Pay television , also known as subscription television , premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel , refers to subscription -based television services, usually provided by multichannel television providers, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and streaming television . In the United States, subscription television began in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the form of encrypted analog over-the-air broadcast television which could be decrypted with special equipment. The concept rapidly expanded through the multi-channel transition and into the post-network era . Other parts of the world beyond the United States, such as France and Latin America have also offered encrypted analog terrestrial signals available for subscription.
87-745: ABC Australia , formerly Australia Television International (or just Australia Television ), ABC Asia Pacific , Australia Network and Australia Plus , is an Australian pay television channel, launched in 1993 and operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as part of the ABC television network of services . The channel broadcasts a mix of programming, including lifestyle, drama, sports, English-language learning programs, children's programming and news and current affairs to viewers across East Asia , Central Asia , South Asia , Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands . It
174-469: A trial period , often one to three months, though there have been rare instances of free trials for pay services that last up to one year for newer subscribers to that provider's television service. Pay television has become popular with cable and satellite television . Pay television services often, at least two to three times per year, provide free previews of their services, in order to court potential subscribers by allowing this wider audience to sample
261-652: A UK television service ). Sky News programming consists of a mix of live news bulletins, live broadcasts from events (such as Parliament Question Time and selected press conferences ), original commentary panel programs and simulcasts of international sister station Sky News UK . Sky News has broadcast every sitting of Question Time from the House of Representatives since its launch in 1996. Sky News Australia increased its primetime programming offerings, particularly its political-themed shows, significantly in 2013, when it made more obvious its right-leaning ideology, ahead of
348-561: A bureau in every capital city in Australia, completing this with the opening of its Hobart studio in 2013. In 2016, it opened a bureau in Cairns , making it the first non-capital city bureau. In 2017, a Gold Coast bureau was opened marking the third non-capital city studio after Cairns and Geelong . The base of Sky News Australia is in the Sydney suburb of Macquarie Park , from which
435-406: A crude decrypting of the over-the-air television signal and a decoding box, but never caught on for use at that time. It took another four decades when cable broadcasters started using pay-per-view on a widespread basis. "Free" variants are free-to-air (FTA) and free-to-view (FTV); however, FTV services are normally encrypted and decryption cards either come as part of an initial subscription to
522-587: A digital-first brand and content platform called 2600. The online political newsletter is sent out daily with breaking news from Canberra. In November 2018, Sky News terminated the contract of former Liberal Party MP and late-night presenter Ross Cameron for using sinophobic language to describe Chinese people . In July 2024, it was reported that the network would relocate to the News Corp Australia headquarters in Surry Hills in 2025. It
609-407: A five-year, A$ 50-million tender for the service – at the time watched primarily by Australian expatriates for its news programmes, football coverage, and children's programming. Seven chose not to bid, while Imparja Television 's application was unsuccessful. The ABC won the contract and Australia Television was rebranded as ABC Asia Pacific on 1 January 2002 (or 31 December 2001?), with content from
696-632: A focus on their parent companies' libraries, with HBO Now replaced by HBO Max (now Max) in 2020 (which adds content from other Warner Bros. properties and third-parties, and would also be included with existing HBO subscriptions via television providers), and Showtime formally merging with Paramount+ in 2023. Canadian premium service The Movie Network similarly merged with the CraveTV service owned by parent company Bell Media in 2018. Pay-per-view (PPV) services are similar to subscription-based pay television services in that customers must pay to have
783-655: A four-year partnership deal with CNN International , commencing on 1 January 2011. In 2017, Denis Muller, a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne 's Centre for Advancing Journalism, described the channel as having a "split personality," running straight news bulletins and reporting during the day with professional and independent journalists and presenters, while moving towards "right-leaning punditry " in prime time. In February 2021, Muller, commenting on former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's statement that Sky News
