Updated: European Parliament launches webtv service

The European Parliament today launches an internet-based television service aimed at different audiences ranging from those with a direct interest in politics to children. It will also stream EP plenary sittings.

EuroparlTV will be carried on www.europarltv.europa.eu

"The channel will take the European Parliament inside people's homes with the aim of bringing the life of the institution closer to the citizen in a modern and creative format," the European Parliament office in Malta said.

Besides being more cost-effective when compared to a traditional broadcast channel, the European Parliament decided to go for a web television channel due to the enormous technical advantages it offers. EuroparlTV viewers, for example, will be able to watch proceedings 20 different languages, including Maltese. Some programmes will be voiced-over and others will have subtitles.

EuroparlTV is split into four channels, each directed to a different audience: They are:

Your Parliament - aimed at those with an interest in politics at an EU level;

Your Voice - conceived for the general public;

Young Europe - aimed at school-aged children;

Parliament LIVE - providing continious coverage of live events in the European Parliament.

"A main aim of this channel is to ensure that the legislative work of the European Parliament and the work of the Members of the European Parliament are better understood by citizens," Julian Vassallo, Head of the European Parliament Office in Valletta, said.

"As a web TV channel, EuroparlTV is not only revolutionary and innovative - given the increasing importance of the Internet as a communication tool - but also offers a whole range of audiovisual material which people may watch when and where they wish," he said.

EuroparlTV is being launched by EP President Hans Gert Pöttering during a ceremony at the European Parliament in Brussels. The annual budget allocation for EuroparlTV is of €9 million.