Who Owns Sky News?

• Parent Company: News Corp Australia
• Ownership Type: Wholly owned
• Company Type: Publicly Traded

• Founded: 1996
• Founders: Kerry Packer, News Corporation

• Founded: 1923
• Headquarters: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Revenue: not publicly disclosed (subsidiary of News Corporation)

Visit News Corp Australia website

• Headquarters: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Manufacturing / Operations: Australia, International news gathering

Sky News Australia operates under News Corp Australia's media sustainability framework, focusing on digital transformation, responsible journalism practices, and ethical reporting standards. As a 24-hour news organization, Sky News Australia's sustainability efforts center on environmental impact reduction, digital media efficiency, and journalistic integrity.

Digital Transformation and Environmental Impact: Sky News Australia's shift from traditional broadcast to include digital platforms represents environmental sustainability benefits. Digital distribution reduces the need for physical infrastructure and transportation, decreasing the network's carbon footprint. The channel's multi-platform approach, including streaming services and mobile applications, allows for more efficient content delivery while maintaining comprehensive news coverage.

Responsible Journalism and Editorial Standards: Sky News Australia maintains editorial standards and journalistic ethics despite facing criticism for political bias. The network employs professional journalists and follows established news gathering practices. The channel's commitment to factual reporting and news integrity is demonstrated through its correction policies and editorial oversight mechanisms.

Environmental Considerations in Operations: As part of News Corp Australia, Sky News Australia participates in corporate sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact across media operations. This includes energy-efficient broadcasting facilities, waste reduction programs, and sustainable business practices in news production and distribution.

Community Engagement and Media Literacy: Sky News Australia contributes to public discourse and democratic engagement through its comprehensive news coverage and current affairs programming. The channel provides platforms for political debate and community discussion, contributing to media literacy and informed citizenship in Australian society.

Ethical Reporting Practices: Despite political alignment criticisms, Sky News Australia maintains journalistic ethics in news gathering and reporting. The network follows established protocols for source verification, fact-checking, and balanced reporting where applicable, though editorial bias has been noted by media analysts and critics.

Digital Innovation and Accessibility: Sky News Australia's digital transformation includes expanding accessibility through multiple platforms, ensuring news content reaches diverse audiences across different devices and consumption preferences. This digital innovation supports environmental sustainability while maintaining comprehensive news coverage.

Employee Welfare and Workplace Standards: Sky News Australia maintains professional workplace standards for journalists, producers, and support staff. The network provides training and development opportunities for media professionals while maintaining ethical employment practices and workplace safety standards.

Future Sustainability Direction: Sky News Australia is positioned to benefit from News Corp Australia's ongoing digital transformation and sustainability initiatives. The upcoming rebranding as News24 in 2026 represents a strategic evolution toward multi-platform news delivery while maintaining the channel's commitment to comprehensive news coverage and journalistic practices.

Sky News Australia has received significant recognition within the Australian media industry for its news coverage, election reporting, and journalistic excellence. The channel's 24-hour news format and comprehensive current affairs programming have resulted in numerous awards and industry acknowledgments throughout its history.

ASTRA Awards Recognition: Sky News Australia has received multiple ASTRA Awards (Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association Awards) across various categories. The channel has been recognized for excellence in news presentation, current affairs coverage, and journalism. Notable awards include recognition for programs like The Adam Giles Show and individual journalists such as David Speers, Kieran Gilbert, and Mike Willesee.

Logie Awards Achievement: Sky News Australia has received multiple Logie Awards, which recognize excellence in Australian television. These awards acknowledge the channel's contribution to Australian television and its success in news programming and current affairs coverage.

Election Coverage Excellence: The channel has received recognition for its comprehensive election coverage, particularly noted during the 2007 and 2016 Australian federal elections. Sky News Australia's election night coverage and political analysis have been acknowledged for providing detailed, real-time reporting and expert commentary.

Walkley Awards Recognition: Sky News Australia journalists have received Walkley Awards, Australia's most prestigious journalism awards. These recognitions acknowledge excellence in investigative journalism, political reporting, and current affairs coverage by Sky News Australia correspondents and presenters.

Kennedy Awards Achievement: Sky News Australia has received Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism, recognizing outstanding contributions to Australian journalism. These awards acknowledge the channel's journalists and programs for their impact on public discourse and journalistic standards.

