Sky News Australia to Rebrand as News24 in Major Overhaul — But Name Change May Spark Confusion
Sky News Australia will become News24 later this year, marking a dramatic shift for the country’s first 24-hour news channel as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The title News24 closely echoes the ABC’s former standalone rolling news channel ABC News 24, which launched in 2010. While the public broadcaster rebranded the service to ABC News in 2017, it remains on free-to-air channel 24 across much of Australia and is still widely referred to by audiences as News 24.
Complicating matters further, the ABC holds the trademark for “ABC News 2024”, with registration set through to 2030.
For Sky News Australia, the removal of “Australia” is a striking pivot. The network has long positioned itself as a distinctly national voice. The streamlined branding appears aimed at strengthening its appeal beyond local borders — particularly across digital and social platforms where geographic identifiers can limit international reach.
Still, the optics are hard to ignore. For a channel whose prime-time After Dark lineup frequently champions Australian identity, the decision to retire “Australia” from the masthead is a move its own commentators would be unlikely to accept from any other Aussie brand.
According to the company, the rebrand reflects its evolution from a traditional linear television service into what it describes as a digital-first, multiplatform news business with a growing international audience.
The new name also aligns the channel more directly with News Corp’s global branding.
The News24 logo incorporates the company’s signature script, drawn from the handwriting of Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch and his father, Sir Keith Murdoch. The business said the branding creates a visible link to the heritage of News Corp, which began as a newspaper in Adelaide and expanded into a global media company under the leadership of Global Chair Lachlan Murdoch.
Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia, said the change marks the next chapter in the network’s history.
“Thirty years ago Sky News Australia revolutionised the way we watched the news – launching the nation’s first 24-hour news channel and setting a new standard for live television reporting.
“As we celebrate the official opening of our new world-class broadcast centre and studios we are evolving again. Today, we announced a new name for the future of our network that embraces the proud heritage and editorial credentials of News Corp.
“While our name is changing, our brand of news isn’t. We will continue to break the stories that matter to Australians, champion open debate and provide space for all sides of every discussion. The launch of News24 unlocks the opportunity to take our news, analysis, and opinion programming to larger audiences in more markets.”
The rebrand completes the channel’s integration within News Corp Australia, following its acquisition of Australian News Channel (ANC) in 2016.
Prime Minister and NSW Premier Launch New Sydney Broadcast Hub
The identity overhaul was revealed as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns officially opened News Corp Australia’s new broadcast centre at its Surry Hills headquarters.
The state-of-the-art facility brings Sky News Australia’s operations under the same roof as News Corp Australia’s publishing brands, forming one of the country’s largest multimedia journalism hubs.
More than 1,500 hours of content are delivered each week across broadcast and digital platforms from the new centre, which features eight studios, six control rooms, expanded edit suites and voiceover booths, a large newsroom and new asset management systems.
The move marks the network’s third Sydney home, following its original studios at Frenchs Forest in 1996 and its tenure at the Foxtel broadcast centre from 2006.
Mr Whittaker described the relocation as the largest transformation project in the network’s history.
“Twelve months ago we embarked on the largest transformation project in our 30-year history – to design and build a new broadcast centre and bring our Sydney operations under one roof at News Corp Australia’s headquarters.
“This new facility sets us up to deliver on our next phase of growth, expanding our commitment to Australian journalism while taking our offering to larger audiences in more markets.”
News Corp Australasia Executive Chairman Michael Miller said the new studio represented more than infrastructure.
“This studio isn’t simply about broadcasting. It’s about connection, collaboration and the relentless pursuit of stories that inform, challenge and inspire.”
Under the new identity, News24 will transition across existing broadcast and streaming platforms including Foxtel, BINGE, regional free-to-air television, FAST channels on connected TVs, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube, and as an audio stream on DAB+ radio in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It will also be available in New Zealand via Sky Television, alongside a new website and app at News24.com.au.
Lipstick on a pig?
Different name same rubbish
… given that ABC launched its news channel in 2010 as “ABC News 24” and then quietly dropped the “24” when it was pointed out that there wasn’t really 24 hours of news on it, wonder if this is a less than subtle dig? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-22/abc-launches-abc-news-24-channel/916002
Sky News Australia also isn’t 24 hours. They carry Sky News UK overnight.
Good.
Another source.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Should rebrand as The Muppet Show 2.0
Aldo Godolfus New 10pm show to be hosted by Statler and Waldorf.
When is it back on TV ?
Until the ABC takes them to court
Still the same bunch of idiots on there so what’s the point of a name change
About time Foxtel drops it if it wants to retain customers!
When Foxtel publicly released ratings data, Sky After Dark shows were regularly was in the top 10 outside sport.
Hi Simon – No, they were not. Maybe in comparison to other Foxtel programs (and even then often outside the top 10). Compared with free-to-air TV, the Sky News After Dark shows barely made the top 50, let alone top 100 for the day.
I wish Paul would get picked up by 9, on Sky he’s preaching to the converted already, PML post ACA would be great
James Roberts you think people watching Nine aren’t already the sort that’d agree with him and the rest of the Kangaroo Creek Gang?
Well that will make all the difference, I’m sure everyone on the planet will watch now.
Finally, truth in advertising – rebranding themselves to represent the total number of active brain cells in their whole audience
#News24AfterDark
No choice Comcast owns the name and it was ok to use when 9 and 7 owned sky news.
‘New name, same shit’
Andrew McGill think you’re talking about the abc and sbs shit
Isn’t the ABC channel called News24?
Lauren Miller used to be when opened in 2010, now known as the ABC News Channel.
Don’t love the more generic name – we need Sky News viewers to stick out like a sore thumb.
Great news and an evolution of the brand.
The new name is quite underwhelming and honestly misleading.
News24? How generic. The ABC and the BBC have already used the News24 name, and Toronto Canada still has its CP24 news channel. Surely something slightly more distinctive could have been chosen. ANC for the Australian News Channel? ACN for Australian Cable News? Both of these would work well for a channel that is Australian focused, as Sky News Australia is.
As for being misleading, news might be discussed on the after dark opinion programs, but since they are opinion programs, the channel’s branding shouldn’t mislead viewers into thinking that they are geninue news bulletins. Perhaps the branding should change to Talk24 or TAU for Talk Australia when the opinion shows come on each day.
They copied the colors of South Africa’s News24.com …. such a great channel… but what a bad name decision…