Australians national broadcaster, the ABC, has announced plans to launch the countrys first free-to-air 24-hour television news channel this year.
The ABCs Managing Director, Mark Scott, said the ABCs commitment to quality news and current affairs would enter a new era with the creation of the new digital channel.
The channel would provide live continuous news coverage of major breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
No media organisation in the country is better equipped to deliver this channel than the national broadcaster, Mr Scott said.
We can draw on the investment already made in the ABC, through its major newsrooms in every state and territory, 12 international bureaux and 60 regional newsrooms, to deliver to Australians a top-quality 24-hour news service that is comprehensive, independent and up to the minute.
Although the ABC is government funded, it said the channel would commence with no additional funds from the government for content. The channel would be paid for through cost savings the ABC had already achieved.
(Source: ABU web site)