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Sky News Australia Outlines Growth and Plans Rebrand to News24

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Sky News Australia launched in 1996 and is owned by News Corp Australia
  • The channel announced a rebrand to News24 in 2026
  • Sky News Australia recorded its highest audience share in 2024

Sky News Australia has established itself as a prominent pay television news provider since its launch in 1996, operating under News Corp Australia ownership. The channel has expanded its services and audience reach over the years, with further changes announced for the near future.

Originally formed as a joint venture among BSkyB, Seven Network Limited, and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, Sky News Australia was acquired by News Corp Australia in December 2016. The channel continues to use the Sky News branding under a licensing agreement with Comcast, and it does not have direct ownership links to Sky News UK.

In February 2026, Sky News Australia announced it would rebrand as News24 later that year. This planned change follows a period of audience growth and service expansion, including the introduction of new digital and free-to-air offerings.

Sky News Australia operates several spin-off services, such as the Sky News Weather Channel and Sky News Extra. The channel also launched Sky News Regional, a free-to-air version, on 2 September 2018, and introduced the free ad-supported streaming channel Sky News Now on 23 March 2023.

What the numbers show

  • Sky News Australia reached over 2.2 million unique viewers in 2024
  • Sky News Regional recorded a record 2.8 million unique viewers in 2024, with an 18% year-on-year audience increase
  • Sky News content generated two billion video views across digital platforms in 2024
  • SkyNews.com.au averaged 3.4 million monthly unique Australian visitors in 2024

In 2024, Sky News Australia was the top weekday channel on Foxtel and led as the number one non-sport channel for the sixth consecutive year. The channel achieved its highest audience share to date at 3.9%.

Sky News Regional experienced its strongest performance in 2024, with average audiences increasing by 18% compared to the previous year. The service reached a record audience share of 2.6% and was viewed by over 2.8 million unique viewers.

Digital engagement also grew, with Sky News content delivering two billion video views across various platforms in 2024. The network’s website, SkyNews.com.au, ranked third among Australian news websites for video views and averaged 3.4 million unique Australian visitors each month.

Sky News Australia’s ongoing developments, including its planned rebrand and expanded digital and regional services, reflect procedural steps taken to broaden its audience and adapt to changing media consumption patterns. The channel remains a key player in the Australian news landscape under News Corp Australia’s ownership.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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