Australian News Channel
Australian News Channel Pty Ltd is an Australian news-media company that owns and operates television and streaming news services, including Sky News Australia and related domestic, New Zealand, weather, international, and regional channels.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Australian News Channel Pty Ltd (ANC) is an Australian news-broadcasting and media company associated with the Sky News Australia television service and a portfolio of related news and information channels. The company was established in 1995, the year Sky News Australia launched, with ownership shared among British Sky Broadcasting, Seven West Media, and Publishing & Broadcasting Limited. Its original role was closely connected to the development and distribution of subscription television news in Australia. ANC's principal domestic asset has been Sky News Australia, a continuous news and current-affairs service distributed through subscription television and other platforms. Over time, the company broadened its portfolio beyond a single Australian channel. Its associated assets have included News24, News24 World, News24 Weather, News24 Regional, and News24 New Zealand, alongside earlier or discontinued services such as Sky News Business Channel, Sky News Election Channel, and Your Money. The portfolio reflects an emphasis on rolling news, business coverage, weather information, election programming, and regional distribution rather than a conventional newspaper or general entertainment model. The company also pursued international distribution. In 2014, ANC partnered with Globecast to establish Australia Channel, an international streaming service intended for subscribers outside Australia. The service carried multiple Australian channels and followed ANC's unsuccessful involvement in the tender process for the Australian government's Australia Network contract. This expansion demonstrated an effort to package Australian news and television programming for overseas audiences through a dedicated digital and subscription offering. ANC has also had a New Zealand connection. Before 2015, Sky News Australia produced Prime News – First at 5:30 for New Zealand broadcaster Prime Television from Sydney, with presentation associated with Eric Young and production involving Prime's Albany facilities. The arrangement ended after the contract moved to MediaWorks, after which the locally oriented bulletin ceased to be produced by Sky News. In the mid-2010s, the company became the subject of acquisition discussions involving News Corp Australia. Reports described competing valuations and negotiations as the carriage agreement for Sky News services with Foxtel approached expiry. News Corp Australia ultimately acquired the entire company in December 2016. The acquisition placed ANC within the broader News Corp Australia structure and aligned its television-news assets with News Corp's existing Australian media interests. ANC's business has been shaped by carriage agreements, particularly the distribution of Sky News channels through Foxtel. In 2017, News Corp and Telstra were reported to be negotiating over the fee paid for carriage after the existing arrangement expired. The parties reached a new agreement and transmission continued without interruption. The available reference material does not establish a current standalone consumer-facing website, a separate stock-market listing, or a complete current executive roster for Australian News Channel itself.
History
Australian News Channel Pty Ltd was formed in 1995 in connection with the launch of Sky News Australia. Its initial ownership comprised British Sky Broadcasting, Seven West Media, and Publishing & Broadcasting Limited. The company developed around the production and distribution of subscription television news, with Sky News Australia serving as its central asset. ANC expanded its activities through specialist and related services. Its portfolio has included business, weather, election, world, regional, and New Zealand-oriented channels. The company also participated in New Zealand television production: until 2015, Sky News Australia produced Prime News – First at 5:30 for Prime Television from Sydney, with production activity also involving Prime's Albany studios. The arrangement ended when MediaWorks secured the contract, and the locally focused bulletin was subsequently discontinued under Sky News production. In 2013, ANC provided A$20 million in funding to Sky News Australia for a three-year period. In 2014, it partnered with Globecast to create Australia Channel, an international streaming service offering five channels to audiences outside Australia. The initiative followed ANC's attempt to operate the Australian government's Australia Network service, a tender process that was later abandoned. Australia Channel represented ANC's move toward international packaging and digital distribution rather than reliance solely on domestic pay television. The company's ownership became a subject of media-industry speculation as its carriage agreement with Foxtel approached expiry in the middle of the 2010s. News Corp Australia, which co-owned Foxtel, was reported in 2015 to have made bids to acquire ANC. Different reports cited offers of A$20 million and A$25 million, while the existing owners were said to have sought at least A$50 million. Further discussions reportedly considered whether a stake held by Nine Entertainment might be sold to an arrangement involving Seven West Media and News Corp. News Corp Australia ultimately acquired all of Australian News Channel in December 2016. The transaction integrated ANC's television-news business into News Corp Australia's Australian media operations. In 2017, a separate commercial issue arose over the renewal of the carriage arrangement for Sky News channels on Foxtel. News Corp sought an increased fee, while Telstra opposed the proposed increase; the existing fee had reportedly remained unchanged for more than a decade. The dispute was resolved through a new agreement, and Sky News transmission continued. ANC's documented portfolio has changed over time. Sky News Business Channel operated from 2008 to 2018, Sky News Election Channel operated from 2016 to 2017, and Your Money operated from 2018 to 2019 in partnership with Nine Entertainment. The wider portfolio has also included News24, News24 World, News24 Weather, News24 Regional, News24 New Zealand, and Australia Channel. The available reference does not provide a full account of the current legal structure, leadership, headquarters, or the present operating status of every listed channel.
