ITN European News Channel Launches UK Version On Sky Digital

ITN’s pan-European news channel, EuroNews, has extended its service distribution to cover the UK and Ireland by broadcasting via the Eurobird satellite. The arrangement is unusual in that the Sky Digital will be used to broadcast the free-to-air service at the same time as Sky is battling, as part of a consortium, to oust ITN as the nominated news provider on independent terrestrial TV (see Consortium Launches Bid To Become New ITV News Provider).

The arrangement adds an additional 5m digital satellite households to the 100m households EuroNews currently reaches in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. It broadcasts 24 hour news in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish simultaneously and without an onscreen presenter. Digital satellite viewers can use their remote controls to select their desired language.

The launch of the UK service on Tuesday was accompanied by advertising on London taxis, which will continue for the next three months.

ITN: 020 7833 3000 www.itn.co.uk

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