870-513: A lower subscription fee. These are called "mini-pay" channels (a term also used for smaller scale commercial-free pay television services) and are often sold as a part of a package with numerous similarly priced channels. Usually, however, the regular pricing for premium channels ranges from just under $ 10 to near $ 25 per month per suite, with lower prices available via bundling options with cable or satellite providers, or special limited offers which are available during free preview periods or before
957-774: A media inquiry in February 2021 that it was following the "template" of Fox News in becoming a "legitimising echo-chamber for this increasingly far-right, extremist worldview". In December 2023, former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews , who was a frequent target of scorn from Sky News pundits during his premiership, referred to the channel's after dark coverage as "bullshit" and "the worst of American politics imported into ours". Sky News began broadcasting in widescreen , along with its sister channels on 17 May 2009. Sky News Australia only provides closed captioning between 4 pm and 5 pm (AEST/AEDT) each day. Sky News began broadcasting in high definition on 1 December 2015. With
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#17327801045071044-535: A mix of original series, films, and specials. The shift towards SVOD has resulted in increasing competition within the sector, with media conglomerates having launched their own services (such as Disney+ , Paramount+ , Peacock , and Disney's acquisition of the majority of Hulu ) to compete, and existing premium networks such as HBO ( HBO Now ) and Showtime launching direct-to-consumer versions of their existing services to appeal to cord cutters . HBO and Showtime later absorbed their DTC offerings into wider services with
1131-536: A pay television bouquet – in other words, an offer of pay-TV channels – or can be purchased for a one-time cost. FTA and FTV systems may still have selective access. ABC Australia is one example, as much of its programming content is free-to-air except for National Rugby League (NRL) games, which are encrypted. Sky News Australia Sky News Australia is an Australian conservative news channel owned by News Corp Australia . Originally launched on 19 February 1996, it broadcasts rolling news coverage throughout
1218-421: A peak of 18,000 between 8 pm and 10 pm, although the report did not specify what days or dates this average refers to. During the 2016 federal election , Sky News averaged 96,000 viewers, an increase of 46% from the 2013 election. In July 2018, Sky News claimed to have achieved its highest ratings on record, with viewership up 9% overall and its weeknight primetime (6pm–11pm) viewership 25% higher on
1305-693: A restriction as a few providers optionally sell that service without requiring a Showtime subscription. Unlike other cable networks, premium services are almost always subscribed to a la carte , meaning that one can, for example, subscribe to HBO without subscribing to Showtime (in Canada, there are slight modifications, as most providers include U.S. superstations – such as WAPA-TV – with their main premium package by default). However, subscribing to an "individual" service automatically includes access to all of that service's available multiplex channels and, in some cases, access to content via video-on-demand (in
1392-764: A result, pay television outlets are most concerned with offering content that can justify the cost of the service, which helps to attract new subscribers, and retain existing subscribers. Many pay television services consist of multiple individual channels, referred to as " multiplex " services (in reference to multiplex cinemas ), where a main flagship channel is accompanied by secondary services with distinct schedules focusing on specific genres and audiences (such as multiplexes focusing more on "classic" films, or family-oriented programming), time shifting , or brand licensing deals (such as channels focusing specifically on Disney films , or content from U.S. pay television brands if they do not specifically run their own network in
1479-425: A seasonal package. They are typically the most expensive type of pay services, generally running in the range of $ 35 to $ 50 per month. Some pay services also offer pornographic films ; Cinemax was well known for carrying a late-night block of softcore films and series known as "Max After Dark"—a reputation that led to the network often being nicknamed "Skinemax" by viewers. Cinemax phased out this programming in
1566-630: A service providing Pacific island broadcasters with a 24/7 feed of sport, news and other content. Most of it is from New Zealand. In August 2016, three commercial partners, the Government of Victoria , vitamin and supplement company Swisse and Monash University signed contracts with Australia Plus. Under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 the ABC International Division
1653-540: A short time during the 1980s, and unlike other general-interest pay services accepted outside advertising for broadcast during its sports telecasts), Preview , SelecTV and ON TV in the late 1970s, but those services disappeared as competition from cable television expanded during the 1980s. In Australia , Foxtel , Optus Television and TransACT are the major pay television distributors, all of which provide cable services in some metropolitan areas , with Foxtel providing satellite service for all other areas where cable
1740-401: A specific market). Typically, these services are bundled together with the main channel at no additional charge, and cannot be purchased separately. Depending on local regulations, pay television services generally have more lenient content standards because of their relatively narrower distribution, and not being subject to pressure from sponsors to tone down content. As a result, programming
