CNN International is set to join Freeview

CNN International is set to join the Freeview digital TV service from Thursday, just days before the new US president Barack Obama steps into the White House.

Freeview viewers will now have the option to watch Obama’s inauguration on the international news channel, or the digital terrestrial TV service’s two UK-based 24-hour news channels, Sky News and BBC News.

CNN International will air on Freeview 84, 7 days a week between 9pm and 1am, according to reports.

The move will mean that CNNI, which is already available on Sky, Virgin Media and Tiscali, will increase its UK distribution to more than 20 million households.

CNN said its move on to Freeview was an “acknowledgement that consumer demand for world news and feature stories with global perspective is acute and growing amongst the UK audience”.

Tony Maddox, executive vice-president and managing director of CNNI, added: “UK viewers will be able to enjoy not only our signature global news and feature programming but also a new slate of new programmes we’re developing for Europe prime time.”

CNNI currently airs more than 50 hours a week from London, which is European headquarters, and plans to show a one-hour special on the Middle East entitled The Middle East Challenge on its Freeview launch night.

Freeview: 08708 80 99 80 www.freeview.co.uk