Sophie Moloney, Sky TV CEO

What’s the one word to sum up your mood as we close out 2023 and look forward to 2024?

Motivated. How would you describe your year?

It was a year of significant highs and lows, both professional and personal. As I sit here in December, I’d call it a hard year but with some real moments of joy. I am grateful to all of our Sky crew for their hard mahi this year, and to my board for their expert guidance and support.

What’s the best initiative/project/ campaign in your own business — and one that you thought a rival did well?

For us at Sky, it was landing our purpose and ambition as a team. I don’t tend to use the term “rival” when thinking about media sector partners, but . . . I think one great initiative is the increased news reporting of women’s sport. I am a big believer in the role of the Fourth Estate and this is just one example of the sector doing it well!

How do you think 2024 will play out for New Zealand media — what’s the biggest priority for you?

From a sector perspective, all eyes will be on the advertising market to see if this will relieve some of the pressure on media entities locally. I believe in partnerships that drive great value for consumers and partners alike and do expect to see more on this front in the coming year as media entities grapple with their cost lines in a tight ad market. Growing our fair share of the advertising pie remains a key priority for us next year.

What’s the biggest issue that keeps you awake at night?

Continuing to drive value for our customers, partners and investors.

What’s the biggest mistake media/ marketing /advertising people need to avoid in 2024?

Making assumptions about what customers want and need.

We’re really focused on using customer insights to make informed decisions about the content we offer our customers and the ways we deliver it. Using data well is vital.

I often refer to the John Le Carre quote about a desk being a dangerous place from which to view the world. Put another way for our sector (and particularly in the advertising space), don’t assume that all audiences and consumers are just like us — we need to be targeted in our delivery to drive great value for clients and customers alike.

What are your plans for the summer break?

Chilling with family and friends doing a roadie (one of my favourite things to do) around Te Ika-a-Ma¯ui, the North Island.