1827-598: A television channel would further heighten Australia's presence in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate the ABC's technical abilities. Prime Minister Paul Keating launched Australia Television International on 17 February 1993, televised live to 50 countries in the south-east Asian region, from the ABC's television studios in Gore Hill , Sydney . The actual broadcast was from the Darwin uplink where Dominic Stone,
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#17327801045071914-491: A week for breaking YouTube's rules on posting videos containing COVID-19 misinformation. Upon the channel's return to the platform, Sky News Australia published a piece titled "Uncancelled: Sky News Australia Set Free" wherein Digital Editor Jack Houghton claimed the channel's temporary banning was the result of Silicon Valley and left-wing media attempting to stifle free speech. A 2022 analysis by
2001-485: Is Canal+ and its scrambled services, which operated in France from 1984 to the 2011 closedown of analogue television, Spain from 1990 to 2005 and Poland from 1995 to 2001. Some U.S. television stations launched pay services (known simply as "subscription television" services) such as SuperTV , Wometco Home Theater , PRISM (which principally operated as a cable service, only being simultaneously carried over-the-air for
2088-417: Is allowed to operate as a commercial operation, in a way similar to BBC Worldwide . Australia Plus was rebranded as ABC Australia on 1 July 2018. ABC Head of International Strategy David Hua said, “The rebranding of the international television service makes sense to our audiences overseas, who want distinctive Australian content from a highly-respected media organisation.” The rebranding came just weeks after
2175-501: Is available via subscription to viewers across East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, including India, Japan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu . In addition to those listed below, the now rebadged ABC Australia shows a range of programming targeted at audiences within the region, including evening news bulletins at two-hour intervals targeted at different parts of
2262-707: Is not available. Austar formerly operated as a satellite pay service, until it merged with Foxtel and SelecTV . The major distributors of pay television in New Zealand are Sky Network Television on satellite and Vodafone on cable. In the 2010s, over-the-top subscription video on demand (SVOD) services distributed via internet video emerged as a major competitor to traditional pay television, with services such as Amazon Video , Hulu , and Netflix gaining prominence. Similarly to pay television services, their libraries include acquired content (which can not only include films, but acquired television series as well), and
2349-480: Is partially funded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade , as well as some advertising (unlike the ABC's domestic television services ). Radio Australia had been operating as part of the ABC since 1939 while the passing of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 allowed the corporation to operate an additional international television service. The channel was originally proposed by directors Mark Armstrong and David Hill , who felt that
2436-717: Is typically aired with limited to no edits for time or, where applicable, mature content such as graphic violence , profanity , nudity , and sexual activity . As premium television services are commonly devoid of traditional commercial advertising, breaks between programming typically include promotions for upcoming programs , and interstitial segments (such as behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and other feature segments). Some sports-based pay services, however, may feature some commercial advertising, particularly if they simulcast sporting events that are broadcast by advertiser-supported television networks. In addition, most general interest or movie-based pay services do not adhere to
2523-582: The 2013 federal election , cancelling almost entirely the slot's rolling news block News Night . It would then regain most of its runtime in 2014. Sky News Australia rebranded itself on 19 January 2015 as "Sky News Live", dropping the "Sky News National" branding. On weekdays, throughout most of the day, rolling news coverage is presented from one of Sky News Australia's studios. From 5 pm ( AEST/AEDT ), commentary programs begin, and continue through primetime until 11 pm AEST/AEDT. Most of these programs are presented by conservative commentators discussing
2610-550: The 2015 Liberal leadership spill . It was the most watched subscription television channel for the evening and outrated all free-to-air television channels between 11 pm and midnight AEST. The highest rated hour of coverage was from 10pm, achieving 190,000 viewers, the second highest ratings since the 2013 Labor Party spill. A March 2016 article in The Guardian Australia reported Sky News averages 12,000 national viewers between 6 pm and midnight, with
2697-840: The ABC's iview platform. Australia Network became available in Malaysia on Astro (Channel 514) in December 2008. In 2010 the Rudd government invited media organisations to submit tenders to deliver the Australia Network for 10 years. In November 2011, the Government closed the tender, "due to significant leaks of confidential information to the media", and asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate. In
