The heads of France 24 presented the logo, teams and budget of the French international news channel on 13 September at its premises in Issy-les-Moulineaux, in the outskirts of Paris.

France 24 is due to begin broadcasting its programmes between15 November and 25 December 2006, in French and English (Arabic and Spanish will follow in 2008).

Globecast (a branch of France Telecom) will guarantee France 24's international broadcasts, relayed by 7 satellites: ASTRA at 19,2° East (Europe), HOTBIRD at 13°East (Europe), ATLANTICBIRD2 at 5°West (France), EUROBIRD1 at 28,5° East (UK and Ireland), NSS7 at 22° West (Africa), ARABSAT/BADR at 26° East (Middle East), NILESAT at 7°West (Middle East). 

The channel, jointly-owned by France Télévisions and TF1, has a budget of 80m Euros, financed without advertising.

pj / ep