(en cours de traduction) 

On 6 December at 20h29, the France 24 website was launched www.france24.com. The station, available on cable or satellite went live on 7 December at roughly the same time (TPS, followed by CanalSat on 19 December). 

"Our mission is to cover worldwide news with French eyes," CEO Alain de Pouzilhac told AP Television News. He said the channel will emphasize in-depth reporting and debate, culture and "l'art de vivre". There will be a 10-minute news bulletin every half hour. Other programmes include magazines covering humanitarian affairs, lifestyle, culture, and a monthly show on economic intelligence.

Alain de Pouzilhac   

The channel will initially broadcast in French and English to a potential audience of 190 million viewers throughout the world: Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and a small part of the USA (Washington, New York and the UN building). Arabic is due to follow in the course of 2007. 

France 24 is jointly-owned by France Télévisions and TF1. 

-/nc