EU parliament TV channel set to go online

Parliament is set to launch its long-awaited online television channel later this month.

EuroparlTV, a web-based channel, will go online for the first time on 17 September.

The channel, which will only be available on the internet, will carry live coverage of a whole range of events in parliament, including plenary sessions, committee meetings, workshops and public hearings.

It will also include other material, such as profiles of MEPs, details on how parliament works and features specifically aimed at young people.

A parliament official said, “This is an innovative new development for parliament and we are very excited about it.

“The aim is partly to make European politics, including parliament, of course, more accessible to EU citizens.”

A UK-based broadcasting and communications company, Twofour, has developed the channel.

Its managing director, Paul Tarplee said, “The channel is a sophisticated web TV platform that will stream both live and archived programming in more than 20 EU languages, including voice-overs and sub-titles.

“It will ensure that viewers can follow the latest hot topics as well as past political debates.”

He said the site will have four channels – Your Parliament, Your Voice, Young Europe and Parliament Live.

“This is the first public-facing video site to cater for all of the languages of the EU and is probably the biggest, most complicated web TV platform in the world.

“It has been an amazing project to work on and EuroparlTV will prove an invaluable tool for anyone studying or reporting on European politics as well as those interested in keeping abreast of what is going on in Brussels and Strasbourg in their own languages.”

These, he said, will combine live streaming with specially-made programmes and viewers can choose to watch in one language with subtitles in another.

The assembly’s bureau, comprising the president and vice-presidents, first gave approval for the channel in 2006.

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