When it comes to watching the news, many people tune into Sky News for their daily dose of current events. But have you ever wondered who actually owns this popular news channel?
Sky News is currently owned by Comcast, which acquired Sky Group Limited (formerly known as Sky PLC) in 2018.
This ownership structure might surprise some viewers who still associate Sky News with its founder, Rupert Murdoch. The media mogul launched Sky News in the UK in 1989, but it’s no longer part of his media empire.
Before Comcast’s acquisition, Sky was partially owned by 21st Century Fox, which held a 39% stake in the company.
The journey to its current ownership wasn’t straightforward. Sky underwent several transformations, including operating as BSkyB (British Sky Broadcasting) before becoming Sky PLC in 2015.
Today, Sky Group Limited is a British media and telecommunications conglomerate headquartered in London, with operations extending across multiple countries.
Key Takeaways
- Comcast purchased Sky Group Limited in 2018, making it the current owner of Sky News.
- Rupert Murdoch founded Sky News in 1989 but sold his company’s stake as part of a larger media assets deal.
- Sky News operated without competition in the British market until 1997 and has since evolved into a global news organization.
Ownership History
Sky News has changed hands several times since its launch, with various media giants shaping its development and editorial direction. The channel’s ownership reflects broader shifts in the global media landscape.
Early Beginnings and BSkyB
Sky News began as part of Rupert Murdoch’s ambitious satellite television venture in 1989. The 24-hour news channel was launched by Sky Television, which later merged with British Satellite Broadcasting to form British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) in 1990.
This merger created a powerful media entity in the UK broadcasting landscape. BSkyB operated Sky News as its flagship news service, with the channel gaining popularity as Britain’s first 24-hour news broadcaster.
During these early years, Murdoch’s influence was significant, though his company didn’t have complete ownership. Instead, News Corporation held a substantial minority stake in BSkyB while exercising considerable control over its operations.
News Corp and Rupert Murdoch’s Influence
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation maintained significant influence over Sky News through its partial ownership of BSkyB. As founder of News Corporation, Murdoch shaped the channel’s development during a crucial growth period.
News Corp’s stake in BSkyB allowed Murdoch to exert editorial influence while expanding the channel’s reach. Under this arrangement, Sky News established itself as a major player in British media.
The relationship between News Corp and Sky News wasn’t without controversy. Critics often questioned the level of editorial independence given Murdoch’s other media holdings, which included newspapers like The Sun and The Times.
In 2013, News Corporation split into two companies: 21st Century Fox (entertainment assets) and a new News Corp (publishing assets). The BSkyB stake transferred to 21st Century Fox.
The Role of 21st Century Fox
When News Corp split its assets, 21st Century Fox inherited the 39% stake in BSkyB, which later simplified its name to Sky. This corporate restructuring placed Sky News under the partial ownership of 21st Century Fox.
In 2016, 21st Century Fox made a bold move by launching a bid to acquire the remaining 61% of Sky it didn’t already own. This attempted takeover sparked intense debate about media plurality in the UK.
Regulatory concerns about too much media concentration in Murdoch’s hands delayed the process. The UK government worried about one entity controlling too many news outlets.
While this bid was pending, another media giant entered the picture. In 2018, Comcast outbid 21st Century Fox for control of Sky, offering £17.28 per share. This successful bid ended the Murdoch family’s direct involvement with Sky News.
Recent Ownership Changes
Sky News has changed hands multiple times in recent years, with Comcast now controlling the news organization as part of its larger acquisition of Sky Group. The path to current ownership involved intense corporate competition and regulatory scrutiny.
Comcast’s Acquisition
In 2018, Comcast became the owner of Sky Group in a deal worth $39 billion. This major acquisition brought Sky News under Comcast’s control, separating it from its founder Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.
The American telecommunications giant outbid rivals in what became one of the most expensive media takeovers in recent history. Comcast saw Sky’s European footprint as a valuable addition to its primarily US-based operations.
This change marked a significant shift for Sky News, which Murdoch had launched in the UK back in 1989. The channel is now part of Comcast’s global media portfolio alongside NBC and Universal.
Impact of the Bidding War
The battle for Sky involved multiple media titans, with 21st Century Fox initially attempting to acquire the remaining shares of Sky it didn’t already own. This put Rupert Murdoch in position to regain full control of his creation.
Disney complicated matters by announcing plans to purchase Fox’s entertainment assets, which would have included Fox’s stake in Sky. This created a three-way competition between Fox, Disney, and Comcast.
