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EspañolSKY NEWS
'Sky News', also known as 'Maddie' Talk-a-lot TV, is a 24-hour British domestic and international television news channel that started broadcasting on 16 February 1989 as part of the then four-channel Sky Television service.[2] It was modelled on the US CNN channel [3] and soon gained a reputation for immediacy and innovation that reflected well on BSkyB. The station can now be viewed in the UK, and around Europe and the world. Sky News also provides news for UK local radio stations.
The usual rolling news schedule is supplemented with a number of ''landmark'' programmes and news specials. It has a distinctive look and sound and has won many awards over the years. The channel has seven UK and eight foreign offices, and it can call on worldwide News Corp resources.
Overview
Sky News is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation via his holding in British Sky Broadcasting. Murdoch said of it in March 1992, when he was the full owner:
The station's headquarters are in Osterley, West London, employing well over 50 on-screen staff (anchors, weather forecasters, correspondents and reporters) and over 600 behind-the-scenes staff. The station has eight of its own bureaus outside the United Kingdom and shares many more with other News Corporation stations.
Sky also produces 'Sky News Radio' news bulletins for commercial stations, a website (Sky News Online); and a Library Sales division, and bulletins for Five News.
History
On 8 June 1988, Rupert Murdoch announced to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts that he would provide a new television news service with the words ''We are seeing the dawn of a new age of freedom for the viewer''2. Sky News started broadcasting at 6pm2 on 5 February 1989.[4]
In the early days the channel operated on a £40 million budget2 (plus £10 million share of overheads), which led Sam Chishom to propose to Murdoch the station be closed, but Rupert was ''pleased with its achievements ... there were overriding reasons of prestige and politics for keeping it ... the final hurdle of the Broadcasting Bill had still to be overcome and the case for the acceptability of Sky would collapse if suddenly there was no news channel.'' 2 - former deputy Prime Minister Viscount Whitelaw said to the House of Lords in 1990 that Sky News had ''a very high reputation ... I admire it, as do many other people, it will certainly waken up both the BBC and ITN and ensure that they compete with that is a very important news service''2. The channel has never been run for a profit, [5] and has considered using ITN to ''supplement'' the service. 4
By March 1992 Sky turned from loss to profit, when Murdoch would say ''Sky News, has quietly, if expensively, become the first building block of what we envision will become the premier world-wide electronic news-gathering network anywhere. Ask anyone in Europe, and particularly the BBC and you will be told that Sky News has added a new and better dimension to television journalism''3.
Sky News was the only UK 24 hour news channel (aside from CNN international on Astra, BBC World Service Television started in 1991 but has never been broadcast in the UK) until November 1997 when BBC News 24 launched. In September 1999 the European Commission ruled against a complaint by Sky News which argued that the publicly funded BBC News 24 was unfair and illegal under EU law. The EC ruled that the television licence fee ''should'' be considered state aid (within the meaning of Article 87) and that it was justified due to the public service remit of the BBC and that it did not exceed actual costs of the channel.[6]
In March 2000 'Sky News Active' was launched, a 24-hour interactive service providing headlines (and other services which ranged from weather, the top story of the day and showbiz) on demand.
In March 2004 it was announced that Sky News had won a 5-year contract to supply news bulletins to Five, taking over from ITN in January 2005 [7].
On 24 October 2005, Sky News moved to a new studio with revised music and on screen graphics all in Widescreen () format and a new schedule. James Rubin joined to present an evening show, and Eamonn Holmes to present Sunrise. This relaunch was disastrous for the channel, and, since October 2005 BBC News 24 has overtaken Sky News in the ratings (although News 24 is carried on more platforms). The changes were reversed in July 2006 and on 25 February 2007 the channel changed its graphics scheme that displays breaking news in yellow.
Reception
BBC News 24 and Sky News weekly reach June 05-Jan-07
Sky News is also shown internationally, and can often be seen in hotels as well as being offered by some cable providers as part of their English-language line-up.
The international version is shown as free-to-air on Astra 1KR at 19.2E. It is also carried encrypted on a number of satellites for international reception - including but not limited to Hot Bird, Nilesat, Amos 1 and Intelsat 10-02. It is also usually carried on cable systems in Europe, particularly (but not only) in Northern Europe.
Regional variations
Most of Europe, the Middle East and Asia receive the same version of Sky News as people in the UK, though with localised advertising. These feeds are sometimes known collectively as "Sky News International".
