Sky News searches for free-to-air future for Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt

Sky News Australia is trying to strike a deal to keep programs such as The Bolt Report, Jones and Co and Paul Murray Live on free-to-air television as it nears the end of its agreement with broadcaster WIN Corp.

The news channel has been broadcasting to regional areas since 2018 through Bruce Gordon’s WIN Network, a deal that has helped prominent conservative commentators such as Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones grow audiences because of the absence of a paywall. That arrangement will expire at the end of July and is not expected to be renewed because of an affiliate deal signed between WIN and Nine Entertainment Co, owner of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Sky News Australia wants a free-to-air future for hosts like Alan Jones.Credit: Sky News Australia

Industry sources familiar with Sky News’ plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because commercial talks are confidential, said the company’s chief executive Paul Whittaker had contacted regional broadcasters such as Prime Media Group and Southern Cross Austereo in an attempt to secure an alternative free-to-air broadcast future for his channel. The sources said the talks are in the early stages and there is no guarantee any deal will succeed.

Prime Media Group currently runs Seven West Media’s television programs such as the AFL and Dancing with the Stars. Southern Cross Austereo runs Nine’s shows such as Married at First Sight and the NRL, but that arrangement will end in July. Southern Cross is in talks with Network Ten about a deal to broadcast shows such as Masterchef and The Bachelor but no agreement has been made.

Meanwhile, Sky News’ current partner, WIN, is unlikely to agree to a new deal because of a new arrangement with Nine that will come into effect in the middle of the year. Sky News declined to comment.

Securing a new deal is important for Sky News because it has been able to expand its audience rapidly through Sky News on WIN over the past three years. Sky News is a 24-hour conservative news channel licensed by Murdoch-owned Australian News Channel. It is considered influential in political circles, but at times has drawn scrutiny and controversy because of the commentary by hosts.

The 2018 deal marked the first time Sky News, which has been running since 1996, became available on free-to-air television. WIN Corp chief executive Andrew Lancaster said at the time access to Sky News in 30 different markets would give regional Australians well-rounded international, national and sports coverage.

While some hosts have not changed their content to accommodate the deal, others such as Paul Murray have travelled across Australia for episodes. Ratings data from OzTAM in December last year revealed a 38 per cent average audience increase for Sky News on WIN when compared to the same time the previous year. The company also said it reached 3.9 million viewers in 2020 (reach is defined by each person who watches Sky News for one minute).

Sky News Australia is separately involved in the creation of a third streaming service by Foxtel, NewsFlash, which is expected to launch later this year. Content from Sky News Australia and other news channels on Foxtel are expected to be included on the service, which industry sources said will cost about $5 a month.

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