ABC Australia (Asia-Pacific TV channel) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2784-669: The Greens , while being supportive of right-wing parties such as the Liberal-National Coalition and One Nation . Presenter Paul Murray has stated that "Sky News at night is a Liberal echo chamber". Drawing a strong comparison to Fox News, the network began moving towards panel-based programming from 2010, with most of its highest profile prime time commentators being conservative. Hosts Andrew Bolt and Paul Murray have been compared to Fox News presenters Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity respectively. As many of
2871-713: The Institute for Strategic Dialogue , a British think tank, found that Sky News Australia was a major source for climate change misinformation . Sky News Australia rejected the findings of the analysis, saying that they would "continue to encourage debate " on climate change . In 2022, Sky News Australia promoted a now retracted journal article from the European Physical Journal that claimed to have found no evidence of climate change in two video segments. The two segments were viewed more than 500 000 times. The highest rating broadcast on Sky News Australia
2958-478: The Seven Network , Nine Network , Network Ten , and the ABC's own original content, as well as news bulletins produced by Sky News Australia . The tender was renewed in 2005; the ABC was re-awarded control of the service until 8 August 2011, over other applicants including Sky News Australia . Soon afterwards, the network stopped showing content from Sky News Australia, replaced with bulletins produced by
3045-538: The Sky News brand. Especially since the acquisition of the channel by News Corp Australia, Sky News Australia has faced scrutiny from the press over its increased focus on opinion programming. Comparisons were drawn to Rupert Murdoch 's American news channel Fox News , and there have been accusations that the channel's opinion programming has promoted misinformation and untrue conspiracy theories . Sky News Channel's parent company, Australian News Channel (ANC),
3132-610: The Wimbledon tennis tournament. Specialty pay sports channels also exist—often focusing on international sports considered niche to domestic audiences (such as, in the United States, cricket ), and are typically sold at a higher expense than traditional premium services. Out-of-market sports packages in North America are multi-channel pay services carrying professional or collegiate sporting events which are sold in
3219-563: The business cycle , some broadcasters try to balance them with more stable income from subscriptions. Some providers offer services owned by the same company in a single package. For example, American satellite provider DirecTV offers the Encore channels along with the Starz multiplex (both owned by Lionsgate 's Starz Inc. ) in its "Starz Super Pack"; and The Movie Channel , Flix and SundanceTV (the latter of which continues to be sold in
3306-523: The far-right , Neo-Nazi organisation United Patriots Front in a one-to-one discussion about immigration on The Adam Giles Show . Sky News presenter Laura Jayes and ABC journalist David Speers were among those critical (both on-air and off-air) of his appearance on the programme due to the fact that he has expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and claimed to have manipulated women "using violence and terror." Sky News commentator and former Labor Party minister Craig Emerson resigned in protest after
3393-471: The 1997–1998 federal budget, and recommendations made in the Mansfield Report, meant that control of Australia Television was handed over to the Seven Network in 1998. Under Seven's direction the channel continued to receive federal funding, and carry some ABC News . Despite efforts made by Seven to expand into Asia using the service, it continued to lose money. In 2001, the government announced
3480-586: The 2010s, citing that it did not align with its current focus on action programming, and that internet porn and the amount of sexual content in other mainstream premium series (such as Game of Thrones ) made a specific block for such content redundant. Specialized channels dedicated to pornographic films also exist, that carry either softcore adult programs (such as Playboy TV ), or more hardcore content (such as The Erotic Network and Hustler TV ). Pay television channels come in different price ranges. Many channels carrying advertising combine this income with
3567-457: The ABC's domestic television services ). Along with the rest of the ABC, the channel has suffered from successive funding cuts, particularly under Liberal governments since the 1996 Howard government , with particularly deep cuts in 2014 under the Abbott government and an ongoing indexation freeze as of 2021. In 2019, the ABC's budget for all international operations was A$ 11 million , at
ABC Australia (Asia-Pacific TV channel) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-457: The ABC's own news and current affairs division from its Southbank studios in Melbourne. ABC Asia Pacific changed its name to Australia Network on 7 August 2006, at the same time introducing a number of new programs, as well as the expansion of its existing news programs and English-language learning programs. Following a restructure of the ABC in early 2007, Australia Network became a part of