- 2019
Your Money ends operation
[1]The jointly operated Your Money service concluded after operating from 2018.
- 2018
Sky News Business Channel ends operation
[1]The specialist business-news channel operated by ANC was discontinued after a run that began in 2008.
- 2018
Your Money launches with Nine Entertainment
[1]Your Money operated from 2018 to 2019 as a joint service involving ANC and Nine Entertainment Co.
- 2017
Foxtel carriage agreement is renewed
[1]A reported dispute involving News Corp and Telstra over the price Foxtel paid for Sky News carriage ended with a new agreement and no interruption to transmission.
- 2016
Sky News Election Channel operates
[1]ANC operated a dedicated election-news channel during 2016–2017.
- 2016
News Corp Australia acquires ANC
[1]News Corp Australia completed the acquisition of the entire Australian News Channel company in December.
- 2015
News Corp Australia acquisition discussions intensify
[1]News Corp Australia reportedly pursued full ownership of ANC, but negotiations did not initially produce an agreement.
- 2014
Australia Channel launches internationally
[1]ANC and Globecast introduced an international streaming service carrying five channels for audiences outside Australia.
- 2013
Funding provided to Sky News Australia
[1]ANC committed A$20 million to Sky News Australia for a three-year funding period.
- 2008
Sky News Business Channel begins operation
[1]The company launched its dedicated business-news service, later operating within ANC's portfolio until 2018.
Products and positioning
A multi-channel Australian news and information provider focused on rolling television news, current affairs, specialist news formats, and international distribution.
Television news network · 1995
Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia is ANC's principal Australian news and current-affairs service. It provides rolling news, political coverage, commentary, interviews, and other information programming through subscription and affiliated distribution platforms. The service has been the core of ANC's business since the company's formation alongside its 1995 launch.
Television news channel
News24
News24 is identified as one of ANC's news-broadcasting channels. The available reference gives limited detail about its programming structure, but places it within the company's broader portfolio of continuous news and information services.
International news channel
News24 World
News24 World is a related international-facing news channel in ANC's portfolio. Its inclusion reflects the company's effort to distribute Australian news content and associated programming beyond the domestic market.
Weather news channel
News24 Weather
News24 Weather is ANC's weather-focused service, representing the specialist information segment of the company's multi-channel portfolio.
Regional news channel
News24 Regional
News24 Regional is a regional news offering associated with ANC. The available material does not specify its launch date, exact coverage footprint, or current distribution arrangements.
New Zealand news channel
News24 New Zealand
News24 New Zealand is the New Zealand-oriented service operated through New Zealand News Channel, an ANC-related company. It represents the group's regional expansion into the New Zealand news market.
International streaming service · 2014
Australia Channel
Australia Channel was an international streaming service created by ANC in partnership with Globecast in 2014. It offered five channels to subscribers outside Australia and was designed to distribute Australian television content internationally.
