News

Sky News to run on free-to-air television in deal with WIN

WIN Network and News Corp’s Australian News Channel have signed a supply deal which will see Sky News broadcast across free-to-air television for the first time.

The content will be available on a dedicated channel known as Sky News on Win, and will give regional Australians access to all Sky News content, ranging from news, sport, weather and public affairs.

The deal will see the launch of dedicated channel ‘Sky News on Win’

Sky news on Win will launch on channel 83 on WIN’s regional network and channel 53 in Northern NSW and will give regional areas access to both live and time-shifted Sky News programs.

The announcement marks the first time Sky News Australia, which has been running since 1996, will be available without a paywall.

In addition, Sky News will now be able to broadcast WIN News content through its premium channels on Foxtel.

Sky News stressed, however, that only Foxtel subscribers will have access to the five live 24/7 Sky News and Fox Sports news channels.

Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of the Australian News Channel added Sky News would also deliver dedicated content for regional areas.

“The content supply agreement with the WIN Network is an historic moment for our company providing, for the first time, the opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of the news, sports news, weather news and public affairs content available on our premium Sky News channels on Foxtel to even more Australians,” Frangopoulos said.

Andrew Lancaster, CEO of the WIN Network said the deal added to WIN’s 16 local bulletins, and gives regional Australians the “complete” local, national, international, sport and current affairs stories.

“WIN is proud of its position as Australia’s most prolific producer of quality regional news content and this new agreement with ANC will allow WIN to strengthen its commitment to informing regional Australians,” Lancaster said.

WIN is the affiliate broadcaster for Network Ten, which was bought last year by CBS. Prior to the acquisition, WIN’s owner and former Ten shareholder Bruce Gordon partnered with Lachlan Murdoch to try and save Network Ten.

The news follows Foxtel and Sky News’ changes to channel numbers to “improve navigation” and the launch of members-only content on the Sky News website late last month.

WIN Network’s new channel will launch later this year.

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