France24 will launch a trilingual Web site in French, English and Arabic on Wednesday night, followed by 24-hour broadcasts on its new satellite network a day later. The news operation has a budget of $114 million a year with 180 journalists set to produce the French and English channels. France 24 executives predict the channel will reach 75 million households in 90 countries.
The idea for a French presence on the international airwaves originated during the run-up to the Iraq war. Instead of taking a close look at France's opposition to the war, the international media -- so it seemed to Paris -- preferred to caricature Chirac and smear the French. Coverage focused on anti-French sentiment -- images of people pouring out bottles of French wine in the US and the rechristening of french fries as "freedom fries." If France couldn't get fair play on the air waves, French President Jacques Chirac decided, it would have to create a space of its own in the 24-hour-news big leagues.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
France24 Launches
France's version of CNN and the BBC starts up: France24. This is a good thing. Need I explain why?
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2 comments:
Regardless of one's opinion of the French, there will never be too many sources to obtain one's information.
I concur. It would be nice to know what those crazy bastards are thinking. I just hope it shows up on my local cable selection (which seems doubtful).
Hopefully it won't be like the Canadian thing (CBC0, cuz no one seems to care what they think either.
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