Zee News ties up with VoA; to broadcast from the US

New Delhi: Zee News has signed a deal with US public broadcaster Voice of America under which VoA will provide Zee News regular news feeds apart from also developing  half-hour specials on topical issues for Zee News viewers. The alliance will help Zee News in featuring stories of interest to Indian viewers from across the US.

Zee News yesterday began airing a five-minute daily segment named America Live, which will be a part of the 8 am. news bulletin. In addition, Zee News will also telecast relevant stories in the afternoon (2:00 pm) and prime time news bulletin News Top10.

 Elaborating on the tie-up Barun Das, CEO, Zee News Ltd. said, ''Zee News has always endeavoured to provide its viewers news and updates from across the globe. Our alliance with Voice of America is an added milestone to expand our reach in the International market. We strongly believe that adding value to viewers depends on our leverage, access and global leadership and this is yet another step in that direction. We are confident that this agreement will be beneficial for both the companies.''

Danforth Austin, director, Voice of America, ''Launched in the wake of one of the most terrible terrorist attacks since 9/11, 'America Live' underscores the importance of clear communication among and between peoples in an often dangerous world. In our first broadcast the Indian audience heard US leaders condemn the violent acts in Mumbai and express solidarity with India in this difficult time."

'America Live' also relayed to Zee News audience the sentiments of members of the Indian-American community in the US as they shared the grief experienced by the people of India. Through this new partnership VoA hopes to contribute to Zee News' programming with leading news from the United States and its reaction to events that shape the world today.

Apart from routine stories on business, human interest, politics and special half-an-hour reports, Voice of America will be covering all the major events and news stories LIVE from different parts of the United States to give Zee News viewers an interesting and informative peek into daily affairs.

 Zee News, the Hindi news and current affairs channel has taken giant strides since its inception in 1992. Reaching millions of viewers in five continents, the channel revolutionized the way news was brought home to the viewers. The channel was the first private broadcaster of news in South Asia and it created history in 1999 when it became the first 24 hours Hindi news channel of the country.

The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the US government through the broadcasting board of governors. VOA broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of 134 million people.