In the end, Comcast prevailed with the highest bid. The outcome split Murdoch’s planned media consolidation, with Disney eventually acquiring other Fox entertainment assets while Sky went to Comcast.
Government Oversight and Matt Hancock’s Input
UK regulators played a crucial role in the ownership battle, with concerns about media plurality and broadcasting standards at the forefront. Then-Culture Secretary Matt Hancock had significant influence over whether the deals would be approved.
The government was particularly concerned about potential Fox News influence on Sky News. Officials worried about the “Foxification” of British news if Murdoch gained complete control.
Regulatory conditions were attached to any potential deal, including guarantees of Sky News’ editorial independence. These safeguards were designed to ensure the channel maintained its journalistic standards regardless of ownership.
The takeover process highlighted the importance of government oversight in media ownership transfers, especially for influential news organizations like Sky News.
Organizational Structure
Sky News operates within a well-defined corporate framework that balances commercial interests with journalistic integrity. The network’s structure ensures content delivery while maintaining editorial standards.
Sky News Management
Sky News functions as part of Sky Group Limited, a British media and telecommunications company headquartered in London. The overall management falls under the leadership of Sky’s executive team.
Devesh Raj serves as Chief Operating Officer at Sky, overseeing various operations including customer service and business functions. This management structure helps coordinate Sky News activities with other Sky divisions.
Sky Group itself is owned by Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company that acquired Sky in 2018. This acquisition marked the end of the Murdoch Family’s control over Sky News, as they previously held significant ownership through 21st Century Fox.
Editorial Independence
Despite being owned by a larger corporation, Sky News maintains strong editorial independence. Comcast NBCUniversal has guaranteed funding levels for Sky News, allowing it to operate without undue influence from its parent company.
This commitment to independence has helped Sky News earn industry recognition. In 2024, it was named Royal Television Society News Channel of the Year for the 17th time, highlighting its journalistic credibility.
The separation between business interests and news reporting is formalized through structural safeguards. These measures ensure that while Sky News benefits from corporate resources, its reporting remains free from interference.
This independence allows Sky News to maintain its reputation for balanced coverage in a competitive media landscape.
Global Presence
Sky News has expanded its reach beyond the UK to serve audiences across Europe. The network is part of Sky Group, which has a strong international footprint with 24 million customers across six countries.
Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland
Sky News reaches Italian viewers through Sky Italia, which offers comprehensive news coverage tailored to local audiences. The service brings Sky’s signature journalism style to the Italian market, while maintaining the same quality standards as its UK counterpart.
In Germany, Sky Deutschland delivers news content to German-speaking viewers. This expansion has helped Sky News establish itself as a prominent international news organization with influence beyond Britain’s borders.
Both Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland fall under the broader Sky Group umbrella, which is headquartered in London but has operations throughout Europe. These regional divisions allow Sky News to customize its approach for different markets while maintaining its core journalistic principles.
The international expansion reflects Sky’s commitment to growing its media presence globally under Comcast’s ownership.
Affiliated Publications and Media
Sky News operates within a vast network of media properties. These connections span across traditional newspapers, tabloids, and international broadcasting partnerships that extend the brand’s reach.
The Times and The Sunday Times
The Times and The Sunday Times have historical connections to Sky News through shared ownership history. These prestigious newspapers provide in-depth reporting and analysis that often complements Sky News coverage.
The Times, founded in 1785, is known for its comprehensive political coverage and international reporting. It maintains a reputation for quality journalism with a conservative editorial stance.
The Sunday Times offers more extensive feature articles and investigative reporting. Both publications share news resources with Sky News during major breaking stories.
The relationship between these publications has evolved over time, especially as ownership structures changed when Comcast acquired Sky Group while News Corp retained the newspapers.
The Sun and The Sunday Times
The Sun tabloid newspaper has maintained connections with Sky News through their previous common ownership. As one of Britain’s most widely read newspapers, The Sun focuses on celebrity news, sports, and sensational stories.
The tabloid often covers similar entertainment and sports topics as Sky News, though with a more casual and direct approach. The Sun’s website frequently embeds Sky News video content for breaking news stories.
Previously, when both were under the Murdoch media empire, there was more direct collaboration between the outlets. Today, they operate independently but still maintain some content sharing agreements.
Their different audience targets create a complementary relationship where Sky News provides video news content while The Sun offers more entertainment-focused stories.
Foxtel Partnerships
Foxtel, an Australian pay television company, has a significant partnership with Sky News Australia. This relationship allows for content sharing and distribution across platforms in the Australian market.
