Africanews launches 4 January 2016

On 4 January 2016, Africanews will be launched globally on all screens and media platforms and will be available worldwide via www.africanews.com, built to fit all devices, whatever the connection available. A few weeks after, it will be aired on both Ku band satellite SES 4 and 5, providing a global footprint over the whole sub-Saharan Africa. Africanews Apps, available on devices such as tablets, mobile phones and a web radio, will follow this.

A team of 85 professionals of 15 nationalities, based in Congo-Brazzaville, is creating an international news channel to cover African and the world news from a pan-African perspective. Produced 24/7 simultaneously in English, French and partially Swahili, Africanews will meet the challenges and opportunities of a digital Africa and will introduce the media service on all digital screens and media platforms.

"Africa is a land of opportunities and a continent that is rising. However, why can we not hear what the Africans have to say, not only on African affairs, but on world affairs too? The demand for unbiased news is unmet. There is a gap to fill. This is why we are launching Africanews to pioneer independent news from the African perspective" explains Peters.

"Africanews is not 'Euronews Africa'. Editorially independent from Euronews, and from any political or ideological agenda, it is designed as the first pan-African multilingual news service. Sharing the same values of independence, reliability and diversity, Africanews and Euronews will have fruitful interactions, enriching each other's content, perspectives, much to the benefit of the audience who will always have insider's views. Interactions between Africa and the world and each continent like Europe, are growing as Africa rises. The network will be at the centre of this phenomenon.

"To become the first ever pan-African, multilingual, and unbiased media in Africa, we need to solve the image issue first. We are building an unprecedented network of journalists all across the sub-Saharan continent, based on the diversity of their nationalities and points of view. Another strong asset will be 'Story Hunters', an exclusive programme that will allow viewers and users to be part of the story. This will be based on user-generated content, aiming to make 'All African' voices heard.

"In addition, it is impossible to set up a news media dedicated to Africans without being associated with talented partners and that's why, among others, Monarchy, the Johannesburg based creative agency, developed the look and feel of the media. Fully adhering to the Africanews project, the famous African composer, singer and DJ Black Coffee is an ambassador of the pioneering media. Jake Odendaal, South African Music Awards nominated producer with over 60 albums, composed the Africanews music.

"It also aims to support local industry initiatives and young talented entrepreneurs to participate in building a dynamic and growth oriented image of a rising Africa. With VMK, the first African company to make mobile devices, we are producing Africanews phone, a branded smartphone to be distributed in the first weeks of the launch.

"I am proud of the team built and pleased to announce that it will be available worldwide thanks to the fully responsive tool africanews.com to all devices from 4 January 2016. A new adventure will start for a fully-fledged Pan-African network whose unique mission is empowering people through independent and reliable news," concludes Peters.

Since the beginning, the Africanews project has been supported by Stephen Smith, adviser of Euronews CEO. Recognised around the world for his expertise in African affairs, he worked with Euronews' management team in all phases of building the project. François Chignac, Africanews Project manager and former Euronews UAE correspondent, joined him. Mame Campbell Touré, Africanews Bureau Chief and Isaac Khaguli Esipisu, Editor in Chief joined the team in Congo-Brazzaville managing the whole team during the weeks before the launch.