Agence France-Presse launches AFPTV

Global news agency Agence France-Presse has launched a new international television news service named AFPTV.

The company said that this service is aimed at broadcasters, Internet providers and cell phone operators.

The news agency is currently providing some 150 video news reports a month in English and French from 12 production centers. These centers are located around the world.

This programming can be downloaded via satellite or at a dedicated Internet platform VideoForum 2.

AFP chief executive Pierre Louette spoke about AFPTV service: “Multimedia clients are central to the agency’s development, and what multimedia clients are saying is that they want more and more video products.”

He added: “We intend to be complementary rather than exhaustive. We believe clients want stories that are selective and angled. We want to enter the market with a strong sense of being distinct.”

The company however clarified that they are not currently aiming to provide blanket coverage of every news story. Reuters and Associated Press provide complete coverage.

Denis Hiault, AFP’s Global News Director added on this launch: “This is AFP’s most ambitious project since the launch of our international photo service two decades ago. It’s a new opportunity to demonstrate our editorial know-how and bolster our place in the field as a primary source of information. Our video footage is based on the same criteria of excellence as our text dispatches.”