• Sky News had more than 16 million digital video streams throughout August (+38%)
• New politics-focused digital content platform to launch in February 2019
• Recruiting for six new digital roles
Sky News has announced new digital content initiatives and investments following record-breaking online results across its platforms during August.
Last month’s Sky News coverage of the Liberal leadership crisis set new audience records on-air. The channel delivered its highest weekly evening ratings and its highest-rating day in history (August 24) with a 5.98% share on Foxtel.
Sky News digital also delivered record numbers online in August, with more than 16 million video views during the month. This is a double-digit growth across all video platforms including SkyNews.com.au and associated OTT apps (+42%), Twitter (+43), Facebook (+63%), Sky News videos on News Corp Australia websites (+38%) and international SVOD platform Australia Channel (+93%).
Editorials and interviews from the company’s on-air team of Paul Murray, David Speers, Peta Credlin, Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones, Rita Panahi, Graham Richardson, Janine Perrett and Warren Mundine will be available across the Sky News digital video network at SkyNews.com.au, on mobile and tablet apps, and through the Apple TV app.
Video content published to SkyNews.com.au/Opinion is also available across News Corp digital platforms including news.com.au, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun and Bolt’s blog.
Sky News head of digital Tim Love said: “Our investment in the Sky News digital offering reflects the new ways that audiences are interacting with Sky News across various platforms with a variety of avenues for people to engage with news and opinion content, from newsletters and podcasts through to live and on-demand video and audio streaming.”
Sky News podcasts have delivered over 48% year-on-year growth in streams.
Following its recent successes, the company will also be a launching a politics-focused digital content platform in February 2019. It will target Australia’s influential professionals, politicians and politically engaged consumers and will provide analysis and breaking political news from Canberra and across the regions. Short-form digital content such as newsletters, podcasts, and live and on-demand streaming will be supported by on-ground events and across the Sky News television channels available on Foxtel and regional free-to-air via the WIN Network.
In the light of the new announcements, Sky News is currently recruiting for an editor and a producer for its politics-focused digital content platform, an audio producer to spearhead its audio strategy, as well as a digital product manager, digital marketing manager and digital partnerships manager to assist with delivery of the new initiatives.
“The expansion of the team is a commitment to delivering content in the ways in which people now keep across national and global affairs. Our investments in digital are a testament to the fantastic work of our team of passionate digital producers. We look forward to working with our advertising partners to extend their messages across premium content in more ways than ever before,” Love said.