Ahead of its 30th anniversary, Sky News Australia will become News24 later this year, with the rebrand launch held at the network’s brand new broadcast centre in Sydney. This completes its integration within News Corp Australia (NCA) after the acquisition of Australian News Channel (ANC) in 2016.
As Sky News evolves to a digital-first platform with a growing international audience, the News24 name was selected to embrace the heritage and editorial credentials of News Corp, that grew from a small tabloid newspaper in Adelaide to a
global media brand.
The logo incorporates News Corp’s global brand identity, featuring a script font drawn from the handwriting of Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch and his father, Sir Keith Murdoch. That legacy continues under the leadership of News Corp’s Global Chair Lachlan Murdoch.
Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia said:
“Thirty years ago Sky News Australia revolutionised the way we watched the news – launching the nation’s first 24-hour news channel and setting a new standard for live television reporting.
As we celebrate the official opening of our new world-class broadcast centre and studios we are evolving again. Today, we announced a new name for the future of our network that embraces the proud heritage and editorial credentials of News Corp.
While our name is changing, our brand of news isn’t. We will continue to break the stories that matter to Australians, champion open debate and provide space for all sides of every discussion. The launch of News24 unlocks the opportunity to take our news, analysis, and opinion programming to larger audiences in more markets.”
Sky News Australia’s existing portfolio of broadcast channels, streaming products and digital assets including Sky News Radio will transition to the News24 name at a date to be announced in the coming months. There will also be a new
website – News24.com.au – and app.
According to the last paragraph of the article, it was a relief that "...Sky News Australia...Sky News Radio...will transition to the News 24 name...."
Sky News Radio is the station that was what 2GB used to be from 1982 to before 2019: rolling news coverage, live reports and compelling commentary. It was the days of Nigel Milan, John Brennan (RIP) and John Singleton.
This does not include the years in the 90s when 2GB was in the doldrums.
Thus it was a relief that this article reported that Sky News Radio will continue under the News24 name.
Nevertheless, I wish the entity controlled by the Laundys running 2GB, 3AW, 6PR, 4BC, 2UE, 4BH and Magic return to dominate the market.
It will be a steep learning curve for a pub/hospitality/real estate entity running a media empire. Running a successful shopping centre/real estate empire did not translate to running a media organisation as in the Westfield-Network 10 operation.
To return the talk stations to its former glory will require a massive investment in revitalising its news service and letting its presenters present engaging and compelling talk in the way that John Brennan (RIP) made 2SM, 2UE and 2GB compelling and engaging.
However, when John Singleton started running 2GB in 1999, there were no podcasts that compete with todays traditional broadcast media.
The question is will traditional broadcast media be able to stem the flow of advertising revenue away from talk radio back?
The issue becomes is non broadcast media returning more bang for the buck?
Until then, I will be listening to Sky News Radio and ABC News Radio as the only real News Talk stations on air.
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation.