Sky News has taken a major leap in its digital transformation by expanding its partnership with media technology platform Arc XP. This collaboration will power the UK’s leading commercial news app and website with cutting-edge tools designed to elevate user experience, deepen audience engagement, and unlock new commercial opportunities.
What This Partnership Entails
As the UK’s most popular commercial news publisher app, Sky News aims to become an even more compelling destination for quality journalism through this enhanced technology platform. The new app and website, planned for launch by the end of 2027, will deliver personalized content experiences that allow audiences to discover and follow stories tailored to their interests.
The underlying platform, developed within The Washington Post and trusted by publishers worldwide, integrates powerful features such as video streaming, mobile app tools, and advanced personalization — all supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Working hand-in-hand with Sky’s product and technology teams, Arc XP will provide the infrastructure needed to support this next generation of digital news delivery.
This expanded partnership also builds on the existing success of Ask Sky News, an AI-powered conversational search tool that enhances user access to trusted journalism. Sky News is committed to leveraging AI and new technologies to ensure that its reporting remains accessible, relevant, and engaging.
Why It Matters: A Video-First, Audience-Centric Future
This initiative forms a cornerstone of Sky News 2030, a bold five-year transformation strategy designed to position Sky News as a premium, video-first news organisation fully equipped for the digital era. Video content already plays a pivotal role in Sky News’ offerings, with video views on its app more than doubling year-on-year, and nearly 4.5 billion social video views recorded in 2026 alone.
By putting video front and center, Sky News aims to showcase more original reporting through innovative formats and improved audience experiences. This focus responds to shifting consumption habits where audiences increasingly demand rich, immersive visual storytelling alongside personalized content.
David Rhodes, Sky News Executive Chairman, emphasized the significance of this partnership:
“Today’s partnership will give audiences even more reasons to come directly to Sky News for a best-in-class, video-first experience. It’s a step change that will deliver more personalisation and better commercial outcomes — and deliver them by the end of next year. We’re so pleased to be on this journey together with the people at Arc XP and their partners across the news industry.”
Unlocking New Opportunities and Innovation
From a business perspective, the new platform opens the door for Sky News to strengthen direct audience relationships and explore new revenue streams, including premium and paid-for content offerings. The flexibility of the Arc XP platform empowers Sky News to continuously innovate, rapidly develop new products, and adapt to evolving consumer needs.
Matt Monahan, President of Arc XP, highlighted the strategic value of this collaboration:
“More people now find news through AI summaries and search results instead of going to the newsroom that did the reporting. Arc XP helps newsrooms win those audiences back, keep them, and grow revenue. With Sky News, we’re building a video-led, personalised app and website that brings audiences straight to Sky’s journalism, with Ask Sky News answering their questions from Sky’s own reporting. At Arc XP and The Washington Post, we’re proud to help newsrooms like Sky’s get their critical journalism to more people.”
By harnessing AI-driven personalization and conversational search, Sky News is not only enhancing how stories are presented but also how audiences engage with the news. This strengthens public trust and loyalty, which are critical assets in today’s competitive media landscape.
Looking Ahead: A Digital News Leader in 2030 and Beyond
The expanded Arc XP partnership marks a significant milestone in Sky News’ journey toward becoming a truly digital-first news leader by 2030. As news consumption continues to evolve rapidly, Sky News is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation — blending technology, video, and personalized storytelling to meet audience expectations.
For Sky News viewers, this means an enriched experience with faster access to tailored news, more original video content, and interactive features powered by AI. For the wider media industry, it sets a standard for how traditional broadcasters can transform to thrive in the digital age.
Ultimately, this partnership reflects a broader trend in journalism: embracing technology to deliver trusted, engaging news directly to audiences where and how they want it. Sky News’ investment in Arc XP’s platform signals its commitment to remaining a vital source of quality journalism well into the future.
