All-News Channels Abroad Look to Their Future in English

[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Doreen Cavajal]
All-news channels are launching around the world -- but in English. "Today news channels are part of the global battle in the world," said Ulysse Gosset who is helping to lead a project to create an all-news French channel this year. "It's as important as traditional diplomacy and economic strength. If we have a real desire to communicate around the world, we need to do it with the right medium, and that's English." Veteran television executives say the burst of all-news channels has been ignited by two critical forces: the falling cost of technology and television's power in the international marketplace. "Many communities want to have their voice in the global conversation," said Richard Sambrook, director of the BBC's World Service and global news division. Many all-news newcomers are drawing more inspiration from Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based bane of the Bush administration, which they say has created an influential global voice for Arabs that was missing until the channel appeared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/arts/television/11engl.html
(requires registration)