German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) wants to contribute to informing and integrating refugees through a dedicated 24-hour TV channel.
As the first step, DW’s existing Arabic-language TV channel will be distributed across Western Europe on Astra (19.2 degrees East) from December 15, 2015. The service is based on a project partnership agreed between DW and Astra satellite operator SES regarding refugees from the Middle East.
The channel which will be transmitted free-to-air on the frequency 11.627 GHz V (SR 22,000, FEC 5/6) will be expanded into an information and integration channel for refugees in the next months.
DW Arabia offers news and information from and about Germany in Arabic language 24 hours per day. The channel has so far only been accessible in Germany as a live-stream on the internet at www.dw.com/arabic.
Norbert Hölzle, senior vice president commercial Europe at SES, assured DW’s general director Peter Limbourg free-of-charge satellite distribution of the channel for 12 months.
The Astra slot will initially be used to redistribute the Arabic-language DW channel as it can currently be seen in the Arabic countries. The content will gradually be customised for the interests and needs of the local target groups comprising besides refugees also Arabic speaking people already settled in Europe.
In addition to in-house productions, DW also wants to screen programmes provided by German and European partners. Part of the schedule will be, for example, language courses to learn German.
The channel will be receivable with any satellite dish pointed to Astra (19.2 degrees East) and will this way also be available for redistribution in refugee camps.