Business news channel · 2008
Sky News Business Channel
Sky News Business Channel was ANC's specialist business and financial news service. It operated from 2008 until 2018, when the dedicated channel was discontinued.
Election news channel · 2016
Sky News Election Channel
Sky News Election Channel was a temporary election-focused service operated by ANC from 2016 to 2017. It provided a dedicated outlet for election coverage rather than a permanent general-news channel.
Business news channel · 2018
Your Money
Your Money was a business-news service operated jointly by ANC and Nine Entertainment Co. It ran from 2018 to 2019 before ending operation.
Brand decisions
2017
Renegotiate Foxtel carriage pricingPrice changeBackground
The carriage agreement for Sky News channels was due to expire, and News Corp sought a higher fee from Foxtel. Telstra, a Foxtel co-owner, opposed the proposed increase.
Action taken
News Corp and Telstra negotiated a replacement carriage agreement.
Aftermath
The dispute was resolved without an interruption to the transmission of Sky News channels.
Annual carriage fee. More than A$30 million per year was reported in connection with the existing arrangement (2017 carriage negotiations)
- Telstra — Telstra opposed the requested increase in the carriage fee.
2016
Complete sale of Australian News Channel to News Corp AustraliaM&ABackground
After earlier acquisition discussions, News Corp Australia pursued ownership of the news-channel company.
Action taken
News Corp Australia acquired the whole of Australian News Channel in December 2016.
Aftermath
ANC became a subsidiary of News Corp Australia and its television-news assets were incorporated into the group's Australian media operations.
2015
Consider proposed sale to News Corp AustraliaM&ABackground
The approaching expiry of ANC's Foxtel carriage arrangement generated speculation about News Corp Australia's interest in acquiring the company.
Action taken
News Corp Australia reportedly made bids for full ownership, while ANC's stakeholders rejected an early offer and sought a substantially higher valuation.
Aftermath
The initial negotiations broke down, but News Corp Australia later acquired the entire company in December 2016.
Reported acquisition offers. A$20 million and A$25 million reported offers (2015 reports)
2014
Launch Australia Channel with GlobecastProduct launchBackground
ANC pursued international distribution after its involvement in the Australia Network tender process did not result in an operating contract.
Action taken
ANC partnered with Globecast to launch an international streaming service carrying five channels for subscribers outside Australia.
Aftermath
The initiative expanded ANC's distribution ambitions beyond the domestic subscription television market, although the available reference does not provide later performance or current-status details.
2013
Provide multi-year funding for Sky News AustraliaStrategyBackground
ANC sought to support the development and operation of its principal news service.
Action taken
The company committed A$20 million to Sky News Australia for use over three years.
Aftermath
The funding reinforced Sky News Australia's position as the central asset in ANC's Australian television-news portfolio.
Funding commitment. A$20 million (2013 commitment for a three-year period)
Recent events
- 2017
News Corp and Telstra resolve Sky News carriage dispute[1]
Pricing · Other
News Corp and Telstra negotiated over the price Foxtel paid to carry Sky News channels after the prior carriage agreement expired. A replacement agreement was reached and distribution was not interrupted.
- 2016
News Corp Australia completes acquisition of Australian News Channel[1]
M&A
News Corp Australia acquired the entire Australian News Channel business in December 2016.
- 2015
News Corp Australia makes bid for Australian News Channel[1]
M&A
News Corp Australia was reported to have offered A$25 million for full ownership of ANC. Stakeholders later reportedly rejected an offer valued at A$20 million and sought a higher price.
- 2014
Australian News Channel launches international Australia Channel service[1]
Product launch
ANC worked with Globecast to launch Australia Channel, an international streaming service carrying several channels for subscribers outside Australia.
- 2013
Australian News Channel provides funding for Sky News Australia[1]
Other
Australian News Channel committed A$20 million to Sky News Australia for use over a three-year period.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/australian-news-channel · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled