Rudd hails new A-Span TV network
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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has hailed the launch of a new public affairs television network as a good move for Australia's democracy.
Sky News, Foxtel and Austar have joined together to launch A-Span, a new public affairs television network and an initiative of the Federal Government's 2020 Summit.
The public affairs network will be available on digital free-to-air television, cable and online, providing coverage of parliament deliberations as well as industry meetings.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says A-Span, which evolved from the 2020 Summit's C-Span idea, will be 100 per cent industry funded.
"Today's announcement is a good thing for our democracy. It's a superb initiative," he said.
A-Span will also provide content from United States proceedings on Capitol Hill, as well as from the House of Commons in the United Kingdom.
Mr Rudd says it is based on C-Span, a similar network already available in the US.
"C-Span educates and informs its viewers giving them a fly-on-the-wall perspective of what's happening on Capitol Hill," he said.
"An Australian version of C-Span would make a big difference to the public policy debate.
"Political junkies will love it ... but A-Span will also be available to the wider public."
Mr Rudd says it will go hand-in-hand with coverage provided by other news outlets in Australia.
"It will complement the coverage already provided by the ABC, Sky News and the parliament website," he said.
Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd launched the Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network today. The channel, a production of Sky News and subscription television providers Foxtel and Austar is modeled on the United States' C-SPAN channel. Broadcasts will commence January 20, 2009.
A-SPAN will commence broadcasting January 20, 2009
The initiative is solely funded by industry with no contribution from the government.

The network will be available on subscription television, the Internet and digital free-to-air television and will show sittings of Federal parliament as well as the United States Congress, New Zealand parliament, British House of Commons and state parliaments in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Live speeches at the National Press Club will also be covered.

A-SPAN has also entered into a deal to show Australian politics on the US C-SPAN network.

Prime Minister Rudd said that A-SPAN will give a "fly-on-the-wall" perspective of politics, in the same vein as C-SPAN in the US. He said A-SPAN is "a good thing for our democracy" and that "it's a superb initiative".

Mr Rudd conceded that the channel will be popular among fans of politics.

“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. 

Mr Rudd said he looked forward to introducing Australian English from the parliament of Australia to an international audience.