A-PAC
| Company type | Owned by Foxtel |
|---|---|
| Industry | News broadcasting |
| Predecessor | A-PAC (Australian Public Affairs Channel) |
| Founded | January 20, 2009 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Owner | Foxtel |
| Parent | Sky News Australia |
Sky News Extra—previously known as A-PAC and the Australian Public Affairs Channel—is an Australian 24-hour cable and satellite news service focused on public affairs, owned by Foxtel.
History
Initially announced on 8 December 2008, the channel was set to launch as A-SPAN (Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network) on 20 January 2009, inspired by the American broadcaster C-SPAN. Prior to its debut, the name was changed to A-PAC. The channel operated as an independent, not-for-profit entity supported financially by Austar and Foxtel, with production handled by Sky News Australia.
The official launch took place on 20 January 2009, featuring coverage of U.S. President Barack Obama’s inauguration via a C-SPAN feed. On 17 May 2009, A-PAC transitioned to 16:9 widescreen broadcasts, aligning with sister channels Sky News Business Channel and Sky News Australia.
Following Foxtel’s acquisition of Austar on 24 May 2012, Foxtel became the sole owner of A-PAC. A significant rebranding occurred in February 2014, which included a refreshed visual identity, a redesigned website and newsletter, and the appointment of Sky News presenter Helen Dalley as the channel’s host.
In May 2018, the network underwent another rebrand to become Sky News Extra. It also shifted to channel 604 on Foxtel to standardize its placement alongside other Sky News channels and broaden its programming slate.
During March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the channel temporarily adopted the name Sky News COVID-19. This change enabled dedicated coverage featuring live updates, press briefings, and related programming. The channel returned to the Sky News Extra branding on 1 June 2021.
More recently, on 25 July 2023, it was temporarily renamed Sky News: The Voice Debate to provide continuous live and recorded coverage of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. The channel reverted back to Sky News Extra on 16 October 2023.
Programming
Sky News Extra offers live broadcasts from Australia's Parliament House in Canberra, including sessions from the House of Representatives, Senate proceedings, parliamentary committee meetings, and political press conferences. It also covers state parliaments such as those of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Internationally, it features coverage of the United States Congress and delivers speeches from the Australian National Press Club. Additional content includes parliamentary sessions from New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom, alongside programming sourced from the United Nations and European Parliament.
Availability
At its inception, Sky News Extra was accessible through satellite, cable networks, Internet streaming platforms, and a free-to-air digital trial available in Sydney. On 1 May 2016, its traditional linear broadcast was replaced by the Sky News Election Channel—which launched in HD—resulting in Sky News Extra being available exclusively via the Sky News Multiview service and online streaming. Plans to relaunch it as a linear channel in November 2016 were delayed; however, it resumed linear broadcasting on 24 January 2017 coinciding with the American presidential inauguration event. The high-definition feed remained active throughout this period. As of 28 June 2024, Sky News Extra restored its original channel position across cable, Foxtel platforms, and satellite services.