Sky News Weather Channel is an Australian television channel owned by Australian News Channel, a subsidiary of News Corp Australia. Launched on 1 January 1999, the channel broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news and analysis 24 hours a day.
 | |
| Type | Weather news |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | News Corp Australia |
| Parent | Australian News Channel |
| Sister channels | Sky News Australia |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 January 1999 (Austar) December 2002 (Foxtel) |
| Former names | Weather 21 The Weather Channel (until 25 January 2013) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Foxtel Streaming | 601 |
Programing runs on a 15-minute loop of local, national, regional, dam level and rainfall forecasts, as well as continuous coverage of extreme weather if required & seasonal reports.
Sky News Weather Channel also runs live weekdays the Sky News Regional-produced breakfast program Sky News Breakfast from 6am to 8:30am.
History
edit
Sky News Weather Channel started broadcasting on 1 January 1999 under the name "Weather 21": channel 21 on the Austar channel line-up. Weather 21 was set up by Cox Inall Communications and the meteorological firm The Weather Company and was owned by Austar.[1] The programming was pitched to Austar's largely rural and regional audience. Initial presenters on the channel were Allan Humphries, Lyndal Davies, and meteorologist Mark Hardy, broadcasting live from 6am to 10pm daily, with the overnight programming consisting of an automated loop of forecasts, satellite, and radar, accompanied by music.
In early 2000, no longer located at 21, the name was changed to "The Weather Channel". As the hours of live presentation were extended, presenters Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca LeTourneau and Garry Youngberry were added.
In 2003 Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks and TWC appeared on the Foxtel network, morphing to better suit the now largely metropolitan audience. Foxtel's Digitals platform extended its distribution with an Open TV interactive weather application, Weather Active.
Major changes in 2004 included logo, graphics, programming line-up and a new version of Weather Active for Foxtel Digital.
In the middle of June 2008, the Weather Channel again had a major change with its graphics as its programming line-up grew.
Weather content on the channel is provided by Metra Information Limited and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Change of Management and Re-Branding
editIn the wake of the 2012 merger of Foxtel and Austar, and the subsequent dissolution of XYZ Networks, it was announced that from 30 November 2012 management and operational responsibility for The Weather Channel would be assumed by Sky News Australia,[2][3] with The Weather Channel to be re-launched as Sky News Weather in 2013.[3][4] The rebrand took place on 25 January 2013.[4]
App & Streaming 2024 current
editThe Sky News App offers a free to use app showing the latest weather forecasts. The Sky News App also offers a subscription based live streaming of Sky News Weather.
Current Presenters (as of October 2024)
edit- Jaynie Seal (Phillips) 1999 - Current (Hosting News Breakfast Weekdays)
- Kristie Lloyd
- Emma Ralph 2016 - Current
- Samantha Chiari
- Rob Sharpe – Meteorologist 2017 - Current
- Alison Osborne – Meteorologist 2019 - Current
- Rhiannon Elston 2020 - Current
- James Preston 2022 - Current
- Stevie Jacobs (former Today Show Weather Man) 2024- Current
- Kenny Heatly (Sky News Reporter) 1999 - Current
- Wendy John 2024 - Current
- Nikolina Kharoufeh 2023 - Current
- Julia Seymoore 2024 Current
- Marina Neuman (Meteorologist) September 2024 - Current
Past Presenters
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References
edit- ^ "Rain, Hail & Shine". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 January 1999. p. 51. Retrieved 9 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Knox, David (29 November 2012). "SKY News to take over Weather Channel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Sky News To Manage Weather Channel in Australia". Media Research Asia.com. Media Research Asia. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ a b Knox, David (1 December 2012). "The Weather Channel to rebrand as Sky News Weather". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 December 2012.