Sky News Australia and Sky News New Zealand are different channels that carry a lot of Sky News UK programming, and share it's style, but also have local programming and advertising. In Australia, a Sky News UK feed is also available at all times, albeit a tiny quarter screen version. From 2004 to 2006 Sky News Ireland similarly carried local programming. This was then discontinued, the Irish feed reverting to a local advertising only service.
Virgin Media dispute
On 1 March, 2007, the contract for Virgin Media to provide Sky's basic channels (including Sky News) on their cable TV service expired after a dispute between Virgin Media and BSkyB. [10]. At Midnight, Sky News was removed, the electronic programming guide changed to "SKY SNOOZE TRY BBC" until Richard Branson demanded the message be removed[11] saying ''I have asked them to take it down. We do not mean any disrespect to Sky News. I think it is a very good news channel''.
Sky News Radio
Main articles: Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio is a provider of news bulletins for radio stations in the United Kingdom.[12]
In March, BSkyB and Chrysalis Group announced a joint partnership to launch a dedicated Sky News Radio station on the proposed bid by Channel 4's 4 Digital Group for the second DAB multiplex in the United Kingdom.[13]
Programming
Sky News with their new colour scheme as of February 2007, the black space at the bottom can be very clearly seen on 16:9 TV's
★ Sunrise (with Eamonn Holmes)
★ Sky News Today
★ Lunchtime Live
★ Live at Five
★ News, Sport, Weather
★ Sky News at Ten
★ Sportsline
★ Sky News Tonight
★ Sky News On The Hour
★ Sky World News
★ Saturday Live
★ Sunday Live with Adam Boulton
When elections, either national, or international take place, Sky edits its schedule to focus on them. Recent examples have been the UK General Elections of 2005, the Israeli Elections of 2006, and the US Mid-Term Elections of 2006. Sky also often shows long interviews. Recent examples of these have been Adam Boulton's exclusive half-hour interview with Al Gore. At the end of each year, in December and January of the new year, a series of special 'Year in Review' shows are shown which look back at memorable news stories from the past year.
In-Depth Series
Recently the channel has focused on week long series of programming which focus individual areas of society and current affairs and allow for a greater level of depth. In the past examples of these series have included Inside Iraq, Green Britain and Crime Uncovered.
Crime Uncovered - the most recent example of these series - was shown throughout the week beginning Monday 4th June. The Sky News Press Office wrote;
Identification and stings
Bruce Hammal is heard at the top of each hour introducing the channel, for example saying "Sky News, with ''presenter/s''.", after October 2005 he said "Live from the Sky News Centre, this is ''Programme name'' with ''presenters''." or "This is ''programme name'' with ''presenter/s''". After the merger he said "This is Sky News a part of the British Sky Broadcasting Network", in 1993 the introduction was "From the Sky satellite network this is Sky News", and by 1995 "This is Sky News, part of the Sky Television Network" - or just "This is Sky News".
Perception and awards
Sky News viewing peaked during 9/11, Gulf War 2, Asian Tsunami, 2005 London bombings and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales but has generally declined to a quarter achieved in 1992-95
Sky News operates under the requirements of United Kingdom broadcasting regulations that require neutrality.
In early 1994 Kelvin MacKenzie, former editor of ''The Sun'' newspaper, was appointed Managing Director of BSkyB. MacKenzie's proposed changes to Sky News lead to clashes with CEO Sam Chisholm and the head of Sky News, Ian Frykberg, who protested what they saw as an attempt to take its news values down market. The most ferocious battle occurred when Mackenzie wanted Sky News to run an interview with Lady Bienvenida Buck. Frykberg refused to air the interview and resigned shortly afterwards - the interview was put on Sky One.14 MacKenzie announced his resignation in August 1994,[14] but not until Sky News had transmitted live pictures of the freeway chase of OJ Simpson white bronco on 17 June 1994 bringing US 'helicopter journalism'' to the UK[15].
Sky News covered the trial in Boston US trial of Louise Woodward with live coverage. When Sky returned to a regular schedule, viewers demanded the trial coverage. From Woodward's home in Elton, Cheshire Sky broadcast locals reactions, but this brought criticism of maintaining a pro-Louise Woodward stance, as she was found guilty.
