The News Channel (Australian TV channel)

The News Channel

Company type	Cable television network
Industry	News broadcasting
Founded	1995
Defunct	1995
Fate	Ceased operations after failure to meet launch deadline
Headquarters	Australia
Owner	Australian Information Media (AIM)
Number of employees	109
Parent	Australian Information Media (AIM)

The News Channel represented an Australian cable network managed by Australian Information Media (AIM), designed to be the nation's inaugural dedicated news channel on cable, distributed via Optus Vision. After conducting trial broadcasts in 1995, the channel ceased operations following its failure to meet a critical launch deadline.

History

Australian Information Media was formed as a partnership, with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation holding a 51% stake and a coalition of American cable operator Cox alongside Australian media company Fairfax Media comprising the remainder. In early 1995, AIM announced plans to introduce two cable services: The News Channel and a children’s entertainment channel featuring content licensed from Nickelodeon. This initiative partially supported Cox's ambition to establish a cable network in Queensland, which ultimately did not materialize due to disputes with Optus Vision.

In July 1995, Foxtel declined to enter a carriage deal, citing concerns over content quality. By 9 August 1995, The News Channel had not secured distribution with Optus Vision, hindered largely by competition from Sky News Australia, a collaboration between Kerry Packer’s PBL and Rupert Murdoch. AIM halted its activities on 28 September 1995 amid political debates surrounding pay-TV regulations and the company's shutdown. Lacking satellite broadcast capabilities, AIM terminated its workforce of 109 employees on 6 October.

External links

• Coverage of TNC's closure on nightly news