Channel NewsAsia expands coverage by going 24/7

Regional broadcaster, Channel NewsAsia, is expanding its coverage and reach - by going 24/7, with a new look and a fresh slate of programmes to help audiences better "Understand Asia". 

It'll boost its programming line-up significantly, as well as open new bureaus and facilities across Asia. 

The channel is meeting its competitors head-on in the round-the clock news cycle. 

It'll produce more original content and news stories for the additional hours of "live" broadcasting, 24 hours a day - up from the current 20 hours. 

Business news at prime time is more than doubled. 

A new one-hour financial programme, Business Central, airs at 8pm. 

It'll feature key stories from the region's financial hubs - Singapore, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as give viewers insights into daily developments in other key world financial centres - from its bureaus in London and New York. 

Day-time market reports and key interviews will be conducted out of Channel NewsAsia's latest facility in the Marina Bay Financial Centre, at the heart of Singapore's new financial district. 

The Marina Bay Studio will be featured during a new one-hour lunchtime show, Asia Connect, which will bring together the market action from every trading day in Mumbai, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore and keep viewers on the pulse of Asia. 

This state-of-the-art studio is a result of the collaboration with leading bank in Asia, DBS Bank. 

News content is increased by more than one-third. 

A daily additional newsbelt called News Pulse, from midnight to 6am, tracks world developments overnight for Asia, with breaking news from the US and Europe. 

This will be followed by a new start to Asia's day, with First Look Asia, from 6am. 

With a line-up of new programmes interspersed throughout the channel, viewers are given an uninterrupted flow of news through the day 

Channel NewsAsia's Managing Director, Ms Debra Soon, said as the locus of the world economy shifts towards Asia, the channel is well-positioned to deliver what it has been doing daily since 1999, and help audiences around the world better Understand Asia. 

She said Channel NewsAsia has made substantial investments to provide more business content about Asia, from Asia. 

It intends to increase its lead in covering Southeast Asia better than other broadcasters operating here, as well as cover South Asia better. 

These are part of the drive to deliver insightful documentaries and programmes for viewers. 

Channel NewsAsia's relaunch was celebrated with a champagne lunch on Monday, with the channel's partners and friends at its new Marina Bay Studio. 

Simultaneous parties were held in Mumbai, India and Hong Kong.