Sky News Australia, owned by Australian News Channel (a subsidiary of News Corp Australia), broadcasts through Foxtel’s satellite and cable services. The Murdoch family maintains a 39% ownership stake in this operation.
This partnership has created a powerful conservative media voice in Australia. Sky News Australia programming often features political commentary and analysis targeting right-leaning audiences.
Foxtel’s distribution network gives Sky News Australia access to millions of households across the country. The partnership also includes digital content sharing and cross-promotion across platforms.
Digital Transformation
Sky News is undergoing a major digital transformation as part of its evolution under Comcast ownership. The news organization is shifting from traditional broadcasting to become a premium video-first newsroom by 2030.
This change reflects broader trends in media consumption, with audiences increasingly seeking content online rather than through traditional TV channels. Sky News is responding by focusing more resources on digital platforms.
Recently, Sky announced it would cut 1,000 jobs as part of this move toward digital. This restructuring shows how seriously Sky is taking its digital future.
The transformation isn’t without challenges. Reports suggest the pivot is creating some tension within the organization as priorities shift. In Australia, Sky News’ digital strategy has reportedly led to fractures in its newsroom as they focus on reformatting broadcast content for online audiences.
Key elements of Sky News’ digital transformation include:
- Creation of more premium digital content
- Focus on video-first approach
- Restructuring of teams and resources
- Adaptation of broadcast content for online platforms
This strategy appears to be a forward-looking move by Comcast, which has been steering Sky’s direction since acquiring the company in 2018 for over £30 billion.
Viewership and Reach
Sky News has seen impressive audience growth in recent months. According to recent data, the network reached 19.7 million people in early 2025, showing a strong 10% growth compared to May 2023 figures.
Despite this growth, Sky News has faced increasing competition in the UK news landscape. In November, its rival GB News overtook Sky News in live viewing figures for the first time across an entire month.
The numbers tell an interesting story. GB News averaged 70,430 live viewers during the 20-hour period between 6am and 2am, while Sky News averaged 67,670 viewers over the same timeframe.
Sky News remains one of the UK’s most popular news websites. It ranks among the top 50 biggest UK news websites as of January 2025.
The network’s market share puts it in direct competition with other major UK news providers. Three companies dominate the UK news media ownership landscape: News UK, Mail titles, and Reach.
Sky News’ parent company, Sky Group Limited, is headquartered in London and owned by Comcast. This backing gives Sky News significant resources to maintain its position in the competitive British media market.
Controversies and Criticism
Sky News has faced several controversies over its history. Some critics have questioned the editorial independence of the network, particularly before Comcast’s ownership.
Before 2018, concerns existed about potential influence from previous ownership structures. However, it’s worth noting that Sky UK is now wholly owned by Comcast, which changed the ownership landscape.
The channel has received mixed reviews regarding media bias. Sky News UK has won several prestigious awards including BAFTAs and International Emmys, suggesting quality journalism.
It’s important to distinguish between Sky News UK and its international versions. Sky News Australia operates differently and isn’t owned by the same company as its UK counterpart.
Some viewers have expressed concerns about perceived political leanings. While Sky News UK aims for balanced coverage, its Australian counterpart has been criticized for right-wing bias in its programming.
Critics and media watchdogs continue to monitor Sky News for editorial decisions and coverage approaches. The network’s handling of sensitive political topics has occasionally sparked debate among viewers and media analysts.
Contributions to Journalism
Sky News has made significant contributions to journalism since its founding. The network has built a reputation for delivering timely news coverage across multiple platforms.
Their investigative reporting teams have uncovered important stories that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. These investigations have helped shape public discourse on various issues.
Sky News journalists have earned recognition for their work through numerous awards and accolades. These honors reflect their commitment to high-quality reporting and journalistic excellence.
The network maintains strict journalistic standards that emphasize accuracy and fairness. Their editorial guidelines help ensure that reporting meets professional ethics requirements.
Special coverage of major events has demonstrated Sky News’s ability to provide in-depth analysis. During elections, natural disasters, and global crises, their teams deliver comprehensive reporting.
Sky News has also embraced digital innovation in journalism. They’ve adapted to changing media landscapes by developing mobile apps and online platforms.
Training programs at Sky News help develop the next generation of journalists. These initiatives provide valuable experience for those entering the field.
Through international bureaus, Sky News brings global perspectives to viewers. This worldwide presence allows for direct reporting from diverse locations.
