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SKY News appoints Washington correspondent

Plus: SKY News has been the #1 channel on Foxtel across 2020.

SKY News has appointed political journalist Annelise Nielsen as its first Washington Correspondent.

Nielsen will remain in the U.S, after heading over in August to cover the Presidential Election and will lead coverage of the upcoming Presidential Inauguration.

Also joining the broadcaster in 2021, Cory Bernardi will host Bernardi and Catherine McGregor will front The McGregor Angle.

Nicholas Reece, a former senior Labor political advisor to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, also joins as co-host of new Friday afternoon program The Friday Showdown alongside leading Rita Panahi.

Laura Jayes will anchor the morning political program AM Agenda, adding to SKY presenters Kieran Gilbert, Andrew Clennell, Peter Stefanovic, Ashleigh Gillon and Tom Connell.
From 24 January Chris Kenny, Peta Credlin, Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones and Paul Murray return.

SKY News has drawn a record average audience share of 3.0% across the past 47 weeks, ranking as the #1 channel across Foxtel throughout the year to date.

Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer said: “In a year of uncertainty our experienced SKY News team has been a mainstay for Australians, leading the live news coverage keeping the nation informed, questioning and advocating for change, providing newsbreaking political coverage and probing commentary.

“In 2021 our team will continue to provide audiences with all sides of the story. With more trusted voices and more viewpoints than anywhere else, more investment in long-form investigative journalism and more coverage of international news from a distinctly Australian perspective, Sky News will give Australians the full picture.”

Sky News on Foxtel has delivered a record average audience share of 3.0% across the past 47 weeks, ranking as the #1 channel across Foxtel throughout the year to date.

The strong audience growth was seen in across all key Dayparts:
All Day (2am – 2am) up a record +43%; reaching 4 million unique viewers
Morning (9am-12pm) up a record +73%; reaching 2 million unique viewers
Daytime (9am-5pm) up a record +69%; reaching 3.3 million unique viewers
Primetime (6pm-10pm) up a record +36%; reaching 2.9 million unique viewers
Breakfast Weekdays (5am-9am) up +21%, reaching 1.2 million unique viewers

Sky News investigative documentaries continue to drive audiences, with the two-part special MH370: The Untold Story holding the #1 and #2 individual program positions for the year, topping the ratings on Foxtel at premiere. The one-hour investigative specials The Death of the Aussie Larrikin and Deadly Decisions: Victoria’s Hotel Quarantine Catastrophe were both the #1 programs on Foxtel at premiere.

First Edition (Weekdays 5am – 9am) up +32%
AM Agenda (Weekdays 9am – 12pm) up +65%
NewsDay (Weekdays 12pm – 2pm) up +91%
Afternoon Agenda (Weekdays 2pm – 5pm) up +69%
The Kenny Report Weekdays 5pm – 6pm) up +59%
Credlin (Weeknights 6pm – 7pm) up +41%
The Bolt Report (Weeknights 7pm) up +32%
Alan Jones (Monday – Thursday 8pm) up +60%
Paul Murray Live (Sunday – Thursday 9pm) up +34%
Kenny on Media (Fridays 8pm) up +13%
The Front Page (Monday – Thursday 11pm) up +46%
Sunday Agenda (Sundays 8am) up +10%
Outsiders (Sundays 9am) up +60%
Business Weekend (Sundays 11am) up +58%

The Sky News COVID-19 channel (previously Sky News Extra), provided an important community service keeping Australians informed during the crisis, with the channel achieving record year-on-year growth with All Day audiences up +207%. Audience share grew to 0.2%, an increase of +0.1 share points year-on-year, reaching 2.7 million viewers since the channel launched in March.

New in 2021

Bernardi, Fridays at 7:00pm live from Adelaide, Premieres 29 January
During his time in the Senate, Cory Bernardi was in the thick of some of the biggest policy debates of recent years. Known for his frank common-sense approach, he brings deep insight and broad political experience to viewers. Each Friday night live from the Sky News studio in Adelaide, Cory will give his take on the big stories of the week.

The McGregor Angle, Fridays at 8:30pm live from Canberra, Premieres 29 January
Joining Sky News’ primetime line-up is Catherine McGregor: prominent writer, commentator and former senior Australian Defence Force officer. Not one to shy away from tough conversations, Catherine will use her unique perspective to have the debates others won’t. The McGregor Angle will bring together Catherine’s knowledge of defence and security issues, and her understanding of federal politics. Her insight will lead discussion and drive the national conversation. And she loves her sport, too.

