Piers Morgan to star on Oz TV in global media deal

Outspoken journalist Piers Morgan has signed a global deal with News Corp that will see him star on Australian television and major UK and US networks.

Rupert Murdoch with Piers Morgan, ‘the broadcaster every channel wants but is too afraid to hire’. Picture: Paul Edwards

Outspoken broadcaster and journalist Piers Morgan has gone from walking off the set of a British morning TV show in outrage into a global television deal that will see him star on Australian television and major networks in the US and the UK.

Morgan, 56, promised to bring “my straight-talking, no-nonsense, common-sense view of life” to Australia.

The presenter and former Fleet Street editor will launch a new show syndicated throughout the world on networks including Sky News Australia, Fox Nation and News UK’s talkTV after signing an international deal with News Corporation.

Morgan is “the broadcaster every channel wants but is too afraid to hire”, News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said after striking the deal.

BREAKING: I’ve gone home. Great to be rejoining Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation after 28 years. The place I started my media career, with the boss who gave me my first big break. We’re going to have a lot of fun…. pic.twitter.com/g6xBWvgXzd

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 16, 2021

“Piers is a brilliant presenter, a talented journalist and says what people are thinking and feeling. He has many passionate fans around the world and we look forward to expanding his audience in the UK, at Fox Nation, Sky News Australia, The Sun and the New York Post.”

The global chief executive of News Corp, Robert Thomson, said Morgan ­believed “passionately in the contest of ideas”. Morgan advocates for “the principle of freedom of speech, and he delivers his perspective with a pithy puckishness that is compelling for a broad and growing audience. He carbonates debate with wit, whimsy and wisdom”, Mr Thomson said.

Morgan, who began his career as a writer and editor for British tabloids, said he was “thrilled to be returning to News Corp, which is where I began my media career more than 30 years ago”.

“Rupert Murdoch has been a constant and fearless champion of free speech and we are going to be building something new and very exciting together,” he said.

Piers Morgan attends The Sun's Who Cares Wins Awards 2021 in London on Tuesday.

“I want my global show to be a fearless forum for lively debate and agenda-setting interviews, and a place that celebrates the right of everyone to have an opinion, and for those opinions to be vigorously examined and challenged. I’m also delighted to become a columnist for The Sun and the New York Post, two brilliantly successful and popular newspaper brands. I’m going home and we’re going to have some fun.”

Of his new role on Sky News Australia, Morgan said he had ­“always loved Australia”. “Most Australians share my straight-talking, no-nonsense, common-sense view of life,” he said.

“I can’t wait for my new show to start airing on Sky News Australia, putting the woke world to rights!”

Sky News Australia chief executive Paul Whittaker welcomed “one of the strongest and most important voices in the media” to the network’s schedule.

“Piers is fearless. Piers doesn’t back down, whether taking on a president, prime minister or even members of the royal family,” he said.

“He is a traditionalist imbued with common-sense, intelligence and a knack for getting to the heart of a thorny issue. We are delighted he will be joining the Sky News Australia line-up from early next year.’’

Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott hailed Morgan as “an exceptional talent”.

“We look forward to him making an impact and exploring opportunities with him on all of our platforms, especially Fox Nation, where our subscribers will love his new show tackling the subjects everyone is talking about.”

Donald Trump is interviewed by Piers Morgan on British television in 2018.

A new book will be published worldwide by HarperCollins in hardback, audio and digital formats, following the phenomenal success of his Sunday Times Number One Bestseller, Wake Up.

Morgan will also present a series of True Crime documentaries. Editor in Chief of New York Post Group, Keith Poole, said: “Piers Morgan is the perfect fit for The New York Post. We can’t wait to get started with our newest Postie.”

Morgan has been teasing news of his next television job for weeks after quitting ITV’s Good Morning Britain in March amid controversy over remarks he made about the Duchess of Sussex.

Earlier this month, Morgan claimed a victory for freedom of speech after Ofcom, the media regulator, cleared Good Morning Britain of breaking broadcasting rules. Ofcom said that Morgan’s remarks about the Duchess were properly challenged by his co-hosts, including Susanna Reid.

Victoria Newton, Editor in Chief, The Sun, said: “Forget Ronaldo, this is the biggest comeback of the year.”

In Britain, News UK announced earlier today that it will launch talkTV in early 2022.

The new channel will be made widely available and will include a schedule of exciting new shows and televised content from the existing stable of News UK brands.