When did France 24 officially begin broadcasting?
France 24 began broadcasting on the 6th of December 2006 from Issy-les-Moulineaux. The signal launched at 20:30 CET and was initially available as a web stream before satellite distribution followed.
Questions about France 24
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who founded France 24 and when was the project initiated?
Prime Minister Jacques Chirac expressed the desire for an international news channel in French in 1986. The project culminated after decades of debate, with President Chirac relaunching it during his presidential campaign on the 7th of March 2002.
What languages does France 24 broadcast in today?
France 24 broadcasts four distinct channels covering French, English, Arabic, and Spanish markets. A new Spanish-language channel launched in September 2017 from Bogotá to compete with other global networks.
Which countries have restricted access to France 24 due to political reporting?
Iran blocked the website of France 24 on the 3rd of March 2010 while Burkina Faso ordered the cessation of its broadcasting on the 27th of March 2023. Algeria also criticized the channel in July 2023 following reports on North Africa wildfires.
How is France 24 funded and who owns the network now?
The French State became the sole shareholder through the Agence des participations de l'État after buying shares in 2008 and 2009. Since 2022, revenue from France's Value-added tax replaced the audiovisual license fee as the primary funding source.