David Rhodes says in London – The Hollywood Reporter
Sky News, the news arm of Comcast-owned European media and technology giant Sky xxx, said David Rhodes, chief executive of Sky News Group, in London on Tuesday evening.
Speaking during a Sky News show at Somerset House in central London, he said of the news brand’s approach: “We are fair and considerate and we want our reporting to set an agenda rather than present it.”
The event came as Sky News prepares for a “crucial year for UK and US politics” amid key elections in both countries.
Rhodes also described Sky News’ goals as “challenging the powerful, challenging the status quo” and being “an insurgent brand”.
He also promised that “we will invest in our political coverage,” mentioning the weekday show from 7 to 8 p.m Politics Center using Sophy Ridge as an example. “We started Politics Hub on TV, it was a digital brand. And now it is being presented, I would say, with exceptional audience interest in its first few weeks, which is a doubling of what was previously seen on key nights.”
The American manager stressed: “We couldn’t do this, we couldn’t make these investments, we couldn’t present this new program without the support.” [our] Parent company Comcast [and] NBCUniversal is heavily invested in the type of reporting we do globally on behalf of the entire company, and is also heavily invested here in the UK.”
Looking back at the launch of Sky News in 1989, Rhodes said: “Initially we were a bold upstart. We brought 24-hour news to this country, and today we employ over 800 people collecting the news… around the world.”
In late February, Rhodes, the former president of CBS News, was unveiled as executive chairman of Sky News. His pan-European role focused on “developing a long-term commercial strategy for both Sky News UK and TG24 in Italy,” the Sky Italia news channel said the company said at the time. Rhodes reports to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios.
Jonathan Levy has been promoted to managing director and editor-in-chief of Sky News UK. The new leadership structure was set after it was announced in December that John Ryley would be stepping down after 17 years at the helm of Sky News.
“Throughout my career, I have admired Sky’s commitment to accurate, impartial and high-quality journalism,” Rhodes said at the time of his appointment. “Together we will bring this important reporting to audiences in the UK, Europe and around the world.”
