Alan Jones reveals new job after being axed from Sky

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has made a major announcement about his next career move at a press conference in Sydney.

Alan Jones has announced he has signed on to produce a digital TV show that will stream on social media platforms.

Jones has signed with Australian Digital Holdings to create a new television show that will stream on Facebook, YouTube and other social platforms.

The former Sky News host held a press conference at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel on Friday to make the announcement.

“This is a pioneering initiative, this has never been done in Australia before,” Jones said.

“It is very much the tomorrow of media.”

Jones said he had been “encouraged” by the success of his Facebook page ahead of signing on for the program, which will stream for the first time at 8pm on Monday.

The digital TV show will be accompanied by a daily podcast called Alan Jones 7am Comment.

The veteran TV and radio broadcaster, who is well known for his outspoken nature and controversial views, told reporters the “biggest issue facing Australia is self censorship”.

“There are thousands and thousands of people saying, ‘What is Alan Jones saying?’”

Jones said he opted for the online format for the new show – which will be reliant on advertising revenue from the digital platforms – because “there is a lot of interference in what people want to write or want to say” in traditional media.

“And therefore sometimes what comes out is not quintessentially your view,” he said.

“We’ve got the best legal minds behind the operation, so they will all be consulted, but I will be saying what Alan Jones thinks, I won’t be responding to legal letters as to whether I can say that or say that.”

Alan Jones announces his new TV show with Australian Digital Holdings. Picture: Jeremy Piper/NCA NewsWire

Earlier this week it had been reported Jones was considering a run for politics.

Jones confirmed he had been approached to run “by every political party and some political parties that I don’t think even exist”.

But he said he did not want to “sit in the Senate and say nothing”.

“I don’t think that’s me,” he said.

“Can you tell me three people who’ve said something significant in the Senate in the last month? I don’t want to join that crowd, no thanks. Look, I think there’s something wrong the parliamentary system, and I don’t want to be part of that. There are so many disaffected parliamentarians who speak to me.”

The newly formed Australian Digital Holdings, which is headed by former ABC chairman Maurice Newman, says it has several other unnamed broadcasters coming on board.

Jones said “some very good people” were funding the venture.

“There were people who approached me, and believe in me and believe in what I’ve done … and they embraced that and said, ‘We want you to be our inaugural broadcaster,’” he said.

“But there are others lining up.”

Asked for any hints who else might be joining the network, Jones quipped that “Osama bin Laden’s dead and Edmund Hillary’s gone, so I can’t really prevail upon any of them”.

The 80-year-old abruptly departed Sky News last month, saying the network had declined to renew his contract.

He had accused Sky News of “cancelling” his conservative views.

In his final 8pm broadcast on November 4, Jones promised to continue voicing his opinions on social media. He has since turned to live-streaming to his 165,000 Facebook followers.

Jones had announced his shock departure hours earlier in a lengthy statement on Facebook highlighting his ratings wins for the network, which is owned by News Corp Australia, publisher of news.com.au.

He said he had been offered an alternative slot to appear once a week on the news streaming service, Flash, but declined.

Alan Jones abruptly departed Sky News Australia last month. Picture: Christian Gilles

His contract had been due to end on November 30, but the decision was made at the October 29 meeting that he wouldn’t see out his final weeks.

“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,” he wrote.

At the time, Sky News Australia chief executive Paul Whittaker thanked Jones “for his commendable dedication and service to Sky News”.

“We respect his decision and know he will be missed by many,” Mr Whittaker said.

“Alan has contributed greatly to Sky News Australia over the years, advocating without fear or favour on the issues important to many Australians. His compelling commentary and views on the national debate have seen him become one of the country’s most successful and influential broadcasters for close to four decades.”

Jones joined Sky News Australia in 2013 as the co-host of the discussion program Richo + Jones, moving on to host Jones & Co in 2016 before finally helming The Alan Jones Program since July last year.

Prior to that, he hosted his radio show on 2GB for two decades, before retiring in May last year.

He dominated the airwaves in the early timeslot for many years, handing the baton over to Ben Fordham.

Jones’ 8pm Sky News timeslot has since been filled by Inside the News with Rita Panahi.

— with Lexie Cartwright