Broadcaster Alan Jones leaving Sky News after eight years

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones is leaving Sky News after eight years on the channel. It comes ahead of Piers Morgan joining the network.

Veteran broadcaster, Alan Jones, is leaving Sky News after eight years with the network.

The TV presenter announced the news in a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday morning and he is set to host his final program on the network tonight at 8pm.

“I write in my regular Thursday column to advise you that the management at Sky News have indicated to me that they will not renew my contract, which ends on November 30,” Jones wrote.

“ … May I say, I have enjoyed my experience thoroughly. I have had nothing but support from people in the backroom of Sky News who rarely get a mention; and, apart from my contribution towards raising the viewer numbers, I hope I have also contributed to the morale of the organisation.

Alan Jones on Sky News.

“ … I want to thank my fellow hosts, because no one knows more than I do how difficult it is to put a program together each night … I have always been grateful for their support and I wish them and the organisation at Sky News the very best in the tasks and challenges ahead.”

Jones’ departure comes ahead of UK commentator Piers Morgan joining the evening line-up.

He said he declined an offer to appear on streaming service Flash.

UK commentator Piers Morgan is joining the network. Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage

“ … I wasn’t offered another slot with Sky News, but an alternative offer was made to me to appear once a week on the new streaming service, Flash. I declined that offer,” he wrote.

The 80-year-old first joined Sky in 2013 as co-host of Richo + Jones and in 2016, he went on to host Jones & Co. Last year, he began hosting the Alan Jones program.

Jones’ former stablemate, Ray Hadley, didn’t mince words while announcing the broadcaster’s departure on 2GB radio, predicting that it marks the end of Jones’ career.

“ … It’s a shame that he’s gone out in that manner given his unparalleled success in radio over 30 years of broadcasting,” Hadley said.

Once considered Australia’s most influential radio broadcaster, Jones announced his retirement from 2GB last year on advice from doctors, who said the workload was “detrimental” to his health.

Jones has for some time been keeping his options open regarding the ever changing media landscape.

John Laws and Alan Jones in December last year.

In July, he prompted talk of a return to breakfast radio when appearing as a guest on “old sparring partner” John Laws’ 2SM morning show.

Jones indicated then that he would be interested in speaking with station owner Bill Caralis.

“In all things, I learnt this from the great John Laws, in all things give it every consideration,” Jones said to Laws asking, “would you do breakfast again?”.

“Talk to Bill”.

In the candid chat between the two industry veterans, Laws said he was making an offer “indirectly” and that he would talk to Caralis.

Jones stepped away from his top rating 2GB breakfast show in June 2020, replaced by Ben Fordham, before moving to the broadcast job at Sky News Australia.

At the time, Jones had been the number one breakfast host for a record 226 consecutive surveys.

“Why don’t you come here and work with me?” Laws mused with Jones. “God we could set the world on fire, you and me.”

In response, Jones said: “Put a bit of paper in front of me, you know what it is like, it is the same old rules isn’t it? They are putting bits of paper in front of me, I have to tell you.

Since leaving 2GB, Jones has often spoken of missing the medium of radio.