Sky News began broadcasting on the WIN TV Network around Australia last Sunday at 6am. However the Bruce Gordon and family-owned broadcaster officially welcomed its new partners to FTA TV in Wollongong last night.
WIN Television hosted a function at the appropriately named WIN Stadium last night to celebrate the new partnership. (WIN doesn’t own the venue, but has naming rights.)
Amy Duggan with Matt Russell, Geoff Phillips and Angelos Frangopoulos at the Sky News on WIN launch
Several of the speakers at the event mentioned how it was 40 years ago that Rupert Murdoch sold his controlling interest in then WIN-4, and now the WIN group under the control of the Gordon family had entered into a new partnership with News Corp to broadcast the Sky News channel on FTA TV in regional Australia. (WIN-4 was the second TV channel that Murdoch bought.)
Matt Russell from Fox Sports News did a great job hosting the event. Some of the guests did talk a bit, but for anybody with an interest in media it was a fascinating evening.
Some of the guests included people who have helped the TV landscape in recent years: Andrew Gordon, Executive Chairman, WIN; Andrew Lancaster, CEO, WIN; Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO and Managing Editor, ANC; Brian Walsh, Executive Director, Television, Foxtel, and Campbell Reid, Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, News Corp Australia.
Sky News sent plenty of talent down the highway to Wollongong for the event. Some of the commentators spoke during proceedings and then were also on air for Sky News from WIN Stadium before and after the function. Paul Murray hosted a special edition, which again last night featured photos sent in from viewers all around Australia watching their new channel. Our favourite photo so far – Peta Credlin in her ugg boots watching Sky News on Tuesday night.
Sky News provided David Speers, Paul Murray, Jaynie Seal, Janine Perrett, Rowan Dean, Ross Cameron, Samantha Dawson, Shelley Lee, and Samantha Chiari.
Fox Sports News added Matt Russell (MC), Alissa Smith (can she talk… but what a great story she has! Wait for the Mediaweek podcast), Tim Robinson, Tom Wilson and Scott Jackson.
WIN talent celebrating the new channel launch included Amy Duggan, Hayley Francis, Lincoln Humphries, Geoff Phillips (just off-air after hosting the WIN News), Bruce Roberts, Melissa Russell and Tanya Dendrinos.
Several speakers also paid tribute to WIN Network news director Stella Lauri.
Local Illawarra dignitaries included Sharon Bird MP, Member for Cunningham; Stephen Jones MP, Member for Whitlam, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government; Marianne Saliba, Mayor of Shellharbour; Gordon Bradbury AM, Lord Mayor, Wollongong; David Farmer, General Manager, Wollongong City Council; Peter Doust, CEO St George Illawarra Dragons; Brian Johnston, Chairman St George Illawarra Dragons and Paul McGregor, Head Coach, Dragons.
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Top Photo: Brian Walsh with David Speers, Paul Murray, Jaynie Seal and Andrew Gordon at the Sky News on WIN launch