7 Inspiring Reasons i24NEWS Is Revolutionizing Global Media 🌍📺
Introduction: i24NEWS—A New Voice in Global News
In a crowded news landscape dominated by legacy outlets, i24NEWS has carved out its identity since launching in 2013, offering multiple-language reporting with a unique Israeli perspective. It broadcasts in English, French, Arabic, and, as of June 2024, Hebrew. With bureaus in Tel Aviv, New York, Washington, Dubai, Rabat, Casablanca, and others, i24NEWS brings fresh, diverse viewpoints on global and Middle Eastern developments israelnationalnews.comjpost.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
1. History & Humble Beginnings (2013–2017)
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Launch Date: July 17, 2013, from Jaffa, Israel, aiming to combat “prejudice and ignorance” with “facts and diversity” ru.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
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Early Coverage: Featured Arab-Israeli anchor Lucy Aharish from its English service, until January 2016 ru.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
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US Ambitions: Ended English programming in December 2016 to prepare for expansion into the U.S.; launched Stateside on January 27, 2017, with bureaus in Times Square and Washington, D.C., staffed by about 50 journalists ru.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3.
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Staffing Highlights: Hired veteran journalists like Michelle Makori, David Shuster, and Dan Raviv, leveraging talent from Al Jazeera America alticeusa.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5en.wikipedia.org+5.
2. Key Facts: Scope, Languages, Ownership
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Languages Offered: English, French, Arabic, and Hebrew (since June 30, 2024) i24news.tv+3en.wikipedia.org+3jpost.com+3.
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Global Bureaus: Locations in Israel, U.S., UAE, Morocco, and more—including a UAE studio launched in 2021 en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2israelnationalnews.com+2.
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Ownership: Funded by French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, under Altice and a Luxembourg holding company ynetnews.com+4fr.wikipedia.org+4jpost.com+4.
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Team Size: Around 300 employees, with hundreds of reporters from over 35 nationalities alticeusa.com.
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Viewership: In 2024, i24NEWS’s English channel became the most-watched English-language news network in the Middle East, peaking at around 400,000 viewers alticeusa.com+12en.wikipedia.org+12jpost.com+12.
3. Timeline: Milestones of Growth
Year | Milestone |
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2013 | Launch on July 17; starts with multilingual English, French, Arabic programming jpost.com |
2016 | Ends English programming; readies U.S. launch |
2017 | Launch in the U.S.; studios in Times Square and Washington DC |
2018 | Begins broadcasting in Israel via HOT cable, still in English, French, Arabic |
2019 | Expands U.S. national coverage; 300% viewership increase on Altice USA networks |
2020–21 | Opens UAE office in Dubai; broadcast license and partnership with UAE-Israel Business Council |
2022 | Launches bureaus in Rabat & Casablanca—first Israeli network in Morocco |
2023 | Launches i24Freedom 24-hour channel focused on the Israel-Hamas War |
2024 | Debuts its Hebrew broadcast service |
4. FAQs: What You Need to Know
Q: What is i24NEWS?
A global news channel based in Israel, delivering 24/7 coverage in English, French, Arabic, and Hebrew, with an emphasis on regionally informed but internationally relevant reporting.
Q: Who owns i24NEWS?
Owned by Patrick Drahi, operated under Altice and headquartered in Luxembourg alticeusa.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15jpost.com+15alticeusa.com+6fr.wikipedia.org+6israelnationalnews.com+6.
Q: Why is i24NEWS unique?
It offers a mediated Middle Eastern perspective, broadcasting in four key languages from bureaus around the world, aiming for factual, multi-vocal reporting alticeusa.com.
Q: Where can I watch it?
Available via cable and streaming platforms in the U.S., Europe, UAE, Morocco, Israel, and more. There’s also an app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, etc. en.wikipedia.org.
Q: How big is its newsroom?
Around 300 staff and hundreds of journalists from 35 different countries alticeusa.com+1jpost.com+1.
5. Significance: Bridging Cultures Through News
A. A Pluralist Lens on the Middle East
Broadcasting simultaneously in four languages, i24NEWS aims to present balanced, multifaceted narratives of the region, reaching diverse global audiences alticeusa.com+15jpost.com+15jpost.com+15.
B. Media Innovation & Diplomacy
By operating in the UAE and Morocco—following historic normalization agreements—i24NEWS underscores how media can drive dialogue, diplomacy, and understanding fr.wikipedia.org+15ynetnews.com+15israelhayom.com+15.
C. Informing a Restless World
During crises like the Israel-Hamas War, the i24Freedom channel delivered vital coverage—recognized with an International Emmy Award for foreign news reporting en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
D. Cultural Coexistence in Practice
Its newsroom blends staff across Arabic, French, English, and Hebrew, physically collocated, symbolizing coexistence and collaborative journalistic standards .
6. Impact on Daily Life & Society
🗣️ For Global Viewers
Provides a regional understanding of Middle East events, helping viewers make sense of complex geopolitical issues from multiple angles.
🏛️ For Policy & Diplomacy
Governments, analysts, and businesses benefit from on-the-ground insight, especially through bureaus in emerging markets like Morocco and the UAE.
🎓 For Media & Journalism
Demonstrates a new model for international news—multilingual, multiregional, digitally integrated, and mission-driven.
🚀 For Regional Relations
Plays a soft-diplomatic role by facilitating cross-border information flow, especially post-Abraham Accords—it’s not just news, but bridge-building jpost.com.
7. Observance, Wishing & Celebrations
While i24NEWS doesn’t mark public holidays, its anniversary milestones—like 5th (2018), 10th (2023 launch of Hebrew channel), and key bureau openings—are noted internally and recognized within media circles.
🎉 Wishing Message:
“Here’s to i24NEWS—may you continue inspiring connection, clarity, and understanding across borders and languages. Long live fearless, inclusive storytelling!”
Key Takeaways
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Launched in 2013, multi-language global news channel.
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Expansions into the U.S., UAE, Morocco, Israel demonstrate diplomatic impact.
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Offers balanced Middle Eastern perspectives to diverse audiences.
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Awarded International Emmy for its courageous coverage.
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Its newsroom embodies coexistence and media innovation.
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Impacts society by bridging cultural divides, supporting diplomacy, and educating audiences.
Conclusion: Why i24NEWS Deserves Global Recognition
i24NEWS is more than just a news broadcaster—it’s an ambassador for pluralistic storytelling, providing diverse voices, cross-cultural narratives, and inclusive perspectives. From launching Arabic, French, and English services to pioneering Hebrew broadcasts and establishing bureaus in the UAE and Morocco, i24NEWS challenges the conventional media landscape. In an era of polarization and noise, it’s a beacon of fact-based, inclusive journalism.
As it continues to grow, i24NEWS proves that news can be a tool for connection—not division—across continents and communities.