Sky News

Sky News is Europe's first 24-hour television news channel, originally launched as part of the 4-channel Sky Television satellite package in February 1989. Its main competitors in the UK are BBC News 24 and the ITV News Channel, while elsewhere in Europe it competes mainly with BBC World, Euronews and CNN International. Sky News is available via satellite in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia and Oceania.

History

The channel originally operated on a shoestring but quickly gained a reputation for journalistic integrity. Although the channel has reportedly run at a loss for much of its history its award-winning journalism has brought Sky Television and its successor British Sky Broadcasting some much-needed prestige. Whilst it is fashionable for many of the newcomers to the news channel market to rapidly hire-and-fire presenters, Sky News is unique in that many of the original presenting team from the 1980s launch remain at the channel. However, one of its longest standing presenters, Bob Friend MBE, retired in late 2003.

Related Topics:
British Sky Broadcasting - Bob Friend - MBE

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In March 2000, it launched Sky News Active, a 24-hour rolling news service for when you want the news. It proved popular, and in late 2001/early 2002 it launched a 8-screen video news service, rather then just 4-screen. Sky News Poll, had also proved popular with a new question each day. In 2001, Sky News decided to make another ident facelift, just for a short while, until the big graphics update in October 2001. It had then became a 24 hour rolling news station, and promise to break the news first. In March 2004 it was announced that Sky News had won a 5-year contract to supply news bulletins to the British terrestrial channel five, taking over from ITN in January 2005.

Related Topics:
Five - ITN

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It is currently preparing to undergo a major transformation, with the construction of a new studio complex and news centre, due to go on air on October 24 2005. It is planned to show more programmes based around news presenters such as Jeremy Thompson, while still breaking news around the clock. In this, Sky News would be following the example of CNN and Fox News in the United States. Former US State Department Spokesperson James Rubin has also signed with Sky News to present an hour-long evening news show. He is married to CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

Related Topics:
October 24 - 2005

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Sky News has been featured in many blockbuster feature films including 20th Century Fox releases; Independence Day, ', Behind Enemy Lines, Shaun of the Dead and The Day After Tomorrow. 20th Century Fox is another News Corp. asset.

Related Topics:
20th Century Fox - Independence Day - Behind Enemy Lines - Shaun of the Dead - The Day After Tomorrow - News Corp.

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