European cultural channel Arte will expand its internet and multimedia services in 2015.
From autumn 2015, the broadcaster will offer around 600 programme hours on its catch-up service ARTE+7 with subtitles in the additional languages English and Spanish each year, vice-president Gottfried Langenstein announced at a press conference in Hamburg. With the move, enabled through support by the European Commission, Arte hopes to raise its awareness in Europe and the rest of the world.
Langenstein also presented the project Opera Europa which is also supported by the EU Commission: From 2015, each year 12 operas from Europe will be offered on online streaming platform Arte Concert with subtitles in six languages. The inauguration will be at the European Opera Days on May 8, 2015.
Another new service is e-magazine Culture Touch: The app which is initially available for tablets with smartphones to follow soon presents a weekly selection of the most important European cultural events as well as cultural highlights on Arte. The free-of-charge app is already available for download for operating system iOS with Android to follow on December 15, 2014.