3741-554: The Australian Government in a poor light and cost the two tenderers... time and money". The government was obliged to pay millions in compensation to Sky News. In the 2014–2015 Australian federal budget by the Abbott government , all funding to the Australia Network was cut and its closure was announced, days before it was about to sign a contract with Shanghai Media Holdings to begin broadcasting in China (making it only
3828-583: The COVID-19 pandemic beginning in the year 2020, some Sky News commentators referred to Andrews as a 'dictator' and a 'chairman', drawing a comparison to socialist and communist regimes when criticising Andrews' frequent use of pandemic lockdowns and public health orders. Sky News Australia has been a frequent critic of US President Joe Biden ever since he took office on 20 January 2021. Some commentators such as Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones have frequently spread claims about Biden's mental health, claiming it
3915-882: The Channel Seven building in Martin Place , which includes a small street-level single camera studio which looks onto Elizabeth Street, Sydney . Internationally, Sky News's only foreign bureau is in Wellington , New Zealand, opened in 2015. Apart from its own resources, at launch Sky News Australia used the news resources of its former parent companies Seven News , Nine News and Sky News UK, as well as sister networks Sky News UK and Fox News Channel . ABC America and CBS were founding international partners of Sky News Australia. In 2010 it had agreements with CCTV China, ABC America, CBS , Reuters , APTN , Bloomberg , Dow Jones and Newshub , when it signed
4002-472: The DirecTV package despite Showtime Networks no longer owning Sundance, that channel is now owned by AMC Networks ) along with Showtime in its "Showtime Unlimited" package; Cinemax and its multiplex networks, in turn, are almost always packaged with HBO (both owned by Warner Bros. Discovery ). Though selling premium services that are related by ownership as a package is common, that may not always be
4089-460: The Foxtel platform. The 7 pm ( AEST ) hour was the highest rated at 109,000 viewers. Sky News achieved a day time share of 2.6% (behind ABC News 24's 3.8%) and a primetime share of 1.5% (behind ABC News 24's 2.5%). Sky News Live rated 56,000 viewers for early evening coverage of the 2015 Queensland state election , and 83,000 viewers for later coverage, beaten by ABC News 24 's coverage which
4176-431: The United States, Cinemax , HBO , MGM+ , Showtime , and Starz , but such services can also include those devoted to sports , as well as adult entertainment . In contrast to most other multichannel television broadcasters, which depend on advertising and carriage fees as their sources of revenue, the majority of pay television services rely almost solely on monthly subscription fees paid by individual customers. As
4263-737: The aforementioned leniency in content standards, they too can contain content that is more mature than those of other cable channels or television networks . These series also tend to be high-budget and aim for critical success in order to attract subscribers: notable premium series, such as HBO 's Curb Your Enthusiasm , Game of Thrones , Sex and the City , and The Sopranos , and Showtime 's Dexter , Homeland , and Weeds , have achieved critical acclaim and have won various television awards. Some premium channels also broadcast television specials , which most commonly consist of concerts and concert films , documentaries , stand-up comedy , and in
4350-419: The broadcast decrypted for viewing, but usually only entail a one-time payment for a single or time-limited viewing. Programs offered via pay-per-view are most often movies or sporting events, but may also include other events, such as concerts and even softcore adult programs. In the U.S., the initial concept and technology for pay-per-view for broadcast television was first developed in the early 1950s, including
4437-628: The channel's primetime contributors are conservatives - many with clear career links to the Liberal Party - the Australian Labor Party and its figureheads Victorian premier Daniel Andrews , Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Western Australian premier Mark McGowan are frequently critiqued whilst the policies of the Liberal Party and its coalition partner the Nationals are often endorsed and promoted. During
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#17327801045074524-467: The children's shows Play School , Blue Water High , Totally Wild , A gURLs wURLd , and Scope . The news programming of the channel is produced and broadcast from the news studios in Sydney, the headquarters of the ABC News channel and the network news service. ABC Australia is partially funded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade , as well as some advertising (unlike
4611-428: The common top and bottom of the hour scheduling of other cable channels and terrestrial broadcasters. As such, programs often air using either conventional scheduling or have airtimes in five-minute increments (for example, 7:05 a.m. or 4:40 p.m.); since such channels broadcast content without in-program break interruptions, this sometimes leads to extended or abbreviated breaks between programs, depending on when
