News24 Weather
An Australian 24-hour television and digital weather service providing forecasts, weather news, regional information and severe-weather coverage.
Last updated October 22, 2026
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Overview
News24 Weather is an Australian weather-information television service formerly known as the Sky News Weather Channel, Sky News Weather, The Weather Channel and, at launch, Weather 21. It broadcasts weather forecasts, weather-related news and analysis throughout the day, with programming designed to provide frequently refreshed information for local, national and regional audiences. The service is particularly associated with forecast information useful to rural and regional communities, including rainfall, dam levels, satellite imagery, radar and severe-weather developments. The channel began broadcasting on 1 January 1999 as Weather 21 on channel 21 of the Austar subscription-television platform. It was established by Cox Inall Communications and the meteorological firm The Weather Company, with Austar as its owner. Its initial audience was concentrated in rural and regional Australia, and its early schedule combined live presentation during the daytime and evening with an automated overnight loop of forecast material, satellite and radar information, and music. The original presenting team included Allan Humphries, Lyndal Davies and meteorologist Mark Hardy. In early 2000, the service was renamed The Weather Channel. Its distribution and audience broadened as it became available through Foxtel, and additional presenters joined the operation, including Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca LeTourneau and Garry Youngberry. In 2003 Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks. The service was subsequently adapted for a more metropolitan audience and gained additional digital distribution through Foxtel Digital, including the interactive Weather Active application. A substantial visual and programming refresh followed in 2004, and another major graphics and schedule update took place in 2008. The 2012 merger of Foxtel and Austar led to changes in the ownership and operating structure surrounding the service. Following the dissolution of XYZ Networks, Sky News Australia assumed management and operational responsibility from 30 November 2012. The channel was relaunched as Sky News Weather on 25 January 2013, linking the weather service more directly to the Sky News Australia portfolio. It was later rebranded as News24 Weather under the News24 identity. The service's core format is based on a recurring 15-minute cycle covering local, national and regional forecasts, rainfall and dam-level information. When significant weather threatens, the schedule can shift to continuous live or rolling coverage of the event. Weather information has been supplied by Metra Information Limited and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. In addition to the dedicated weather programming, News24 Weather carries the weekday News24 Regional-produced News24 Breakfast program from 06:00 to 08:30. Its distribution has expanded beyond linear television. The News24 app provides free access to current forecast information and also offers subscription-based live streaming of News24 Weather. The service therefore combines a traditional pay-television weather channel with app-based forecast access and streaming. As of the source material's 2025 presenter listing, the on-air team included meteorologists and weather presenters such as Rob Sharpe, Alison Osborne, Rhiannon Elston, Emma Wightman, James Preston, Nikolina Kharoufeh, Rachael Jones, Stevie Jacobs, Wendy John, Julia Seymour, Marina Neuman and Tamsin Green, alongside the returning presenter Jaynie Seal.
History
News24 Weather began as Weather 21 on 1 January 1999, broadcasting on Austar's channel 21. Cox Inall Communications and The Weather Company established the service, while Austar owned and distributed it. The channel was designed in part for Austar's rural and regional customer base and initially combined live weather presentation from 06:00 to 22:00 with automated overnight forecasts, satellite material and radar accompanied by music. The initial on-air team included Allan Humphries, Lyndal Davies and meteorologist Mark Hardy. In early 2000, the service changed its name to The Weather Channel. As live programming expanded, Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca LeTourneau and Garry Youngberry were among the presenters added to the roster. Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks in 2003. The change brought distribution through Foxtel and helped reposition the channel for a more metropolitan audience. Foxtel Digital also supported an interactive weather application called Weather Active. The application and the channel's visual presentation were updated in 2004, while another major graphics and schedule refresh occurred in 2008. The corporate structure changed again after the 2012 merger of Foxtel and Austar. With XYZ Networks subsequently dissolved, Sky News Australia assumed management and operational responsibility for the weather channel on 30 November 2012. The service was relaunched as Sky News Weather on 25 January 2013. It later adopted the News24 Weather name as part of the broader News24 identity. News24 Weather operates as a continuous weather-information service. Its programming commonly follows a 15-minute cycle covering local, national and regional forecasts, rainfall, dam levels and related information. During dangerous or exceptional weather, the channel can move to sustained coverage of the event. Forecast and meteorological content has been provided by Metra Information Limited and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The channel also carries News24 Breakfast, a News24 Regional-produced weekday program broadcast from 06:00 to 08:30. The service has extended into digital distribution through the News24 app. Users can access current weather forecasts without charge, while live streaming of News24 Weather is offered through a subscription arrangement. This gives the brand a presence across pay television, app-based information and streamed live programming. The presenter roster has changed over time, with Jaynie Seal returning to the service and a later team including meteorologists Rob Sharpe, Alison Osborne, Marina Neuman and Tamsin Green, together with weather presenters such as Rhiannon Elston, Emma Wightman, James Preston, Nikolina Kharoufeh, Rachael Jones, Stevie Jacobs, Wendy John and Julia Seymour.
