Sky News Business Channel
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | January 31, 2008 |
| Fate | Replaced by Your Money |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | James Daggar-Nickson (business editor and channel manager) |
| Owner | Australian News Channel Pty Ltd |
| Parent | Australian News Channel Pty Ltd |
Sky News Business Channel—also branded as Sky News Money during evening hours and Sky News Real Estate on Saturdays—was an Australian subscription-based business news television channel. It was accessible nationwide through the Foxtel pay-TV service and streamed on mobile devices via Foxtel Go.
The channel was owned by Australian News Channel, the same company behind sister station Sky News Australia, and commenced operations in 2008 amidst the global financial downturn. Its official launch took place on 31 January 2008 at the Australian Securities Exchange. Programming included content sourced from the US-based Fox Business Network, which in turn broadcast Sky News Business segments to American viewers.
In addition, the channel utilized material from the Sky UK Business News division and Reuters Television. Upon its inception, it provided 16 hours each day of Australian-produced business programming.
James Daggar-Nickson held dual roles as business editor and channel manager.
On 19 January 2016, Sky News Business rolled out a high-definition simulcast version of its broadcast.
By June 2018, ANC collaborated with the Nine Network to create Your Money, a newly established business news channel that replaced Sky News Business on Foxtel’s channel 601 and was also available free-to-air on Nine’s metropolitan and regional stations. Sky News Business ended transmission at 8:30 pm Eastern on 29 September 2018, just prior to Your Money launching at 6:00 am Eastern on 1 October. During this interim, promotional content for Your Money was broadcast.
Programming
Sky News Business Channel delivered continuous live coverage and expert analysis of the ASX, global markets, financial developments, economic updates, and personal investment trends throughout weekdays. After 9:30pm AEST on weeknights and during weekends, the channel aired replays of in-depth analyses and specialized programs.
Beginning 6 July 2015, the channel unveiled the Sky News Money segment, which was broadcast from 6:30pm until 6am on weeknights.
In 2016, the channel introduced Sky News Real Estate on Saturdays, providing six hours of live auction broadcasts, property guidance, and real estate listings starting at 8:30am Sydney time. This segment was hosted by Sophie Hull and James Treble and produced in collaboration with REA Group, a fellow entity within News Corp Australia.
- First Business
- Trading Day
- Lunch Money
- At The Close
- Market Day
- Market Moves
- MediaWeek
- Business Agenda
- The Perrett Report
- Switzer
- Your Money Your Call
- Business Night
- RatesLIVE
- Business View
- Business Success
- Business Class
- LawTV
- Market Express
- On The Record with Carson Scott
- Read and Profit
- Rates Reaction
- Social Business
- The Week in Business
- Sunday Business
Special programming
On 25 April 2015, Sky News Business Channel simulcast an episode of the American series 20/20 alongside U.S. broadcaster ABC, featuring an interview with Caitlyn Jenner (known then as Bruce).
Reception
As Australia's only channel exclusively dedicated to business and finance news, Sky News Business Channel competed with international business networks such as CNBC and Bloomberg Television, both accessible via the Foxtel service.
The channel attracted around 268,000 unique viewers per week, predominantly male (72%). The core audience was primarily within the 40-54 age bracket (28%) and the 55–69 demographic (38%).
Bureaus
At its inception, Sky News Business operated out of studios located within the Sky News centre at Foxtel’s Macquarie Park headquarters in Sydney. It capitalized on the broader Sky News bureau network spanning Australia and New Zealand.
In early 2018, operations moved to the News Corp Australia headquarters studios, later utilized by its successor channel, Your Money.
Reporters regularly presented live from Exchange Square at the Australian Securities Exchange headquarters to provide ASX updates and reported from outside the Reserve Bank of Australia in Sydney’s Martin Place during significant announcements.
Third party crosses
The channel maintained live camera connections with major Australian financial institutions, offering breaking news, expert commentary, and analysis from economists, fund managers, brokers, and analysts affiliated with ANZ, National Australia Bank, Westpac, and Commonwealth Bank. Additionally, commercial agreements facilitated live feeds from various financial organizations.
Presenters
- Sophie Hull — Sky News Real Estate
- James Treble — Sky News Real Estate
- Leanne Jones
- Ingrid Willinge
- James Dagger-Nickson
- Peter Switzer
Former presenters
- Brooke Corte, currently affiliated with the sister network Sky News Live
- Ahron Young, now working at the sister network Sky News Live
- Janine Perrett — hosted The Perrett Report, presently with sister channel Sky News Live
- Helen Dalley
- Carson Scott
See also
- Sky News Live, the sister station of Sky News Business Channel and the main channel operated by Australian News Channel Pty Ltd
- Your Money, a joint venture equally owned by Australian News Channel Pty Ltd and Nine Entertainment through Australian Money Channel Pty Ltd, which succeeded Sky News Business Channel and Extra; it discontinued broadcasting in 2019
References
- Articles with short description
- Sky News Australia
- Defunct television channels in Australia
- Business-related television channels
- 24-hour television news channels in Australia
- Television channels and stations established in 2008
- Television channels and stations disestablished in 2018
- English-language television stations in Australia
- 2008 establishments in Australia
- 2018 disestablishments in Australia