Croissant News Network:
Paris behind plans for a French CNN
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AFTER LE BREAK...
The French government is throwing its weight behind a new idea for the birth of an international television news network that would compete with CNN.
For the moment, with no round-the-clock news station, France is not able to express its antiwar position in the way that the US expresses his pro war stance on CNN.
This "CNN à la française" was first announced during the election campaign of the French President last year. The government recently made a call to accelerate its creation. The plans for the project should to be submitted before April 22.
Battle of the images
French President Jacques Chirac's idea is that "France should be more strongly represented in the battle of images". The news cable television could hit the airwaves as soon as next year.
The television will not be governmental, but will promote the French point of view in international politics and give President Chirac the possibility of international influence. The channel would initially broadcast in Africa, Middle East and Europe and eventually would broadcast in Arabic, English and Spanish.
Interested partners
According to Le Monde, a confidential working group created by the French government made an audit for the creation of the network. France Television, together with RFI, RFO, Arte, TV5 and l'AFP could participate in the project. TF1 is also interested, as they want to export their own information network LCI.
In February, German television channels ARD and ZDF gave the thumbs down to the French plans of establishing a new European CNN-like station. ARD chairman Jobst Plog said that German tax payers could not be expected to help pay for such a station.
euobserver.com |
