NEW SKY CHANNEL SET TO REPLACE ABCs AUSTRALIA NETWORK: SKY NEWS is launching an international television news service in November to replace the ABC’s Australia Network, which was axed in the federal budget. While the Australia Network cost taxpayers $223 million over 10 years, Sky News’s Australia Channel, a subscription service via the internet, will broadcast to 180 countries, including China and the Middle East, at no cost to the taxpayer. Australians travelling overseas will become accustomed to seeing the news channel because it will also be the news service available in Qantas lounges internationally. Sky News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos said Australia Channel would be available globally and would broadcast Australian content, produced by the local Sky News operation. “This to us is a similar commitment to the one we have with APAC, Australia’s Public Affairs Channel, and it shows good outcomes in the national interest don’t necessarily have to be delivered by a government-funded broadcaster,’’ Mr Frangopoulos said. “It will leverage the breadth of our content across all our channels. We’re also in the process of making a small number of appointments directly involved with the Australia Channel itself,†he said. Australia Channel is a collaboration between Australian News Channel and broadcast provider Globecast Australia, owned by its chair, Peter Cosgrove, the Curran family and France Telecom. While it it is an Over-the-Top service, distributed via the internet, Mr Frangopoulos said it was not only for the laptop or tablet. “It is designed for distribution via connected televisions and set- top boxes,’’ he said. “We’re not locked into any thinking about how the service will evolve. That will be up to our international viewers, be they expatriates or people in the business world. “We believe it will have an Âimportant role to play in supporting Australian business and trade internationally,†he said. Globecast will announce shortly the ways viewers will be able to watch the news service, but Mr Frangopoulos said: “It will be able to be viewed on television as well as other devices.†Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition communications spokesman Jason Clare were both briefed over the weekend on the new Australia Channel. Sky had submitted a tender for the Australia Network service under the Gillard government. But despite the fact Sky was Âfavoured by two Âexpert recommendations, the ABC was controversially awarded the contract by then communications minister Stephen Conroy. The news of Sky’s new Australia Channel comes at a sensitive time, with 70 ABC staff losing their jobs as a result of the ABC’s ÂAustralia Network being disÂmantled. ABC managing director Mark Scott said last month he shared the disappointment and frustration of the on-air and off-air staff who were losing their jobs after the funding cut. “It is a sad time across the corporation as we say farewell to many colleagues who have Âalready gone or who will be Âleaving us in coming days and weeks as a result of the loss of Australia Network funding,’’ Mr Scott said in an email to ABC staff. Australia Network will cease broadcasting later this month. Under the subscription model, Sky News and Globecast will deliver international news without the financial burden falling to the taxpayer. Australia Channel will include coverage of Australian business, politics, sports and news. Globecast Australia chief executive Simon Farnsworth said the long-term strategic partnership with Australian News Channel provided an opportunity to deliver a range of services to corporate customers and other consumers around the world using alternative technologies. “The launch of Australia Channel delivers a core component of Globecast Australia’s strategy to deliver television channels and broadcast content via the internet,’’ he said. Mr Farnsworth said Globecast would also partner with experienced technology companies, BrightCove and Akamai, to provide the most up-to-date and proven cloud-based solutions. Sky News digital director Kylie Merritt said Australia Channel “had a “broad remit to provide a comprehensive service allowing subscribers to choose the content they want and the format they want to watch it inâ€. theaustralian.au/media/new-sky-channel-set-to-replace-abcs-australia-network/story-e6frg996-1227050759298
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 02:00:01 +0000
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