SBS ONE is broadcasting the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade hosted by comedian and actress Magda Szubanski and comedian Tom Ballard and SBS 2’s The Feed reporter Patrick Abboud.

SBS Radio is joining forces with Melbourne LGBTIQ community radio station JOY 94.9 for a Mardi Gras weekend takeover, including a live broadcast of the 2015 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.

JOY 94.9 will take over the digital station, SBS Radio 3, from 9.00 pm Friday 6 March until 9.00 pm Sunday 8 March, including 4 hours of live parade commentary, from 7 pm Saturday 8 March.

Speaking on the partnership, SBS’s Director of Audio and Language Content, Mandi Wicks, said: “We are excited to be handing the mic over to JOY 94.9 for the Mardi Gras parade weekend.

“It is a great addition to SBS’s suite of Mardi Gras programming and will help us bring the Parade to more people and across more platforms than ever before, as well as honouring our commitment to provide diverse and entertaining content to all Australians.”

JOY94.9 General Manager Conrad Browne said: “Mardi Gras brings the diversity of Australia’s LGBTIQ community to the world, so by working together, JOY & SBS will see this community celebration reach new heights and a potentially new audience over the Mardi Gras weekend.

“It’s an exciting collaboration that we know will help us bring more JOY to the world this Mardi Gras season”.

Across the Mardi Gras weekend, JOY 94.9, in conjunction with their community radio broadcast partner 2SER, will also provide an eclectic mix of music, exclusive interviews plus special features exploring the history and future of this iconic event, multicultural and indigenous communities’ experiences from an LGBTIQ perspective; plus female-focused content on Sunday, March 8 to acknowledge International Women’s Day.

The TV coverage will be simulcast online at sbs.com.au/mardigras, with coverage including the best of the floats and costumes with commentary, interviews, celebrity guests and features covering issues that affect the LGBTQI community.

SBS Radio 3 is broadcast on DAB+ digital radio, digital TV, online and via the SBS Radio app.

JOY 94.9 is broadcast in Melbourne on 94.9fm, online at joy.org.au and via the JOY Radio App.