The Friday Showdown, Fridays at 4:00pm live from Melbourne, Premieres 29 January
Rita Panahi and Nicholas Reece face off on the big issues of the week. Politics, social issues, culture wars, the controversies. And the crazy side of life. It’s all here. Discussion, debate and drama from mates who aren’t afraid to disagree.

Catching the Claremont Killer: The Untold Story, Investigative Documentary, Premieres February
First in 2021, Sky News will explore how a notorious killer stayed hidden in plain sight for more than three decades bringing audiences the compelling one-hour special investigation Catching the Claremont Killer: The Untold Story.

From Sunday 24 January:

First Edition with Peter Stefanovic, weekdays at 5:30am, returns 25 January
AM Agenda with Laura Jayes, weekdays at 9:00am, returns 25 January
NewsDay with Tom Connell, Monday & Friday from 11:00am – 2:00pm, Tuesday – Thursday from 11:00am – 12:00pm, returns 25 January
NewsDay with Ashleigh Gillon, Tuesday – Thursday from 12:00pm – 2:00pm, returns 26 January
Afternoon Agenda with Kieran Gilbert, and featuring Andrew Clennell, Monday – Thursday at 2:00pm, returns 25 January
The Kenny Report with Chris Kenny, Monday – Friday at 5:00pm, returns 25 January
Credlin with Peta Credlin, weeknights at 6:00pm, returns 25 January
The Bolt Report with Andrew Bolt, Monday – Thursday at 7:00pm, returns 1 February
Alan Jones with Alan Jones, Monday – Thursday at 8:00pm, returns 1 February
Paul Murray Live with Paul Murray, Sunday – Thursday at 9:00pm, returns 24 January
The Front Page with Peter Gleeson, Monday- Thursday at 11:00pm, returns 25 January
The Friday Showdown with Rita Panahi and Nicholas Reece, Fridays at 4:00pm, premieres 29 January
Bernardi with Cory Bernardi, Fridays at 7:00pm, premieres 29 January
Kenny on Media with Chris Kenny, Fridays at 8:00pm, returns 29 January
The McGregor Angle with Catherine McGregor, Fridays at 8:30pm, premieres 29 January
Hardgrave with Gary Hardgrave, Fridays at 9:00pm, returns 29 January
Weekend Edition with Jaynie Seal and Tim Gilbert, Saturdays & Sundays from 6am
Sunday Agenda with Kieran Gilbert and Andrew Clennell, Sundays at 8am, returns 24 January
Outsiders with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow, Sundays at 9am, returns 24 January
Business Weekend with Ticky Fullerton and Adam Creighton, Sundays at 11am, returns 31 January
Sharri with Sharri Markson, Sundays at 6pm, returns 24 January
Chris Smith Tonight with Chris Smith, Sundays at 7pm, returns 31 January
In My View Sundays at 8pm, returns 24 January

10 Responses

  1. What has the wonderful Rita Panahi done to be paired with Nicholas Reece? The moment I hear his name I hit the “off” button!
    Lively debate is great, but Reece talks rubbish and never shuts up!

  2. I’ve almost halved the amount of time i watch Sky since David Speers left. He was my main reason. And Paul Murray Live. I gave up on Credlin – occasionally enjoy Bolt but that’s about it. ABC News 24 has become my go to since COVID. This news of Annelise Nielsen is good, altho i probably won’t see much of her. I’ve watched her development there at Sky and she even holds her own with Andrew Bolt when he says something provocative, she is diplomatic but clear and incisive. She’s good value,

    1. Dave, I think you were like David Speers – in the wrong place. I’m sure you will be much happier watching the wokey ABC, because they choose to omit any news that isn’t in tune with their narrative (i.e. far left)
      Sky unsettles some people – they report all news and actually have people present both sides of an issue – I know, unheard of these days.
      Snowflakes just can’t handle it.

      1. This is a joke, right? I used to watch Sky News however left once the after dark crew got their hold of the daytime narrative, i was out. To say Sky is balanced is ignorant – yes they have both sides represented however talk down and belittle in many ways which results in Sky News’ opinion being the headline.

        1. There are no “Strong Lefties” on Sky News, only Left Wing apologists who tell the Far Right Wing hosts and their sheep that their crazy views aren’t crazy. Sky is nothing more than a propaganda safe space for the Right.

          1. I agree with you. I’d go further and call them self hating or self sabotaging lefties. Richo, Conroy. Only Nick Reece attempts to provide balance but they use him for ridicule. Makes good telly but far from balanced and hardly representative. Hanson gets plenty of air time. No Greens or Independents

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