The Latin American news and infomation channel Telesur has started free-to-air transmissions on the Astra satellte at 19.2 degrees East. The Caracas, Venezuela, based channel broadcasts a mix of news, analysis, magazine programmes, interviews, documentaries and current affairs. It’s coverage is left-wing slanted and its main aim is to counter broadcasters such as CNN en Español and Univisión.
The channel is an initiative of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, who plans to use the channel as an instrument to disseminates his ideas. Main fubnding comes fromm the state of Venezuela, but four countries take part in the venture, Venezuela (51 %), Argentina (20 %), Cuba (19 %) and Uruguay (10 %).