Australian News Channel
| Company type | Private subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Sky News Australia, Sky News Extra, Sky News Weather Channel, New Zealand News Channel (Sky News New Zealand), Australia Channel |
| Parent | News Corp Australia |
Australian News Channel Pty Ltd. operates as a privately owned subsidiary under News Corp Australia, managing various media outlets within Australia and New Zealand.
The organisation's portfolio includes the news broadcaster Sky News Australia, alongside its affiliated channels Sky News Extra and Sky News Weather Channel, the New Zealand-focused New Zealand News Channel (which runs Sky News New Zealand), as well as the global streaming platform Australia Channel.
Formation and Early Years
Established in 1995, Australian News Channel Pty Ltd (ANC) commenced operations with the introduction of Sky News Australia. Initial ownership was shared among British Sky Broadcasting, Seven Media Group, and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.
Between 2013 and 2016, ANC invested A$20 million into Sky News Australia. The following year, ANC collaborated with Globecast to launch the international streaming service Australia Channel, delivering five channels to audiences beyond Australian borders. This initiative came after ANC's attempt to secure the Australian Government-funded Australia Network contract, which was ultimately cancelled.
Up until 2015, Sky News produced New Zealand's Prime News – First at 5:30 from studios in Sydney, anchored by Eric Young, while filming occurred at Prime’s Albany location. However, the production contract was awarded to MediaWorks, resulting in the cessation of local news bulletin creation in New Zealand.
As the carriage agreement between ANC and subscription service Foxtel neared expiration in 2017, speculation arose regarding News Corp Australia's intentions—being a Foxtel co-owner—to acquire majority control. On 26 February 2015, News Corp Australia initiated a A$25 million bid to obtain full ownership of ANC.
In June 2015, ANC shareholders declined a A$20 million offer from News Corp, demanding at least A$50 million. When negotiations reached an impasse, reports indicated that Nine Entertainment might divest its stake to a consortium comprising Seven West Media and News Corp.
Integration into News Corp
News Corp Australia completed acquisition of the company in December 2016. A year later, in December 2017, a carriage dispute emerged between News Corp and Telstra concerning Foxtel’s fees for Sky News channels, which exceeded A$30 million annually. While News Corp sought to raise fees that had remained static for over ten years, Telstra resisted the increase. The disagreement was ultimately settled through a new contract, preventing any disruption in broadcasting.
Assets
- Sky News Australia
- Sky News Business Channel (2008–2018)
- Sky News Weather Channel
- Sky News Election Channel (2016–2017)
- Sky News Extra
- Your Money (2018–2019; co-operated with Nine Entertainment Co.)
- Domestic free-to-air
- Sky News Regional
- Internationally
- Sky News New Zealand
- Australia Channel (in partnership with Globecast)