MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – A new news TV channel will be launched in Belarus, Information Minister Aleksandr Karlyukevich told the media after the meeting of the Belarusian head of state with the country's biggest state-run media outlets on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
“We discussed the development of a news TV channel as part of the National TV and Radio Company (Belarusteleradiocompany). The new channel will be developed this year. The channel will go on air in late 2020 or early 2021,” Aleksandr Karlyukevich said.
The issue regarding the development of a separate Euronews-like news channel in Belarus was discussed at the meeting of Aleksandr Lukashenko with the country's biggest state-run media outlets almost two years ago. Back then, the president gave instructions to look into the matter.
At the recent meeting the head of state touched upon the issue once again: “People are too busy to watch summarizing broadcasts like those BT or STV do in the evening… People want to see key information during the day.”
The president admitted he often gets distracted from long stories and reads the news ticker instead. “This is why we need in essence condensed, brief information accompanied by some footage,” he added.
The new TV channel will be based at the TV News Agency. The channel will broadcast from 7.00 to 24.00.
