Sky News has announced major changes to its weekday prime-time lineup, with the addition of award-winning journalist Sharri Markson to a regular weekday timeslot.
Sharri Markson, a two-time Walkley Award winner and investigations writer at The Australian, will take over the 5pm Monday to Thursday timeslot on Sky News Australia from February.
The decision to appoint Markson to the role comes after the sacking of disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith late last year.
Markson brings over a decade of news-breaking experience to the prime-time spot. Markson has previously held senior roles at News Corp, including national political editor at The Daily Telegraph, and published a book on the origins of the Covid-19 virus during the pandemic.
In addition to Markson’s show, Sky News will also feature new programs in 2023 such as Sunday with Stoker, hosted by former Queensland Senator Amanda Stoker, and The Late Debate, chaired by James Macpherson, Liz Storer, and Caleb Bond.
The Late Debate will air in the 10pm Monday – Thursday timeslot from this week on Sky News Australia.
These changes will also see veteran commentator Chris Kenny move to the 8pm timeslot with his show, Chris Kenny Tonight, and Paul Murray return to his previous 9pm Sunday to Thursday timeslot with Paul Murray Live.
Ahead of King Charles III’s coronation in May, Sky News will debut a new weekly program, The Royal Report, hosted by SkyNews.com.au Contributor Caroline Di Russo Sundays at 10:00pm.
Somewhat surprisingly, headline-generating hosts Rita Panahi and Rowan Dean have failed to secure regular weekday timeslots in the 2023 schedule. The two controversial hosts have however been selected to present digital-only content for the channels expanding Youtube and podcast platforms.
The Rita Panahi Show: Overtime will be available to stream on Flash and as a podcast, with segments reaching all Sky News digital platforms including SkyNews.com.au and Sky News Australia’s YouTube channel. The digital-only program will be available as a podcast each Monday to kick-start the week. Â
Sky News will further expand its exclusive audio-only offering with the launch of a new podcast by popular Outsiders host Rowan Dean. Rowan Dean’s Outsiderswill be a weekly one-on-one with mavericks and game-changers with provocative opinions, available on your favourite podcasting app.
Expensive ratings flop Piers Morgan Uncensored has been pushed back to an 11pm timeslot on the network in 2023.
SKY NEWS 2023 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
(From 16 January 2023)
· First Edition with Peter Stefanovic, weekdays at 5:30am, returns 16 January
· AM Agenda with Laura Jayes, weekdays at 9:00am, returns 16 January
· NewsDay with Tom Connell, Monday and Friday from 11:00am – 2:00pm, Tuesday – Thursday from 11:00am – 12:00pm, returns 16 January
· NewsDay with Ashleigh Gillon, Tuesday – Thursday from 12:00pm – 2:00pm, returns 16 January
· Afternoon Agenda with Kieran Gilbert and featuring Andrew Clennell, weekdays at 2:00pm, returns 16 January
· Business Now with Ross Greenwood, weekdays at 4:30pm, returns 16 January
· Sharri with Sharri Markson, Monday – Thursday at 5:00pm, returns in a new timeslot from 20 February
· Credlin with Peta Credlin, weeknights at 6:00pm, returns 16 January
· The Bolt Report with Andrew Bolt, Monday – Thursday at 7:00pm, returns 16 January
· Chris Kenny Tonight with Chris Kenny, Monday – Thursday at 8:00pm, premieres 16 January
· Paul Murray Live with Paul Murray, Sunday – Thursday at 9:00pm, returns to the program’s heritage timeslot from 16 January
· The Late Debate, hosted by James Macpherson, Liz Storer and Caleb Bond, Monday – Thursday at 10:00pm, premieres 16 January
· The Front Page with Jenna Clarke, Monday – Thursday at 10:30pm, returns 16 January
· Piers Morgan Uncensored with Piers Morgan, Tuesday – Friday at 11:00pm, returns in a new timeslot 10 January
· Erin with Erin Molan, Fridays at 5:00pm, returns in a new timeslot 20 January
· The Rita Panahi Show withRita Panahi, Friday at 7:00pm, returns in a new timeslot 20 January
· The U.S. Report with James Morrow, Friday at 8:00pm, returns as a one-hour program 20 January
· The Media Show with Jack Houghton, Friday at 9:00pm, returns in a new timeslot 20 January
· Weekend Edition with Jaynie Seal and Tim Gilbert, Saturday and Sunday from 6:00am, returns 21 January
· Sunday Agenda with Kieran Gilbert and Andrew Clennell, Sunday at 8:00am, returns 22 January
· Outsiders with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow, Sunday at 9:00am, returns 22 January
· Business Weekend with Ross Greenwood, Sunday at 11:00am, returns 22 January
· Sunday with Stoker with Amanda Stoker, Sunday at 7:00pm, premieres 29 January
· Bernardi with Cory Bernardi, Sunday at 8:00pm, returns in a new timeslot from 22 January
· The Royal Report with Caroline Di Russo, Sunday at 10:00pm, premieres 22 January
*All times in AEDT.
