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The European Parliament this morning launched its own webTV channel: EuroparlTV. Anyone with internet access will now be able to watch a regularly changing set of programmes based around the life of the European Parliament. The aim of EuroparlTV is to bring the Parliament closer to European citizens in a modern and creative format.
EuroparlTV is available at the following address: www.europarltv.europa.eu
What will be on the channel?
EuroparlTV is not a single channel but is split into four channels, each targeted at a different audience:
Your Parliament is aimed at those with a particular interest in politics at EU level, including industry groups, NGOs, lobbyists, academics as well as those working in the EU institutions themselves.
Your Voice has been conceived for the general public and provides the possibility of featuring user-generated content.
Young Europe is aimed particularly at school-aged children, high users of the Internet and the European electorate of the future.
Parliament Live provides continuous coverage of live events in the European Parliament, notably debates in the plenary sessions, with a link to the audiovisual archives of previous sessions, as well as in the coming months, the activities of the committees.
Who can watch and in which languages?
Anyone with internet access will be able to watch EuroparlTV. Internauts will be able to choose between Windows Media and Flash 9.
All programmes will be translated into more than 20 languages, making the site unique in the world. Some programmes will be voiced-over, while others subtitled.
"An excellent internet tool"
In his speech at this morning's launch, the European Parliament President, Hans-Gert PÖTTERING, declared: "As we approach the European elections of June 2009, EuroparlTV should be an excellent internet tool for citizens, especially young people, to keep themselves informed about the activities and decisions of the directly-elected European Parliament - decisions which have an impact on the everyday lives of almost 500 million European Union citizens".
The Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Information and Communication, Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, stressed that the EP "is committed to making its work as transparent and understandable as possible to European citizens. They have a right to know and be able to make sense of what happens in the Parliament that they have elected. That is why today is the beginning of a new adventure that I am proud to be part of".
This was echoed by the chair of the Committee on Education and Culture, Katerina BATZELI who said that "EuroparlTV is a modern technology which helps to enable the democratic participation of every citizen, particularly young citizens, in European and national current affairs". Moreover, according to Mrs Batzeli, "EuroparlTV is an excellent example of how new technologies and the new media can help to inform citizens about serious challenges we must all confront".
Plurality of opinion guaranteed
According to its Editorial Charter, "the channel shall ensure that the plurality of opinion in the European Parliament is reflected, with due respect to the relative strengths of the political groups, in accordance with a neutral, non-partisan editorial policy".
The choice of a web TV channel
The EP preferred a web TV channel to a traditional broadcast channel for several reasons. Among others, a web TV fits much more readily with the direction of technology, in particular, the convergence of computer and television technologies and the rapid spread of broadband; it is oriented to the user's convenience rather than the broadcaster's, offering the viewer a wide choice of material to watch at the time and place of his or her choosing; and it is much more cost-effective.
For further information contact: Simon Duffin, Press Officer, UK Office of the European Parliament: simon.duffin@europarl.europa.eu or Tel: 020 7227 4335
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