- 2024
Digital app and streaming expansion
[1]The News24 app offered free forecasts and subscription-based live streaming of the weather channel.
- 2013
Rebrand as Sky News Weather
[1]The service relaunched under the Sky News Weather name on 25 January.
- 2012
Sky News Australia takes over operations
[1]Sky News Australia assumed management and operational responsibility on 30 November after changes associated with the Foxtel-Austar merger.
- 2008
Major graphics and schedule update
[1]The channel implemented another significant graphics change as its programming lineup grew.
- 2004
Visual and interactive service refresh
[1]The channel introduced new branding, graphics and programming, alongside an updated Weather Active application for Foxtel Digital.
- 2003
Sale to XYZ Networks and Foxtel distribution
[1]Austar sold the service to XYZ Networks, after which it became available through Foxtel and received broader digital distribution.
- 2000
Renamed The Weather Channel
[1]The channel adopted The Weather Channel name and expanded its live presenting schedule.
- 1999
Launch as Weather 21
[1]The service began broadcasting on 1 January as Weather 21 on channel 21 of the Austar platform.
Products and positioning
An always-on Australian weather-information service combining frequent forecast updates, regional intelligence, meteorological analysis and live coverage of significant weather events.
Television weather service · 1999
News24 Weather television channel
The core 24-hour service provides frequently refreshed local, national and regional weather forecasts, weather news and analysis. Its repeating schedule includes rainfall and dam-level information, while severe-weather situations can trigger continuous coverage. The channel also carries News24 Breakfast on weekday mornings.
Mobile weather information · 2024
News24 app weather service
The News24 app provides users with current weather forecasts in a mobile format. The app extends the brand beyond linear television and supports direct access to weather information without requiring viewers to follow the broadcast schedule.
Digital streaming · 2024
News24 Weather live streaming
A subscription-based streaming option provides live access to News24 Weather through the News24 app, giving viewers an alternative to the service's traditional subscription-television distribution.
Interactive television application
Weather Active
Weather Active was an interactive weather application distributed through Foxtel Digital. It complemented the linear channel with digital access to weather information and received an updated version during the service refresh in 2004.
Controversies
2021
Byron Allen files $10 billion lawsuit against McDonald’s
Byron Allen filed a $10 billion lawsuit against McDonald’s, accusing the company of racial discrimination in its allocation of advertising spending to Black-owned media outlets. The complaint alleges violations of federal and state civil rights laws; these are allegations, not a court determination.
2020
CF Entertainment sues Nielsen over ratings fees
CF Entertainment filed a lawsuit accusing Nielsen of breach of contract, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment over increased monthly ratings fees. The allegations are claims in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Brand decisions
2024
Expansion into app-based forecasts and streamingProduct launchBackground
The service sought to make its weather information available beyond its traditional television distribution.
Action taken
The News24 app added free forecast access and subscription-based live streaming of News24 Weather.
Aftermath
The brand gained a digital access point for on-demand forecast use and live channel viewing.
2013
Rebranding as Sky News WeatherStrategyBackground
Sky News Australia became responsible for the service's management and operations.
Action taken
The Weather Channel was relaunched under the Sky News Weather name on 25 January.
Aftermath
The weather service became more closely associated with the Sky News Australia brand before later adopting the News24 Weather identity.
2012
Operational handover to Sky News AustraliaStrategyBackground
The Foxtel-Austar merger and the subsequent dissolution of XYZ Networks changed the operating structure around the channel.
Action taken
Sky News Australia assumed management and operational responsibility from 30 November.
Aftermath
The channel was prepared for integration with the Sky News portfolio and was relaunched as Sky News Weather in January 2013.
2003
Transfer from Austar to XYZ NetworksM&ABackground
Austar sold the weather channel after its initial period as the owner and distributor of the Weather 21 and The Weather Channel service.
Action taken
XYZ Networks acquired the channel and expanded its presence through Foxtel.
Aftermath
The service broadened its distribution and adjusted its programming to address a more metropolitan audience.
Recent events
- 2024
News24 app adds weather access and live streaming[1]
Product launch
The News24 app provided free forecast information and a subscription-based option for live streaming the weather service.
- 2013
The Weather Channel rebrands as Sky News Weather[1]
Other
The service was relaunched under the Sky News Weather identity on 25 January, connecting it with the Sky News Australia portfolio.
- 2012
Sky News Australia assumes operational responsibility[1]
Leadership change
Following the Foxtel-Austar merger and the dissolution of XYZ Networks, Sky News Australia took over management and operations from 30 November.
- 2003
The Weather Channel expands through Foxtel[1]
M&A
After Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks, the service appeared on Foxtel and broadened its distribution and audience.
- 1999
Weather 21 launches on Austar[1]
Product launch
The Australian weather service began broadcasting on 1 January as Weather 21, using channel 21 on the Austar platform.
Sources4 sources
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