In a move that won’t surprise anyone, the former king of radio has signed an exclusive deal with FOXTEL
Alan Jones, Australia’s most successful broadcaster, has signed exclusively with 24-hour news network Sky News Australia to anchor a new weeknight primetime program.
Premiering Monday 6 July at 8pm AEST, Alan Jones will air live four nights a week across Sky News on Foxtel and regional free-to-air news channel Sky News on WIN, now the exclusive home of Australia’s most accomplished and talked about broadcaster.
With an unprecedented track record of putting Australians first and his words into action, each Monday – Thursday at 8pm Alan Jones will bring his purposeful and informed insights to Sky News audiences.
Alan Jones said: “It’s a privilege to be asked to work with such a strong and committed team. I am sure that through the engagement with my viewing audience, we will be able to make a difference. There are real issues facing Australians today. We will be addressing them.”
Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer, Sky News Australia said: “With a connection to his audience like no other, we are delighted Alan joins Sky News Australia exclusively as anchor of new weeknight primetime program Alan Jones, the only place to watch and listen to Australia’s most successful broadcaster.”
Each Monday – Thursday Alan will share his unique take on the events and issues facing the nation, provide informed discussion with regular guests, surprising interviews and a look at the issues mainstream media ignore. He will continue to back the battlers in the bush to ensure their voice is heard.
Alan Jones takes up his new role with Sky News Australia as the channel experiences record year-on-year growth, holding the number one channel position on Foxtel for 21 weeks (26 January – 16 June 2020)*.
He will continue as a columnist with News Corp mastheads The Daily Telegraph and The Australian.
With an unparalleled radio career spanning more than three decades, Alan Jones dominated the competitive breakfast talkback radio timeslot and along the way secured the largest radio audience in Australia, recording 226 radio survey wins. Alan Jones retired from radio in May 2020.
He first joined Sky News in 2013 as co-anchor of Richo & Jones with Graham Richardson. He then went on to host Jones & Co, followed by Jones & Credlin with Peta Credlin.
In addition to his media career, Alan Jones achieved success as an Australian Rugby Union Coach from 1984-1988. In 1984, he coached Australia’s national team, the Wallabies, to their now-famous Grand Slam and in 1986, Alan coached the Wallabies to Australia’s now famous Bledisloe Cup victory in New Zealand, the first time such a victory had been achieved in 38 years.
In 1988, Alan Jones was appointed a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to Rugby Union Football. He was the recipient of the inaugural Sir Roden Cutler Medal for his services to charity and in 2005 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the community as a supporter of and fundraiser for a wide range of not-for-profit organisations, to the media, and to sports administration.
Alan is the former speech writer and senior adviser to then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.
NEW WEEKNIGHT PRIMETIME PROGRAM “ALAN JONES” PREMIERES MONDAY 6 JULY
*Source: OzTAM National STV, Linear data, Overnight, Average Audience, 2004-2020, 0200-2559, Sky News Live, Total People.
Another good reason NOT to watch Sky News Australia and means an almost total lock-out of anything other than right-wing talking heads each evening.