France's new world news channel is coming on Dec 6

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

France24 is set to take on CNN, BBC and Aljazeera. A new English channel with a "French perspective" is set to go on the air waves on December 6.

 

Here is a trailer: France Vinght-Quatre

 

 

France 24 to challenge Anglo-Saxon views, says chief

Web posted at: 11/1/2006 7:36:33

Source ::: AFP

PARIS -- A round-the-clock international news channel France is to launch in December will challenge the “Anglo-Saxon” views spread by market leaders BBC and CNN by relying on “French values”, the network’s chief said yesterday.

 

France 24, as the network is called, will start broadcasting in English and French on the Internet on December 6 and then via satellite two days later, its chairman and chief executive, Alain de Pouzilhac, told Le Figaro newspaper.

 

Like its British and US rivals, it is homing in on “opinion leaders” around the world by dishing up a diet of news, features and discussion.

 

But those viewers, Pouzilhac claimed, have become increasingly “sceptical of the world vision offered by the Anglo-Saxons like BBC World and CNN International.”

 

Instead, he asserted, they “are looking for contradictory opinions — which is what France 24 is proposing by relying on French values.”

 

He did not define what those values were in the interview, beyond saying that the channel would highlight “diversity (and)... confrontation, without forgetting the culture and French art of living.”

 

Financed to the tune of 80 million euros (100 million dollars) a year by the state and run as a joint operation between France’s top commercial and top public national TV networks, France 24 will start out as a minnow to the BBC or CNN, both of which have built up global networks and enjoy established reputations.

 

BBC World, the privately financed international arm of Britain’s public broadcaster, has 250 staff and an undisclosed budget. CNN’s US and international divisions employ 4,000 people and revenues of $860m (730 million euros).

 

Additionally, other players have entered the market, most notably the Arab network Al Jazeera, which has just started an English-language service.

 

[Dhagax-Tuur]

I am hearing the BBC is working on a new Arabic channel as well. The real war of hearts and minds is on.

[FatB]

let the games begin....

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Ruushka will soon launch one too, as well, and so will a pan-Africa one based in Koonfur Africa.

 

Latin America already had a Spanish-speaking satellite channel, financed by Kuuba, Barasiil iyo Finisuweela. It is no brainer sooner they will launch an Ingiriis one.

 

Looking all this, soon a competing one broadcasted from either inside Shiinaha or Jabbaan, or both, would emerge.

 

Laga baray, laga badiye ayaa soo socoto. Been-Been-Sii had its exclusiveness too long and it is aging, starting from its radios. So is Sii-En-En, which sadly increased its American bias, especially the International one. I used to admire that one watching it in Kenya -- no longer.

[NASSIR]

I am looking forward to it. We need other alternative sources of News we can rely on.