Sky News Active

If you like to keep abreast of what's going on both at home and overseas, then Sky News Active is your kind of service.

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Sky News Active provides eight different news channels, each dedicated to different genres such as Top Stories, Business and Sport. All you need is your AUSTAR remote control to navigate around the screen and choose which news item is of most interest to you.

Sky News Active allows you to tailor your own news viewing experience. You can:

• Select any one of the eight available news channels and switch between them easily.
• Read breaking stories as they happen with the text news service.
• Check your local weather when you need to.

To access Sky News Active tune in to Sky News (Channel 601) and press the [red] button on your AUSTAR remote control. 

Sky News Active Frequently Asked Questions Show AllHide All

When I select a news genre of interest to me, the footage only appears in a smaller screen (about ¼ of the size of my TV screen) and has lots of other information around it. Is there any way I can make this smaller screen into a full TV screen size?

No. The Sky News Active facility has been built specifically for people who like to listen, watch and read news stories. The screens with a smaller window for footage allow text and further information to be included on your TV screen. To watch a full-screen news service, simply exit Sky News Active and watch Sky News.

If I am watching Sky News Active how do I get back to normal TV?

At any time you want to return to normal TV, simply press the [AUSTAR] or [EXIT] button on your AUSTAR remote control.

How do I remove the on-screen "PRESS RED"/"OK" prompt whilst watching Sky News Active?

If you wish to remove the "PRESS RED" or "OK" prompt while watching Sky News, simply press [AUSTAR] or the [EXIT] button on your AUSTAR remote control. This will make the on-screen prompt disappear. If you change the channel and then return to Sky News on channel 601, the prompt will reappear.

Can I watch Sky News Active on my additional AUSTAR decoder?

If you have an additional outlet, you will be able to access Sky News Active on all decoder boxes within your premises.

How do I use Sky News Active?

When you are watching Sky News Active (indicated by eight news screens on your TV), you can jump straight to the news story you want. Use the [left] and [right] arrow buttons on your AUSTAR remote control to highlight the screen you want to watch from the eight-screen Sky Menu, then press [select] or [OK]. Alternatively, you can press the number buttons on your remote control that correspond to the Menu options in the bottom left corner of your screen. After you have selected the type of news you want from the Sky Video Menu, a mini-screen will appear with video footage of your news preference. A list of relevant headlines will appear for text-based updates on the right-hand side. Using the [up] and [down] arrow buttons on your remote, select a particular news story of interest to you and press [select] or [OK] to bring up a text update of the story. You can read them page by page using the [up] and [down] arrow buttons on your AUSTAR remote control.

How do I read the onscreen news stories?

Once you have selected the type of news you want from the 8 screen Sky Video Menu, a mini screen will appear with video footage of your news preference. A list of relevant headlines will appear for text based updates on the right hand side. Using the up and down arrow keys on your AUSTAR remote control, select a particular news story of interest and press [select] or [OK] to bring up a text update of those stories. You can read them page by page using the up and down arrow keys on your AUSTAR remote control.

How can I find my local weather on Sky News Active?

Select “Weather” from the eight-screen Sky Menu, then select the region you are from. The weather for the major towns in your region will then be listed. Use the arrow keys on your AUSTAR remote control to scroll down to your nearest town.

How much does it cost?

Sky News Active is at no extra cost for AUSTAR Digital subscribers. Once you have subscribed to Essentials, there is no additional cost to access the service or use it.

What equipment do I need to access the service?

You have all of the equipment you need to access Sky News Active. Your current AUSTAR remote control (all models) will allow you to access and navigate through the Sky News Active service.

How do I access Sky News Active?

Go to Sky News on channel 601. Pressing the [red] or [OK] button on your AUSTAR Digital remote control will launch Sky News Active.

When can I access Sky News Active?

Sky News Active operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What exactly are the 8 News channels that Sky News Active provides?

Sky News Active genres include Sky News Australia, Top Stories, Sports, Business, Weather, Sky News UK (live from the UK), Showbiz, and Parliament (when sitting). The choice is yours. Simply pick the news stories of interest to you.

Who can get Sky News Active?

Sky News Active is available free of charge to all AUSTAR Digital subscribers with the Essentials service.

What is Sky News Active?

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, Sky News Active is a service that allows you to keep up to date with what’s going on both at home and overseas. If you are an AUSTAR Digital subscriber, there is no additional cost to access or use the Sky News Active service. Sky News Active is only available on AUSTAR Digital.

How do I launch Sky News Active?

AUSTAR Digital subscribers simply need to turn to Sky News (channel 601) and press the [red] or [OK] button on your AUSTAR Digital remote control.

What does Sky News Active feature?

Sky News Active allows you to tailor your own news viewing experience. You can:

1. Select any one of the eight available news channels and switch between them easily. You can choose from genres including Sky News Australia, Top Stories, Sports, Business, Weather, Sky News UK (live from the UK), Showbiz, and Parliament (when sitting).
2. Read breaking stories as they happen with the text news service.
3. Check your local weather when you need to.