AACTA Awards Recognition: The channel has received AACTA Awards (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards) for its television production and news programming. These awards acknowledge the technical and creative excellence of Sky News Australia's news coverage and current affairs programming.

Industry Leadership Recognition: Sky News Australia has been recognized as a leader in 24-hour news broadcasting and digital news delivery in Australia. The channel's innovative approach to multi-platform news distribution and comprehensive coverage has been acknowledged by media industry organizations.

Digital Innovation Awards: Sky News Australia's digital transformation and multi-platform approach have received recognition for innovation in news delivery and audience engagement. The channel's expansion into streaming services, mobile applications, and social media has been acknowledged as advancing news accessibility.

Community Impact Recognition: Sky News Australia has been acknowledged for its contribution to public discourse and democratic engagement in Australia. The channel's comprehensive news coverage and current affairs programming have been recognized for their role in informing Australian citizens and facilitating political debate.

Brand Evolution Recognition: The upcoming rebranding as News24 in 2026 has been acknowledged as a strategic evolution in Australian media, representing the channel's transition from a television-centric brand to a multi-platform news organization with global ambitions.

Sky News Australia has faced significant controversies throughout its history, particularly regarding political bias, misinformation, and editorial standards. These issues have affected the channel's reputation and sparked debates about media ethics and journalistic standards in Australia.

Political Bias and Editorial Direction: Sky News Australia has been widely criticized for its conservative, right-wing editorial bias. Media analysts and critics have noted that the channel follows a template similar to Fox News, becoming what former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called a "legitimising echo-chamber for this increasingly far-right, extremist worldview." The channel's coverage is frequently critical of progressive political parties while being supportive of right-wing parties such as the Liberal-National Coalition and One Nation.

Platform for Extremist Views (2018): Sky News Australia faced major criticism in August 2018 for providing a platform to Blair Cottrell, leader of the far-right Neo-Nazi organisation United Patriots Front. The interview on The Adam Giles Show drew condemnation from journalists and politicians, with ABC journalist David Speers and Sky News presenter Laura Jayes criticizing the decision. Former Labor minister Craig Emerson resigned in protest, stating that the interview was "another step in a journey to normalising racism & bigotry in our country."

COVID-19 Misinformation (2020-2021): During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sky News Australia commentators spread misinformation about public health measures and vaccines. Alan Jones and Craig Kelly falsely claimed that UK data proved COVID-19 vaccination increased death risk, claims that were debunked by BBC, Full Fact, and Reuters. In August 2021, YouTube barred Sky News Australia from uploading content for a week due to COVID-19 misinformation violations.

Climate Change Misinformation (2021-2022): A 2022 analysis by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found that Sky News Australia was a major source for climate change misinformation. The channel promoted a retracted journal article claiming no evidence of climate change, which was viewed over 500,000 times. Sky News Australia rejected the findings, stating they would "continue to encourage debate" on climate change.

Conspiracy Theory Promotion (2020): In December 2020, presenter Rowan Dean promoted the Great Reset conspiracy theory, claiming it was "as serious and dangerous a threat to our prosperity" as had been faced in decades. American far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has used Sky News Australia segments to support his claims.

Political Targeting and Personal Attacks: Sky News Australia has been criticized for targeting political figures, particularly Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who was dubbed a "dictator" by channel commentators. Andrews responded by calling the channel's prime time coverage "bullshit" and "the worst of American politics imported into ours."

Editorial Independence Concerns: Critics have questioned Sky News Australia's editorial independence given its conservative bias and alignment with News Corp's political interests. The channel's opinion programming has been described as creating an echo chamber rather than providing balanced news coverage.

Rebranding and Brand Identity Issues: In 2026, Sky News Australia announced it would rebrand as News24 due to the expiration of News Corp's license to the Sky News brand. This rebranding reflects the channel's divergence from Sky News UK's editorial direction and its increasingly conservative positioning.

Current Status and Market Position: Despite these controversies, Sky News Australia maintains a significant audience share in the Australian news market and continues to be influential in political discourse. The channel's upcoming rebranding as News24 represents an attempt to refresh its brand identity while maintaining its editorial approach and market position.

Future Outlook: Sky News Australia continues to face scrutiny over its editorial practices and political bias while maintaining its position as a major player in Australian news media. The channel's rebranding and multi-platform strategy aim to address some concerns while maintaining its core audience and editorial direction.