Sky News has recorded its best-ever ratings across key dayparts and primetime during 2019, reports the channel:
The audience growth has been driven by the top-performing primetime line-up, new investigative documentaries Bad Blood/New Blood and Lawyer X: The Untold Story, and unrivalled political coverage that saw the channel deliver its highest election ratings ever.
In primetime Sky News achieved record average audiences up +12.1%, and a record share of 1.8% up +0.4 share points year-on-year, reaching more than 3 million viewers on Foxtel alone.
Sky News also set new All Day records with average audiences up +6.7% and a record share of 2.0% up +0.3 share points year-on-year, reaching 3.9 million viewers.
See also: TV Ratings 2019: How Nine won plus highlights for Seven and 10
The Sunday primetime line-up delivered the largest audience gains with average viewing up + 46.7% year-on-year and reaching 1.3 million unique viewers.
Paul Whittaker, chief executive Sky News said: “It has been a record year of growth for Sky News across our on-air and digital platforms with our around-the-clock live breaking news coverage, in-depth political and national affairs programming, exclusive commentary and investigative documentaries resonating with more Australians than ever before.
“In 2020 we continue to engage and connect our audience to the best local news coverage and comprehensive perspectives on the issues that matter most to them.”
Sky News’ record-breaking election night coverage Australia Decides, was the top individual program for the year on Sky News as the channel achieved a record audience share of 6.0%.
Outside of election programming, the gripping two-part true crime investigation Lawyer X: The Untold Story was the number two ranked program for the year on Sky News, with both specials securing the #1 program position when they premiered on Foxtel.
The two-part political documentary Bad Blood/New Blood was the third highest program for the year on Sky News. Bad Blood was the #1 entertainment program for the day on Foxtel at premiere, whilst New Blood was the #1 overall Foxtel program for the day.
Throughout the year key programs continued to deliver double-digit percentage growth on average audience.
Following the launch of the new hosting line-up of Laura Jayes and Peter Stefanovic (pictured) on 1 July, flagship breakfast program First Edition (Monday – Friday 5am – 9am) grew its average audience by +12.3%, reaching 159,000 people each week.
Credlin (weeknights 6pm) anchored by Peta Credlin increased its average audience by +13.9%, reaching 219,000 viewers a week.
The Bolt Report (weeknights 7pm) hosted by Andrew Bolt had its best season on record, growing its audience by +10.0% year-on-year and reaching 250,000 people each week.
Kenny on Media (Mondays 8pm) hosted by Chris Kenny grew +17.7% compared to the same timeslot last year, reaching 100,000 weekly viewers.
The Kenny Report (Monday-Thursday 12pm – 2pm) also hosted by Chris Kenny, increased its average audience by +17.7% in its timeslot, reaching 117,000 each week.
Jones & Credlin (Tuesdays 8pm) with Alan Jones and Peta Credlin also recorded double-digit percentage growth up +19.6%, reaching 135,000 unique viewers each week.
Richo & Jones (Wednesdays 8pm) anchored by Graham Richardson and Alan Jones increased viewing by +36.6% and secured a weekly reach of 106,000.
Paul Murray Live (Sunday – Thursday 9pm) grew by +11.0%, reaching 261,000 Australians a week. Average audiences to PML Later (Sunday-Monday 10pm) increased viewership by +16.1%.
The Front Page (weeknights 11pm) anchored by Peter Gleeson is up +12.9% in its timeslot and reaches 130,000 unique viewers weekly.
Outsiders (Sundays 9am) with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow grew its average audience by +28.1%, reaching 101,000 weekly.
Business Weekend (Sundays 11am) with Ticky Fullerton and Leo Shanahan also saw audience uplift of +6.7% in its timeslot, reaching 40,000 people each week.
Sky News’ audience growth is also reflected in its record-breaking online results, with more than 210 million video streams throughout 2019, up +92.2% year-on-year.
Throughout 2019, more than 4.9 million users visited SkyNews.com.au, up +63.6% year-on-year.
During the year Sky News expanded its digital reach with a range of content partnerships including Facebook, YouTube and Microsoft driving digital audience growth with Sky News video content now delivering more than 20 million online views per month.
Sky News also reached an additional 3.8 million Australians in 2019 via commercial regional free-to-air channel Sky News on WIN. Sky News on WIN launched in September 2018 and broadcasts in 30 markets across WIN’s regional network throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, and state-wide across Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.