4698-409: The corporation's International, Corporate Strategy and Governance division. The channel was not available in Australia or New Zealand, owing to rights restrictions, although ABC News for Australia Network bulletins were carried overnight on ABC News 24 and Al Jazeera English in Australia and on Face TV in New Zealand. Several Australia Network programmes are also available online in Australia on
4785-632: The day, while its prime time lineup is dedicated to opinion-based programs featuring a line-up of conservative commentators . Sky News Australia is distributed on pay television in Australia and New Zealand, while a free-to-air version of the service, Sky News Regional (which features programming from Sky News Australia and Fox Sports News ) is distributed on digital terrestrial television by Southern Cross Austereo and selected WIN Television stations. The channel also operates two spin-off services, Sky News Weather Channel , and public affairs service Sky News Extra (formerly A-PAC). The channel
4872-647: The form of a conventional VOD television service, and in some cases, a companion on-demand streaming service as well). Most pay television providers also offer a selection of premium services (for example, the HBO, Showtime and Starz packages) in one bundle at a greatly reduced price than it would cost to purchase each service separately, as an inducement for subscribers to remain with their service provider or for others to induce subscribers into using their service. Similarly, many television providers offer general interest or movie-based premium channels at no additional charge for
4959-586: The interview was broadcast, stating that "My father fought Nazis in WWII and was interred in a German POW camp", and that the decision to give Cottrell a platform on Sky News was "another step in a journey to normalising racism & bigotry in our country". The activist group Sleeping Giants Oz called on advertisers to pull advertising campaigns off Sky News in the wake of the channel's interview with Cottrell. Several high-profile figures have criticised Sky News, including former prime minister Kevin Rudd , who told
5046-412: The iview streaming service is available via an app, and ABC News Online includes Chinese-language and Tok Pisin articles. ABC Pacific is the ABC's new digital home for the best Pacific Islands content from across the ABC website since 2022. Pay television The term is most synonymous with premium entertainment services focused on films or general entertainment programming such as, in
5133-454: The launch of a network's prestige series. However, some other channels, such as sports and adult networks may ask for monthly pricing that may go as high as near $ 50 a month. There are also premium television services which are priced significantly higher than the mini-pay channels, but they compensate for their higher price by carrying little or no advertising and also providing a higher quality program output. As advertising sales are sensitive to
5220-596: The lifting of the geo-blocking of the ABC News live stream on the ABC website and YouTube channels. In 2020, the Australian Government established PacificAus TV , which offers 1000 hours of free Australian commercial TV each year to Pacific island broadcasters. In October 2023, the channel established separate schedules for Asia and the Pacific. The channel broadcasts a mix of programming, including lifestyle, drama, sports, English-language learning programs, children's programming and news and current affairs. The service
5307-565: The likelihood of death due to COVID-19. The claim originated in The Daily Exposé , a British website known for promoting COVID-19 and anti-vaccine misinformation . The Daily Exposé 's claim was debunked by the BBC , Full Fact and Reuters . Sky News Australia subsequently removed the broadcast and issued a correction on its website. On 1 August 2021, YouTube barred Sky News Australia from uploading new content onto their channel for
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#17327801045075394-532: The majority of its news and programming is broadcast. Its Melbourne studio was upgraded in 2014, allowing it to be used as a secondary broadcast studio. Hinch Live became the first regular program to be broadcast from Melbourne. The third major bureau is in Parliament House, Canberra , opened in 2000. Lyndal Curtis became Bureau Chief of in October 2015. Additionally, Sky News has a small office in
5481-496: The meantime, the ABC's contract was extended until August 2012 to allow time for a decision to be made on its future. On 5 December 2011, the Government announced that the Australia Network would no longer be open to tender and that the ABC would take over its operations permanently. Concerns were raised about the process, and the Australian National Audit Office noted that the tender process "presented
5568-464: The new channel was funded by a combination of government subsidies and commercial sponsorship. The presence of commercials, not previously seen or heard on the ABC, resulted in the creation of an updated edition of the ABC Editorial and Programme Practices , stipulating that the "Australia Television service will retain editorial control and independence in all programming". Funding cuts made in
5655-499: The news of the day, often with a panel of other commentators, and feature a news update at the beginning of the program (and sometimes further updates during the program). Rolling news continues from 11 pm AEST/AEDT before coverage switches to an overnight simulcast of Sky News UK at 1 am AEST/AEDT. In 2007, Sky News aired local breakaway programming for New Zealand viewers in primetime, filmed at Prime NZ 's Auckland studios. One of these programs, Prime News – First at 5:30 ,
