“CNN a la Francaise” to launch 2004
France will launch a global news service within two years, according to French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
It has been dubbed by critics “CNN a la Francaise,” a description hotly contested by the French government.
Critics say the French-language channel was set up to compete with dominant broadcasters such as CNN and the BBC.
The 24-hour news channel is a collaborative effort between broadcaster France Televisions and media company, TF1.
Mr Raffarin billed the channel as promoting a “French vision” in today’s world.”
The announcement comes in the wake of the US-led war against Iraq back in March.
Although the idea has been on the book for most of the last ten years, France’s objection to military action against Iraq spurred on the rollout of the channel.
Since that time French politicians have pressed for a global news agency that would voice their concerns.
The news channel will be beamed to countries in Europe, France’s former colonies in Africa, parts of the Muslim world and Central Asia.
France already broadcasts internationally with TV5 but the channel lacks a major news service.
It is likely that the French Foreign Ministry will offer direction on the content of the news channel, “the voice of France,” though the commitment to independence and impartiality would be strictly observed.
