ARISE NEWS which launched today around the world has main news centres in Johannesburg, South Africa, Lagos, Nigeria, London and New York and will be broadcasting to America and across the globe supported by a further eight news bureaux stretching from Beijing to Rio de Janeiro.
ARISE NEWS says it wants to "cover the changing face of Africa with in-depth analysis".
ARISE NEWS poached TV and executive talent from Sky News, CNN International and the BBC.
A sister channel ARISE 360 which will be entertainment focused with fashion, music sport and pay-per-view films, will start broadcasting toward the end of this year. Nduka Obaigbena is the chairman and editor-in-chief of ARISE NEWS.
"We will attract a global audience interested in emerging markets, developing countries and evolving politics. With headquarters and bureaux throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, we are ready to speak to our audience and give them a voice as well," says Nduka Obaigbena.
"We are a new international network established to reflect the new world order not hardwired to the old and built to reflect the modern way news is consumed. Nowhere is this more important than in the emerging economies. There will be no state funding and no state agenda. Our coverage will be balanced, comprehensive and completely independent. Our efforts will concentrate on robust journalism anchored on imperatives of the marketplace."
Rob Beynon, a former executive producer with ITN and Sky News is now International Head of Operations at ARISE NEWS. Lyne Pitts, a former vice president of NBC News and an executive producer with CBS America is heading up the American operation from a vast studio complex in New York.
John Chiahemen, a former Reuters bureau chief has been appointed as managing editor and the head of Africa. Nick Jennings, a former head of international news at Sky News is now director of news and news gathering at ARISE NEWS.
Jeff Koinange, formerly working for CNN International in Africa will be based in Johannesburg and report from Johannesburg as anchorman and correspondent for ARISE NEWS.
The South African born Heather Scott, a former Sky News anchorwoman and business correspondent, will take on the role of roving anchor and correspondent.
ARISE NEWS says the news channel will have "international focus on global news and current affairs from a distinct perspective".
