Rudd launches new TV channel for 'political junkies'
By Kate Hannon, National Political Editor08 Dec 2008 1:33 PM
CANBERRA, Dec 8 AAP - A new TV channel dedicated solely to politics will give political tragics a new way to drive their families mad, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
A-SPAN, or Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network, will begin broadcasting on January 20 next year with live coverage of the inauguration of US president-elect Barack Obama.
Operators say it will become part of the subscription TV platform and will be available for broadcast as a free-to-air digital channel, online and on mobile phones.
A joint initiative of Foxtel, Austar and the Australian News Channel (ANC), provider of Sky News, it will be an Australian version of US network C-SPAN, which provides live coverage of the US Senate and Congress.
ANC chairman John Hartigan said the venture's partnership with C-SPAN meant Australian parliamentary proceedings would be made available for broadcast in the US.
Launching the new service at Parliament House in front of guests including the US ambassador to Australia, Robert McCallum, Mr Rudd said Australian question time might pose some challenges for US audiences.
He mused that Americans would require subtitles for insults such as "scumbag" and "sleazebag" which could be translated into 'not a desirable person' and 'an even less desirable person'.
"Political junkies will of course love it, they'll now have one more way to drive their family and friends absolutely mad," Mr Rudd said.
He described the new network as "a good thing" for our democracy and valuable to educators, students and all Australians who want to understand how democracy works.
The venture jumps ahead of the ABC, which a few months ago announced that it was considering a dedicated news and public affairs channel.
The chief executive of Sky News, Angelo Frangopoulos, said A-SPAN would be available on pay TV from January 20.
He expected it would initially be available on free-to-air digital TV only in Sydney.
Former Nine and Seven network political correspondent Laurie Wilson will host a program on A-SPAN, which will also provide broadcasts of the British and New Zealand parliaments and question time from parliaments in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, with more to come.
There will also be live broadcasts of speeches from the National Press Club, think-tanks such as the Lowy Institute and the Sydney Institute, and from universities.
