Sky News (2016-Feb 2025)

I’m in two minds about Fox. On one hand I think News Corp would prefer to keep Sky and Fox separate, to give the impression of independence (as a lot of people watch both on YouTube as we know). Then again maybe it would be better for them to have ‘Fox News Australia’. They could then maybe cross-pollinate and cross-promote. So you might be right. I do agree a new brand is probably too risky for them.

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Agree, I can see two trains of thought

“Let’s have two brands in the US for right wing. Sky Austalia and Fox Us - sister brands”

Or

"Lets unite all ring wing opinion under one brand Fox News and Fox News Australia

I can kinda see merit in both

Time will tell.

Something tells me it will just remain sky

Something lame like Aus News will get widely mocked and not that ratings will drop - I could see YouTube taking a hit. It just feels like a backwards step. Anything like Oz News, aus News, Australia Network, News.com.au - it all just sounds awkward

Live Dave & U - etc!

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Interesting that Sky News is utilising CNN for its coverage on the wild fires in LA this morning.

I guess Fox News might not be giving it much attention. “Nothing to see here guys, climate change doesn’t exist”

I’m sorry but that just doesn’t happen - you really need to try and understand that people might have a better understanding of this than you.

Sky and ABC are two totally different products and services. Sky is opinion appointment viewing, ABC is rolling news that compliments other ABC news programmes like the 7pm. The news channel on a normal day isn’t seeking ratings - it’s providing a service as a public broadcaster. Sky needs to sell ads to elderly racists. When there’s actually news happening - like a bushfire, COVID, election - the audience watching the ABC or a legacy commercial network, not Sky. More people are watching Ten. You also need to capture the ABC audience that is wating the simulcast on ABC1 for major events.

The Sky brand you seem to think is so strong is one of the least trusted news brands in the country: SBS News named Australia’s most trusted news brand - SBS About

It’s telling that for all your opinions, you’re not aware of the online news rankings. ABC and news.com.au swap between 1 and 2 most months Rankings | IRIS

Sky is a strong brand, I never suggested it’s a trusted brand for news. Let’s call a spade a spade

I’m taking the two linear 24 hour news channels.

Online, on radio - ABC sweeps the floor.

On TV - Sky News and ABC News are only avail on equal footing on FTA in smaller regional markets. NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC. Still - it’s a large sample of 5.5 million people, so it’s a large yardstick.

In these markets where sky and ABC go head to head. It’s a 4.7 V a 2 share. Sky sweeps the floor.

I’ve not seeing ratings for single nights of election coverage etc. you could be right and it could be the reverse of that. I’ve not seen those nights ratings to know as regional tam reports by the week.

Yes, they have different formats prime time. One loops the news bulletin style one debates the news taking head style. But I think it’s fair to still put them both head to head as competitors in the same news channel bucket.

When it comes to major events, many people tune to ABC. When it comes to events like elections, etc - people tune to the ABC. Again, and again, and again.

Only around 20% of the population, mainly in traditional Liberal and National battlegrounds.

A 2.7 difference isn’t exactly sweeping the floor

It’s a 135% lead.

In tv ratings terms to be more than doubling your rival is seeping the floor

No doubt, and ABC does a great job.

No it’s not - it’s a 2.7% difference

both can be correct

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Someone doesn’t understand how percentage works :winking_face_with_tongue:

4.7% is 2.7 percentage points more than 2%

But the increase is 135%

You’re confusing percentage points (pp) with percent %

Sky have had an arrangement with CNN for years. I recall one Australian election (think it was 2013) when they even did a co-pro of sorts. Stan Grant (himself ex-CNN) co-hosted from Sky’s studios alongside Rosemary Church (a fellow Aussie) in Atlanta.

Some solid branding options would be keeping the Sky News branding during the day and using “The Comedy Channel” for the shows that are on after the sun sets.

If “The Comedy Channel” is already taken, then “Scream TV” for the opinion shows. Let’s be honest, the after-dark shows are all about streaming the screaming. In the regional areas it’d be Scream TV on Free TV.

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The Guardian reporting today that former Sky host Erin Molan has defected to incoming right-wing rival Newsmax/ADH-TV.

They’ve also rehashed the scuttlebutt that Sky could be forced to rebrand as the name licence expires AND doubts over whether DAZN will continue subscription carriage past the exisiting deal.

Paywalled: INSIDE MAIL: Panic at Sky News as new right-wing network steamrolls into town and signs up a major name... and the open secret at Guardian Australia's Canberra bureau | Daily Mail Online

This is interesting:

Instead, it looks like Sky News Australia will be forced to give up its established brand and re-launch under a new moniker - most likely along the lines of Fox News Australia - just as its battle with Newsmax Australia is in full swing.

@KICK-IT I know we’ve talked about this before, and you’re in the know - your thoughts?

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The Sky News UK and Comcast US higher ups I know don’t even know Sky News AU exists, it’s not on their radar.

That said I do think a brand change is a possibility. Less because Comcast will force it and more because Sky wants to take itself to the next level, shake off its UK heritage

With Newsmax incoming - I think it might speed the process up a little

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I think it’s interesting that they specifically mentioned the idea of Fox News Australia, and one of the authors of that article has worked at Sky AU. Certainly, he won’t be privy to any high level discussions but he’s probably heard things, I imagine?

So by the end of 2026 we’ll potentially have Newsmax Australia and Fox News Australia… but who will pick up the mantle of One Australia News Network? :smiling_imp:

I wouldn’t say that. With a lot of online material stamped “Sky News” now being sourced online internationally, it would be a concern.

A lot of Sky News Australian content can be seen online (around the world) through YouTube and social media platforms.

I’m not sure Sky News UK and Comcast US would be happy seeing a heavily right wing news organisation stamping their logo on its content.

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Er. As I’ve said. The Sky News and Comcast higher ups I know don’t have Sky News AU on their radar. I’ve specifically asked out of my own curiosity being a aussie and Sky and Sky News execs and they have told me they know of Sky AU - but no one is particularly worried or concerned in any way. Comcast execs in the US didn’t even know Sky News AU is a thing. When I told them it was like Fox News the response was like "oh really, fox with aussie accents???!!!

That was about it. NBC News execs I Only know one. He said they work with Sky uk a lot but knows nothing about Sky AU

They’re kinda worried about bigger things. Australia is not really longer radar.

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