippines | Philippine AllStars | Princess Ania |
World Hip Hop Dance Champions conducted a dance workshop | |
| 21 June 2012 | Bulgaria | Stanislav Ianevski | Princess Ania | Sydney, Australia | Actor known for portraying Viktor Krum; interviewed at SupaNova Expo |
| 31 July 2012 | South Korea/USA | Jay Park | Jamaica dela Cruz |
Skype interview prior to 'New Breed' concerts in Sydney and Melbourne |
Crayon Pop
Block B
JJCC#Prince Mak
Former on-air presenters and staff
| Presenter | Profile | Social media |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Trieu | Andy Trieu, known for hosting PopAsia TV and radio, is also a skilled martial artist. He has appeared on Australian television programs such as Kitchen Whiz. His preferred Asian pop group is Sistar. | |
| Jamaica de la Cruz | The inaugural presenter of SBS PopAsia TV and the 'Hashtag Hits' radio show, Jamaica de la Cruz was born in the Philippines and holds an MBA specializing in arts and entertainment management. She conducted an interview with Wang Lee Hom during his 2013 tour in Australia and co-hosted the ABU TV Song Festival in both 2012 and 2013. She departed from PopAsia in 2016. | |
| Jay K | Serving as a PopAgent and VJ, Jay K delivers weekly 'PopAsia 101' segments covering Asian pop artists as well as summaries of Anime Minutes. In 2013, he interviewed K-Pop groups including EXO and 4Minute during a trip to Seoul. His favourite band is Girls' Generation. | |
| MegaMatt | As a PopAsia producer, MegaMatt formerly co-hosted 'Live@5' prior to its replacement by 'Hashtag Hits'. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is his top Asian pop artist. | |
| Kitty Em | Kitty Em hosts J-Pop Nation on SBS PopAsia Radio every Wednesday at 7pm AEST. Her favourite Asian pop group is Babymetal. | |
| Dr. J | Dr. J serves as the resident DJ and music expert at PopAsia, with Girls' Generation being his preferred band. | |
| Shay Shay | Recognized as PopAsia’s resident specialist on Asian pop music, Shay Shay's favourite group is BigBang. | |
| Maddy Fryer | Executive Producer of SBS PopAsia, Maddy Fryer occasionally appears in channel content, including the Reaction series. | — |
| Kevin Kim | Kevin Kim, an Australian member of the K-pop group ZE:A, is a songwriter, vocalist, rapper, dancer, and former broadcaster at Arirang TV. |
Guest programmers
| Presenter | Profile | Social media |
|---|---|---|
| Eat Your Kimchi | Simon and Martina, better known as Eat Your Kimchi on YouTube, present a weekly radio program Fridays from 7 to 8 pm AEST. | |
| C-Clown's Rome | Rome, the Australian leader of Korean boy band C-Clown, hosted the 'K-Wave show' on Thursdays at 7 pm AEST in 2014. | |
| Patrick Phaiyakounh | Winner of SBS PopAsia's 2014 TV Presenter Search Competition; served as guest co-host for SBS PopAsia. | — |
| Prince Mak | Prince Mak, an Australian member of Korean boy band JJCC, hosts 'The Prince Mak hour' every Tuesday at 7 pm AEST. | |
| One Way's Peter | Peter presents 'K-POP STUDIO' on Thursdays at 9 pm AEST. | — |
| NU'EST's Aron | Aron hosts 'Aron's Hangout' every Friday at 8 pm AEST. | — |
Prizes and Competitions
SBSPopAsia frequently hosts contests through their website and radio broadcasts. Rewards often consist of concert passes (such as for BAP and the 2K13 Feel Korea Festival), autographed albums, branded merchandise, and travel opportunities to destinations across Asia.
Concerts and Events
SBS PopAsia plays an active role in promoting Asian musicians touring within Australia. In 2011, it served as the official Australian media partner for the Sydney K-Pop Music Fest, which showcased artists like SHINee, Girls' Generation, and TVXQ. Since then, the platform has supported numerous performers including CNBLUE, 4Minute, Japanese pop icon Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and was involved with the first KCON event in 2017.
Concert Coverage
SBS PopAsia has provided extensive coverage and artist interviews at major Asian pop concerts held in Australia, including:
- 2011 K-Pop Music Festival
- NU'EST during the 2012 K-Pop Cover Contest
- A-Mei's Amazing World Tour in 2012
- CNBlue's Blue Moon Tour
- Wang Lee Hom's Music Man Tour II
- 4Minute at the 2013 K-Pop Cover Contest
- XIA's Incredible Concert in 2013
- Crayon Pop in 2013
- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's 2014 performances
- Jay Chou's Opus Jay 2013 World Tour
- BAP's Live on Earth 2014 Tour
- B1A4 Road Trip in 2014
Event Participation
The program actively engages with cultural festivals such as the Campsie Food Festival (held in 2011 and 2012) alongside various Asian cultural celebrations.
Lunar New Year
Key participations include:
- Chatswood Lunar New Year celebration in 2014
- Sydney Lunar New Year Twilight Parade in 2014
- Boyfriend and JJCC K-Pop Party hosted at Carriageworks in 2016
Moon Festival
SBS PopAsia has contributed to:
- Cabramatta Moon Festival across 2011, 2013, and 2014
- Box Hill Moon Festival in Melbourne during 2011 and 2013
Impact
The program signifies a milestone for Asian popular music gaining mainstream acceptance within Australia, a market traditionally dominated by Western genres. As part of SBS, it has broadened the broadcaster’s appeal beyond its older multicultural audience to include younger Australians from diverse backgrounds.
By enhancing accessibility to Asian pop music nationwide, SBS PopAsia highlights the increasing appetite for this genre despite its relatively niche market. This trend is evident in the growing number of Asian pop concerts, especially K-Pop shows, throughout Australia.
By January 2020, SBS PopAsia had accumulated over 1.3 million Facebook likes, garnered 31 million views on YouTube, attracted 136.9K Twitter followers, achieved 104K YouTube subscribers, and reached 43K Instagram followers. These social media channels also serve as hubs for interaction among Australian fans of Asian pop culture.
Furthermore, SBS PopAsia contributed to the development of radio applications such as SBSDesi and SBSPopAraby.
Controversy
Despite being promoted as an Asian Pop television and radio program, the majority of featured music originates from South Korea, predominantly spotlighting male groups. According to PopAsia, this reflects Korean pop’s status as the most requested genre; however, critics contend that this concentration contradicts SBS’s charter obligations.
Awards
- Awarded Best Interactive Radio Program at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Awards in 2012.
- Honored with both the Advertising and Communication Award and the Grand Award at the National Multicultural Marketing Awards in 2012.
- Recognized as a finalist for Programming Format/Best Alternative Format at the New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs.
See also
Bibliography
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2011 Australian television series premieres
- 2018 Australian television series conclusions
- Radio broadcasters launched in 2011
- Special Broadcasting Service
- Australian radio networks
- Special Broadcasting Service original content
- Australian music TV series
- East Asian music
- Digital-only radio channels