5742-494: The original term of license agreements with a distributor may also be broadcast as "sub-runs", in which a service holds rights to film long after the conclusion of a distribution agreement (under this arrangement, the pay service that originally licensed the rights to a particular film title, or one other than that which had held rights, may hold the broadcast rights through a library content deal). Many general interest premium channels also produce original television series . Due to
5829-597: The past, theatrical plays . Sports programming is also featured on some premium services; HBO was historically known for its broadcasts of boxing , while Showtime and Epix also carry mixed martial arts events. Some general interest premium channels have aired other professional sporting events in the past: HBO for example, carried games from the National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA) in its early years, and from 1975 to 1999 aired
5916-521: The previous program concludes and when the start time of the next program is. The only universal variation to this is prime time , where the main channel in each pay service's suite usually schedules films to start on the hour. Films comprise much of the content seen on most pay television services, particularly those with a general entertainment format and those that focus exclusively on films . Services often obtain rights to films through exclusive agreements with film distributors . Films acquired during
6003-722: The region, and a number of English-language educational programs produced by the Network including Study English , Living English , English Bites and The Business of English . Drama series shown include Home and Away , Offspring , Packed to the Rafters , Rake , The Doctor Blake Mysteries , The Time of Our Lives , factual entertainment programs Bondi Vet , One Plus One (TV program) , and Cosmo Times , lifestyle programs Big Break , Food Safari and Poh's Kitchen , music program Rage , light entertainment programs Gruen Planet , Good Game and Good Game SP ,
6090-563: The roll-out of Foxtel Digital, Sky News Australia launched the Sky News Active interactive news service based on the Sky News UK service with the same name. The service offered a choice of eight news screens, some with original content not seen on the main channel they vary depending on the days news or events and include the latest news, business, sport, showbiz and weather in text. Other features included interactive polling and
6177-510: The same level as it was in the 1980s. This compares with the A$ 3 billion allocated to China Central Television (CCTV) service, and A$ 500 million for the BBC 's international services. ABC Radio Australia was launched in 1939, and continues to broadcast in the Asia-Pacific region although no longer on short-wave transmission, so does not reach all of the remote islands. The ABC has increased its Internet presence for international audiences;
6264-498: The same period last year, according to OzTAM figures. In August 2018, coverage of the Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, 2018 saw Sky News gain its highest Tuesday primetime audience ever with a 4.2% audience share. Speers , Credlin and Jones & Co all had their highest-rated episodes on record. In August 2018, Sky News was heavily criticised for providing a platform to Blair Cottrell , leader of
6351-582: The service for a period of days or weeks; these are typically scheduled to showcase major special event programming, such as the pay cable premiere of a blockbuster feature film, the premiere (either a series or season premiere ) of a widely anticipated or critically acclaimed original series or occasionally, a high-profile special (such as a concert). Subscription services transmitted via analogue terrestrial television have also existed, to varying degrees of success. The most known example of such service in Europe
6438-644: The service's Program Director and David Hill , managing director of the ABC commissioned the first transmission. The establishment of the new channel was funded by a special government grant of A$ 5.4 million . It was originally a part of the so-called "Gang of Five", which was a consortium that was set up to compete against Star TV in the region. (The others in the group were CNN International , HBO , ESPN International [with its Asian operations ] and TVB [with TVB Superchannel ]) The consortium's channels were initially transmitted via Palapa satellite, but were later also added to Apstar satellite. The operation of
6525-465: The situation: for example, in the United States, Cinemax and Encore are optionally sold separately from or in a single package with their respective parent networks HBO and Starz, depending on the service provider. The Movie Channel and Flix meanwhile, are usually sold together with Showtime (all three channels are owned by Paramount Global ); though subscribers are required to purchase Showtime in order to receive Flix, The Movie Channel does not have such
6612-469: The third foreign broadcaster with access to the country). 80 jobs, mostly in Melbourne, were lost and the government was forced to compensate the ABC A$ 10.6 million for breaking its contract, which had been promised A$ 196.8 million in funding for ten years of operation by the previous Labor government. Following the closure of Australia Network, Australia Plus, a new multi-platform international service
