Sky News ratings surge: Peter Stefanovic, Laura Jayes prove a hit on COVID-19 channel
Sky News's dedicated COVID-19 channel is proving a ratings hit with audiences turning to its television and online platforms for the most up to date information. WATCH LIVE
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Sky News Australia has seen record numbers turn to their television, online and audio platforms as the coronavirus grips the world.
Sky News has been the number one channel on Foxtel for more than five weeks (1 March – 7 April), with total audience increasing 63 per cent year-on-year, reaching 2.4 million viewers.
This includes an increase throughout the day (6am-6pm) of 82 per cent across programs including First Edition, AM Agenda, NewsDay, Afternoon Agenda and The Kenny Report.
Viewing to primetime (6pm-11pm) is up 41 per cent driven by programs including Paul Murray Live, Credlin, The Bolt Report, Jones & Credlin and the Sunday night coronavirus investigations hosted by Peter Stefanovic.
Since launching on 23 March, the dedicated 24/7 Sky News COVID-19 channel on Foxtel has reached 1.4 million viewers (23 March – 7 April), with viewing up 406 per cent.Additionally, there have been 1.1 million streams to the Sky News COVID-19 channel online.
The new channel, Sky News COVID-19, features Australian and global news related to the health emergency.
It broadcasts via Foxtel’s Channel 604, as well as on Sky News channels 103 and 600, and online via skynews.com.au.
The channel features press conferences from governments and health authorities around the world, live and in full, as well as in-depth government announcements.
Laura Jayes, co-anchor of Sky News’ First Edition, said the new around-the-clock service reflected a demand from viewers.
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“People need the facts and the right questions asked of the right people at a time like this. That’s exactly what we’re providing,” Jayes said.
Peter Stefanovic, also a co-anchor of First Edition, described the coronavirus crisis as “one of the biggest stories of our time”.
“It’s something that doesn’t just affect Australia, but the entire world,” Stefanovic said.
“With so much to know, it’s important we get all of it to air and this extra channel will help us do that to keep viewers across every breaking detail.”
Sky News Australia chief executive Paul Whittaker said the new channel would give viewers “accurate and timely information”.
“As the country faces this unprecedented health epidemic, Australians require up-to-date information from a trusted source,” Whittaker said.
“Working alongside our Sky News channel, Sky News COVID-19 will provide Australians with access to in-depth, around-the-clock long-form press conferences and government announcements from Australia and around the world to stay informed.”
Sky News COVID-19 will also be made available for free across skynews.com.au and News Corp’s masthead websites.
As well as Sky News presenters Stefanovic and Jayes, the channel features Kieran Gilbert, Annelise Nielsen, Tom Connell, Ashleigh Gillon, Andrew Clennell and Ticky Fullerton, and others.
Originally published as Sky News ratings surge: Peter Stefanovic, Laura Jayes prove a hit on COVID-19 channel