Coverage of Victoria’s State of Disaster has seen Sky News achieve its highest overnight audience share for 2020 and #2 highest overnight audience share ever.
On Monday 3 August, Sky News delivered an audience share of 5.5%, its highest audience share for 2020 and its #2 highest overnight audience share on record. Sky News was the #1 channel for the day on Foxtel.
Over the past 27 weeks Sky News has delivered an average audience share of 3.0%, ranking as the #1 channel on Foxtel.
On Monday the channel saw a +43% increase in its All Day average audience (2am – 2am) compared to the same time last week, as viewers tuned into the 24/7 news channel for the latest news and analysis surrounding Victoria’s COVID crisis, reaching 574,000 unique viewers for the day.
Afternoon Agenda anchored by Kieran Gilbert delivered its highest audience on record as viewers tuned in as Victorian State Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivered live press conferences, followed by political analysis from the Sky News team.
Primetime programming featuring Credlin, The Bolt Report, Alan Jones and Paul Murray Live was up +25%, compared to the same time last week.
Additionally, the dedicated COVID channel, Sky News COVID-19 has seen an increase in viewers since the announcement of the Melbourne lockdown laws with audiences up +155% on Monday, compared to the same time last week.
Sky News Australia had 3.79 million daily video views on digital platforms on Monday 3 August, up +39% on July’s Monday averages.
Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer, Sky News Australia said: “As Victoria faces its grim reality of the new COVID lockdown laws and their implications, viewers are turning to Sky News to hear the latest details, live as they happen.
“At this critical time in the coronavirus crisis we are continuing to see an insatiable hunger for live, reliable and credible information direct from the health experts and our State and Federal Governments.”
Kieran Gilbert (pictured), Chief News Anchor, Sky News said: “It’s a time of such uncertainty and anxiety, people need accurate information as fast as possible.
“I’ve reported on national politics for close to two decades and I’ve not seen a story anywhere near this. It’s seen a sustained and increased demand for trusted news from journalists Australians trust.”
Source: OzTAM National STV, Linear data, Overnight, share rank: 2003-2020 YTD, analysis: 03/08/20 Vs STLW, channel rank: Wk 5-32, Total People, Average Audience, Share and 1Min Cume Reach.
Monday August 3 2020 aggregated video views; Brightcove, Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft, Adobe. – vs Monday 7, 14, 21 and 28 July 2020 average.