History
Sky News Weather Channel started broadcasting on 1 January 1999 under the name "Weather 21": channel 21 on the Austar channel line-up. Weather 21 was set up by Cox Inall Communications and the meteorological firm The Weather Company and was owned by Austar. The programming was pitched to Austar's largely rural and regional audience. Initial presenters on the channel were Allan Humphries, Lyndal Davies, and meteorologist Mark Hardy, broadcasting live from 6am to 10pm daily, with the overnight programming consisting of an automated loop of forecasts, satellite, and radar, accompanied by music. In early 2000, no longer located at 21, the name was changed to "The Weather Channel". As the hours of live presentation were extended, presenters Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca LeTourneau and Garry Youngberry were added. In 2003 Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks and TWC appeared on the Foxtel network, morphing to better suit the now largely metropolitan audience. Foxtel's Digitals platform extended its distribution with an Open TV interactive weather application, Weather Active. Major changes in 2004 included logo, graphics, programming line-up and a new version of Weather Active for Foxtel Digital. In the middle of June 2008, the Weather Channel again had a major change with its graphics as its programming line-up grew. Weather content on the channel is provided by Metra Information Limited and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.Change of Management and Re-Branding
In the wake of the 2012 merger of Foxtel and Austar, and the subsequent dissolution of XYZ Networks, it was announced that from 30 November 2012 management and operational responsibility for The Weather Channel would be assumed by Sky News Australia, with The Weather Channel to be re-launched as Sky News Weather in 2013. The rebrand took place on 25 January 2013.App & Streaming 2024 current
The Sky News App offers a free to use app showing the latest weather forecasts. The Sky News App also offers a subscription based live streaming of Sky News Weather.Current Presenters (as of October 2024)
* Jaynie Seal 1999 - 2004 & 2012 - Current (Hosting News Breakfast Weekdays) * Rob Sharpe – Meteorologist 2017 - Current * Alison Osborne – Meteorologist 2019 - Current * Rhiannon Elston 2020 - Current * Emma Wightman 2017 - Current * James Preston 2022 - Current * Nikolina Kharoufeh 2022 - Current * Stevie Jacobs 2024- Current * Wendy John 2024 - Current * Julia Seymour 2024 - Current * Marina Neuman (Meteorologist) 2024 - CurrentPast Presenters
* Graham Creed - Meteorologist 2000 -2007 - (Moved to ABC Sydney now retired) * Allan Humphries * Mark Hardy - Meteorologist * Tracey Malmborg * Sally Ayhan * Christina Birtles * Kyly Boldy * Lee Brooks * Lyndal Davies * Amanda Duval * Josh Holt (Moved to Network 10 Sydney) * Rose Jacobs * Dave Kirwan * Danielle Bowern * Amy Greenbank 2011- 2018( Moved to ABC Sydney) * Gavin Morris * Reuben Mourad * Ed Phillips 2004 - 2005 (Temptation Host 9 Network) * Magdalena Roze * Angela Tsun * Jane Bunn - Meteorologist (Moved to WIN TV currently with Seven News Melbourne) * Danielle Robertson * Tom Saunders - Meteorologist 1999 - 2009 (Moved to ABC Sydney) * Ben Domensino - Meteorologist (Weaterzone Meteorologist) * Richard Whitaker * Bradlyn Oaks Meteorologist 2023 - 2024 * Vanessa O'Hanlon (former ABC News Breakfast Weather Presenter) 2023 * Fouad Haidar 2023 - 2024References
External links
* {{Weather channels and news English-language television stations in Australia Television networks in Australia Weather television networks Television channels and stations established in 1999 1999 establishments in Australia