From 2000 onwards, Sky News began expanded the international coverage opening bureaus in Africa, Europe, and the far East. It won awards from the Royal Television Society[16].
Sky News has had BAFTA awards for coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks [17]and in 2003 for the Soham Murders[18].
Coverage of the 7 July 2005 London bombings won the 2006 International Emmy ''Breaking News'' award commending the "fast and accurate" reporting.[19]
In June 2007 Sky News was named the "Best News Channel" at the Broadcast Digital Channel Awards. It beat several other national and international broadcasters including Aljazeera English and the BBC[20].
In November 2005 the then head of BBC News, Peter Horrocks acknowledged that Sky News remained the first choice for 'key opinion formers'.[21]. However, in recent years, Sky News has increasingly started to fall behind BBC News 24 in the ratings.
Reporters and presenters
Bureaux
Bureaux in bold are Sky News bureaus, others are shared with other News Corporation networks.
Online
Sky.com/news is the channel's main website. It provides a comprehensive look at all of the day's top news, sport, weather, showbiz and business stories with help from other divisions within the Sky Network. e.g. Sky Sports provides material for the Sports section.
In recent months that website has undergone a largely cosmetic change to bring it in line with the on screen look of Sky News TV. The site has made use of flash video encoding; technology popularised by You Tube and other sites. The website has sought to build upon the visual style of the tv channel portrayed through the prominence of pictures, and breaking news.
Interactivity: Blogs and Forums
Since 2005, with the relaunch of the tv channel, a greater emphasis has been placed upon interactivity. With a growing selection of news blogs written by staff and guests, Sky News now has a tailored selection targeted towards each demographic of its audience. A recent addition to Sky News Online has been messageboards or forums. These, again, promote interactivity and involvement in the channel and the website. This section is a direct rival of the BBC's 'haveyoursay'.
Recently this sectuion has been the subject of an advertising campaign using tag-lines such as 'Global Warming is a lie.' and 'Politics is a waste of time.'
Sky News Online Management
Sky News Online's managing editor is currently Julian March. He has had a varied career with Sky News joining from five news during 2003. In his time with the network Julian has been the E.P. for Sky news Sunrise and Live at 5 until 2007 when he joined sky online.
Other information
In popular culture
★ Sky News has been featured in many feature films;
★
★ ''The Bourne Ultimatum (film)
★
★ ''Behind Enemy Lines''
★
★ ''The Day After Tomorrow''
★
★
★ ''Independence Day''
★
★
★ ''
★
★ ''Shaun of the Dead''
★
★ ''Stealth''
★
★ ''Why We Fight''
★
★ ''Johnny English''
★ Television Shows
★
★ Spooks
★
★ Crisis Command
★
★ The Thick of It
★
References
1. Sky News: UK News, World News and Business News. The First for breaking global News!
2. Dished! The Rise and Fall of British Satellite Broadcasting, Chippindale, Peter and Franks, Suzanne, , , , ,
3. The Sky Barons: The Men Who Control the Global Media, Clarke, Neville and Riddell, Edwin, , , , ,
4. Sky High: The Inside Story of BSkyB, Horsman, Mathew, , , , ,
5.
Touch down for Sky
6. SG(99) D10201 - State aid No NN 88/98 – UNITED KINGDOM Financing of a 24-hour advertising-free news channel out of the licence fee by
the BBC
7. BBC NEWS - Entertainment - TV and Radio - Five to take Sky News bulletins
8. Ofcom looks into Sky News move
9. Sky's top shows to go terrestrial
10. Cable - News - Sky One, Sky News pulled from Virgin - Digital Spy
11. Richard Branson puts stop to 'Sky Snooze' joke - - Guardian Unlimited Business
12. Audio Channel
13. BSkyB and Chrysalis to launch “Sky News Radio”
14. L?ve TV: Telebrats and Topless Darts, Horrie, Chris, , , , ,
15. Live, Direct and Biased?, McGregor, Brent, , , , ,
16. Royal Television Society - Latest news
17. BAFTA Awards: 2002
18. Bafta 2003: the winners
19. Sky News Wins 7/7 Award
20. http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/dcawards/default.asp?content=2007winners
21.
BBC news admits 'opinion-formers' prefer Sky James Robinson
External links
★ Sky News at sky.com
★ Sky Press Office for Sky News
★ News at five.tv
★ Sky News revamp set for October 24 (Digital Spy)
★ TV Newsroom
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