Sky News has announced it will debut a host of new and exclusive national affairs programs, with both new and returning faces set to headline its anchor line-up in 2020.
Former 2GB radio broadcaster Chris Smith will join Sky News to host two regular programs in 2020, Chris Smith Tonight Thursdays at 8pm and a new late-night show Chris Smith & Friends Sundays at 10pm.
Smith will also host a special summer-edition program, Chris Smith: Inside the News live from the Sky News Sydney studio. The program will air weeknights at 7pm from December 16 to January 24 with the veteran journalist and commentator taking audiences inside the day’s news, with big interviews, fiery debate, and his unique take on the stories Australia is talking about.
Smith joins the top-rating weeknight primetime line-up featuring Credlin with Peta Credlin, The Bolt Report with Andrew Bolt, Kenny on Media with Chris Kenny, Jones & Credlin with Alan Jones and Peta Credlin, Richo & Jones with Graham Richardson and Alan Jones, Chris Smith Tonight, Paul Murray Live with Paul Murray and The Front Page with Peter Gleeson.
Other new programs joining the Sky News line-up in 2020 include In My View, Afternoon Agenda, Outsiders’ Guide To… and The Alliance.
In a new-look Sunday night line-up The Daily Telegraph‘s multiple-award winning political editor-at-large Sharri Markson returns to anchor Sharri Sundays at 6pm, with a focus on breaking news through exclusive interviews.
Sunday nights will also premiere a lively new debate program In My View at 8pm, followed by Paul Murray Live at 9pm and new Chris Smith & Friends at 10pm.
Sky News’ flagship talk program, Paul Murray Live will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year with a brand-new set and a fresh format.
Also debuting in 2020, chief news anchor and political journalist Kieran Gilbert will host a new political program Afternoon Agenda live from Parliament House Monday – Thursday at 2pm. Gilbert will also steer political discussion program Sunday Agenda, Sundays at 8am, featuring newly appointed Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell.
In the lead up to the US Election, Sky News business editor Ticky Fullerton will host a new six-part series The Alliance examining the important role and impact of the US-Australian partnership. Fullerton also returns with Leo Shanahan for another season of Business Weekend Sundays at 11am offering the latest business and market insights.
Following the success of Sky News Australia’s first locally produced documentaries Bad Blood/New Blood and Lawyer X: The Untold Story, in 2020 the channel will add to its documentary slate with Sky News anchor Peter Stefanovic and the investigative team set to bring audiences another new two-part series. Further details will be announced early next year.
Sky News’ award-winning team of experienced journalists including Kieran Gilbert, Laura Jayes, Peter Stefanovic, Andrew Clennell, Ticky Fullerton, Ashleigh Gillon, Tom Connell and Annelise Nielsen will bring viewers news and analysis across politics and business.
Returning weekdays from 5am on First Edition, Laura Jayes and Peter Stefanovic are the breakfast team reporting on the latest in news, politics, business and sport.
At 9am weekdays, political reporters Tom Connell and Annelise Nielsen team-up live from Canberra for morning political program AM Agenda, Australia’s only weekday morning program devoted to political news coverage.
From 12pm Monday-Thursday, political journalist Ashleigh Gillon returns to host NewsDay live from the Sky News Perth studio providing the latest current affairs, sport and business news including coverage of key news events and analysis.
Broadcasting live from the Sky News Melbourne studio, The Friday Show hosted by Herald Sun columnist Rita Panahi extends to three hours in the new time of Fridays 2pm – 5pm.
The Kenny Report moves to the new timeslot of 5pm weekdays and will see anchor Chris Kenny examine the issues that dominated the news agenda, particularly those involving national politics during sitting weeks in Canberra.
Paul Whittaker, Sky News chief executive said: “We’re excited to announce our 2020 programming schedule which brings together the best journalists, commentators and broadcasters in the country to provide comprehensive perspective and insights on the issues that matter most to Australians.
“In 2020 we continue our significant investment across live breaking news, expert commentary and national affairs, as well as long-form investigative content, to provide viewers with an unmatched line-up of must- watch news and national affairs programs.”
Sky News 2020 Programming Line-Up (returning from Sunday 26 January)
• First Edition with Laura Jayes and Peter Stefanovic (Weekdays at 5am)
• AM Agenda with Annelise Nielsen and Tom Connell (Weekdays at 9am)
• NewsDay with Ashleigh Gillon (Monday – Thursday at 12pm)
• Afternoon Agenda with Kieran Gilbert (Monday – Thursday at 2pm)
• The Friday Show with Rita Panahi (Fridays at 2pm)
• The Kenny Report with Chris Kenny (Monday – Friday at 5pm)
• Credlin with Peta Credlin (Weeknights at 6pm)
• The Bolt Report with Andrew Bolt (Weeknights at 7pm)
• Kenny on Media with Chris Kenny (Mondays at 8pm)
• Jones & Credlin with Alan Jones and Peta Credlin (Tuesdays at 8pm)
• Richo & Jones with Graham Richardson and Alan Jones (Wednesdays at 8pm)
• Chris Smith Tonight with Chris Smith (Thursdays at 8pm)
• Outsiders’ Guide To…with Rowan Dean, James Morrow and Rita Panahi (Fridays at 8pm)
• Hardgrave with Gary Hardgrave (Fridays at 8:30pm)
• Weekend Edition with Jaynie Seal and Tim Gilbert (Saturdays & Sundays at 6am)
• Sunday Agenda with Kieran Gilbert and Andrew Clennell (Sundays at 8am)
• Outsiders with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow (Sundays at 9am)
• Business Weekend with Ticky Fullerton and Leo Shanahan (Sundays at 11am)
• Sharri with Sharri Markson (Sundays at 6pm)
• In My View (Sundays at 8pm)
• Paul Murray LIVE with Paul Murray (Sunday-Thursday at 9pm)
• Chris Smith & Friends with Chris Smith (Sundays at 10pm)
• The Front Page with Peter Gleeson Monday- Thursday, Jane Marwick Friday and Saturday and
Gemma Tognini Sunday (Nightly at 11pm)
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Top Photo: Chris Smith gets his own Sky News primetime programs