Australians first to act on ‘distressing video’
Sky Television has confirmed that Sky News Australia initiated the discussion between the companies that resulted in Sky TV temporarily dropping the news channel here.
Sky News had been screening clips from horrific footage livestreamed by the alleged mosque gunman last Friday, showing him preparing to carry out his attacks in Christchurch.
Sky TV issued a statement the following day saying it had ‘‘made the decision to remove Sky News Australia from our platform until we are confident that the distressing footage from yesterday’s events will not be shared’’.
But Sky News Australia later issued a statement saying ‘‘media reports’’ that Sky TV had withdrawn its channel because of ‘‘distressing video’’ were not correct.
The statement indicated it had taken the first step, which Sky TV has now confirmed.
‘‘Sky News chief executive Paul Whittaker called [Sky TV] chief executive Martin Stewart on Friday to discuss the matter,’’ Sky TV spokeswoman Kristy Martin said yesterday afternoon.
Sky News said it had contacted Sky in New Zealand ‘‘to alert them to the risks of broadcasting coverage from Australia’’.
‘‘With Sky NZ’s agreement, we took the pre-emptive and precautionary step to switch our live news feed to sports coverage early Friday evening,’’ it said.
Sky News Australia added that it ran ‘‘heavily-edited and carefully selected video that featured no vision from inside the mosque, no shootings and no victims’’ saying also that was ‘‘in line’’ with the approach taken by other Australian broadcasters.
On Thursday evening, Sky TV issued a ‘‘correction’’ to the statement it made on Saturday, reiterating that the decision to drop Sky News was ‘‘taken by both parties to ensure coverage or commentary did not compromise New Zealand investigations and legal processes’’.
Martin has since confirmed it was Sky News Australia that flicked the switch.
The original implied criticism of Sky News Australia came at a sensitive time for the Australian broadcaster. Australia’s state-owned ABC radio and television company carried a report on Tuesday by former Sky News journalist Rashna Farrukh that accused her former employer of providing a platform for ‘‘conservative media commentators and former right-wing politicians’’ to disseminate ‘‘misinformation’’. Farrukh, a Muslim, said Sky News had ‘‘slammed every minority group in the country – mine included – increasing polarisation and paranoia among their viewers’’.
Sky News spokeswoman Sarah Bullen said it respected Farrukh’s decision to resign from the company but indicated it did not accept the criticism. ‘‘As a news and national affairs broadcaster Sky News is committed to debate and discussion which is vital to a healthy democracy,’’ she said.
Despite sharing the ‘‘Sky’’ brand, Sky News Australia and Sky TV are separate services, with no ownership connection.
Sky News Australia is owned by News Corp which is chaired by media magnate Rupert Murdoch. Sky NZ is a New Zealand company independently listed on the NZX.
Sky TV resumed broadcasting Sky News Australia on Thursday.
‘‘With Sky NZ’s agreement, we took the pre-emptive and precautionary step to switch our live news feed to sports coverage early Friday evening.’’ Sky News