Sky News is set to introduce a significant overhaul of its programming lineup starting from January 19, 2026. The network will incorporate new opinion formats, establish an in-house polling brand, and expand its digital content offerings across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. This strategic shift aims to enhance viewer engagement ahead of a year filled with critical events, including the South Australia and Victoria state elections and the United States midterm elections.
New Opinion Programs Enhance Primetime Lineup
As part of the revamped schedule, Sky News will unveil several new opinion programs designed to provide deeper analysis of current events. Each Friday at 17:00, **Caleb Bond** will host *The Bond Report*, a news-driven opinion show that offers commentary on the week’s key stories. Following this, **Danica De Giorgio** will debut a half-hour program titled *Opinionated* at 20:00, featuring contributions from editors both in Australia and abroad.
De Giorgio will also take over the Sunday 19:00 slot, leading into *The Macpherson Angle* at 20:00, hosted by **James Macpherson**. This series aims to enrich public discourse on pressing issues. Later in 2026, Macpherson will broaden his role with a new quiz format called *Quizzical*, which will blend humor and debate while tackling significant news stories. These new titles will complement Sky News’ existing primetime offerings, including *The Kenny Report*, *Credlin*, and *The Bolt Report*.
Digital Expansion and Reporting Enhancements
In conjunction with its programming updates, Sky News is launching *Sky News Pulse*, a new polling initiative developed in partnership with **YouGov**. This brand will release national polling data every second Wednesday, focusing on critical topics such as cost of living and immigration. **Tom Connell**, Sky News’ chief election analyst, will provide insights into these findings during broadcasts.
Digital content will also see its most extensive expansion to date. The popular series *Power Hour* will increase from three to four weekly episodes, alongside a new format called *Power Hour Deep Dive*. Hosted by **Gabriella Power** and a rotating cast of co-hosts, this edition will explore major international stories in greater detail. Additionally, De Giorgio will present *Danica Goes Global*, a digital-only series airing each Monday that offers an Australian perspective on significant global events.
Sky News aims to engage younger audiences by introducing **James Bolt**, son of veteran commentator **Andrew Bolt**, through *The James Bolt Show*, which will focus on trending topics and social debates.
On the reporting front, **Jonathan Lea** has been appointed national affairs correspondent, focusing on economic and political issues affecting Australian households. **Jaynie Seal** will serve as regional correspondent, leading an investigative series titled *State of Health* that examines the challenges facing healthcare services in regional Australia. The first episode will air in February, featuring insights from Chinchilla, Queensland.
In New Zealand, **Bridie Witton** will serve as the correspondent based in Wellington, while former CNBC anchor **Matt Taylor** takes on the role of senior reporter in Sydney. The Washington bureau will also see expansion, with **Annelise Nielsen** stepping into a new role as Washington analyst and **Jonathan Kearsley** joining as a Washington correspondent. This strengthened presence is expected to support comprehensive coverage of the pivotal 2026 American election year.
Weather and Documentary Programming Updates
Sky News is enhancing its weather coverage with the addition of meteorologist **Tamsin Green**, who joins the existing team of experts including **Rob Sharpe**, **Alison Osborne**, and **Marina Neuman**. This new team aims to provide accurate forecasts while engaging viewers across various programs.
The documentary unit will commemorate significant political anniversaries in 2026. In March, **Chris Uhlmann** will host a special program celebrating the 30th anniversary of **John Howard**’s tenure as Prime Minister of Australia. Later in the year, **Paul Murray** will produce a documentary exploring the 250th anniversary of American independence, assessing the nation’s evolution through the lens of recent political developments.
These programming changes reflect Sky News’ commitment to delivering diverse content that resonates with its audience while preparing for a politically charged year ahead.