6699-550: Was added to Austar on 1 April 2000. In 2004, Sky News began broadcasting Sky News Active, its on-demand interactive TV news service. In 2008, Sky News launched the Sky News Business Channel , and on 20 January 2009, Sky News launched Australian Public Affairs Channel (A-PAC) . It began widescreen broadcasting on 17 May 2009. Sky News Australia began broadcasting in high definition on 1 December 2015. A fourth spin-off channel, Sky News Election Channel ,
6786-606: Was also reported that the network's license to the Sky News brand was expected to expire as early as late-2025, and that Sky Limited was not expected to renew the agreement due to the change in ownership and the divergence in Sky News UK and Sky News Australia's content. It was reported that News Corp were considering rebranding the network as either "Australian News Channel" or a name containing "Fox News" (derived from U.S. sister network owned by Fox Corporation ) or "Talk" (coming from News UK brand Talkradio , which briefly operated
6873-482: Was also simulcast to Australian viewers. The debut of Sky News NZ Evening News was watched by just 1,500 viewers and panned by critics. As of 2015, no local New Zealand programs are produced or broadcast following the loss of a production contract with Prime NZ. However the channel debuted New Zealand Agenda on 16 June 2018, hosted by New Zealand bureau chief James O'Doherty from Wellington, New Zealand , focusing on NZ politics. Nighttime Sky News Australia has
6960-475: Was an episode of Paul Murray Live on 26 June 2013 (following the 2013 Labor leadership spill ), averaging 197,000 viewers across a special two-hour broadcast. The highest audience share Sky News Australia has achieved was during coverage of the 2009 Victorian bushfires . On 15 December 2014 during the Sydney Lindt café siege , coverage of the unfolding incident took 16 of the 20 most watched programs on
7047-769: Was declining, that Biden is unfit to be the President and suggesting he was suffering from dementia. On 13 December 2020, Rowan Dean promoted the Great Reset conspiracy theory on Sky News Australia, claiming that "This Great Reset is as serious and dangerous a threat to our prosperity – to your prosperity and your freedom – as we have faced in decades". As of February 2021, American far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones uses segments from Sky News Australia to back up his claims. In July 2021, Alan Jones and Craig Kelly falsely claimed that United Kingdom data proved that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 would increase
7134-459: Was following a pattern laid down by Fox News , described the nighttime programming of Sky News as including "the unconstrained peddling of extreme right-wing propaganda, lies, disinformation , crude distortion of fact and baseless assertions." Defunct Defunct Sky News Australia has an editorial policy that follows a conservative, right-wing bias. Coverage is frequently critical of Australia's main progressive political parties, Labor and
7221-553: Was launched on 1 May 2016. In 2013, Sky News Australia was granted A$ 20 million in funding from its parent company to be used over three years. In mid-2019, the channel began expanding its digital operations. This included a content partnership with YouTube, Microsoft News , Facebook and Taboola . That led to new, opinion-focused videos being uploaded more frequently and across News Corp platforms, after having previously not uploaded any videos from February 2017 to April 2019. In February 2018, Sky News Australia launched
7308-412: Was launched on 29 September 2014 as a replacement. The channel continued to broadcast entertainment, sports, education and English learning shows from ABC through Asia and Pacific partners. Big events from Australia, such as Melbourne Cup, Sydney's New Year's Eve Fireworks and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race were also featured on the channel. In 2015, the New Zealand government established Pasifika TV ,
7395-579: Was originally a joint venture between British broadcaster BSkyB (thus making it a spin-off of the Sky News channel in the United Kingdom), Seven Media Group , and Nine Entertainment Co. , as Australian News Channel Pty Ltd . The company was acquired by News Corp Australia in 2016; with the subsequent sale of Murdoch's remaining shares in Sky UK to Comcast , Sky News Australia no longer has any direct ties to its UK counterpart, despite still using
7482-490: Was owned equally by British Sky Broadcasting (now Sky Limited; which is now a division of Comcast ), Seven Media Group and Nine Entertainment Co. , each with a 33% stake in the company from its founding until December 2016, when it was acquired by News Corp Australia . Sky News Australia launched at 5 pm on 19 February 1996, as the first Australian-produced television news channel. The channel aired its 50,000th unique newscast on 23 April 2003 at 11 am. Sky News
7569-433: Was watched by 195,000 viewers nationally. For its coverage of the failed Liberal leadership spill on 9 February 2015 between 9 am and 10 am, Sky News Live was the second most watched subscription channel and the coverage was the third most watched program of the day with 69,000 viewers. Sky News Live reached a total audience of 700,000 viewers on 14 September 2015 (including simulcast on Sky News Business) during
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