Euronews launching local Greek and Hungarian channels

Euronews this morning unveiled plans to launch a 24-hour rolling news service in Athens, to be followed by a second local newsroom in Budapest next year.

The Greek service will be Euronews’ 12th local language service, and will be the first to be based around a local newsroom. Vasilis Bitsis has been apponted channel director in charge of a staff of about 40. Euronews is currently recruiting 24 journalists and 10 technical and adminsistrative staff in Greece.

The Hungarian service will launch next year, with recruitment to begin this week.

At a news conference in Paris, Euronews CEO Michael Peters also announced plans to open new bureaux in Washington DC, Istanbul and Dubai. The company also plans to move to a new 10,000 square metres global HQ in the Confluence district of Lyon in 2014. The building, designed by architects Jakob + MacFarlane, will house 800 of the international news channel’s staff and represents a doubling of the floorspace currently available.

Peters also announced a series of new editorial partnerships and digital initiatives. New editorial include partnerships with ABC News, Brazil’s Band News and Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Euronews has also launched a new application for IPad and iPhone and an application for Renault R-Link vehicles. Other forthcoming services include a Euronews web radio service and an interactive platform, Gen Europe.

Euronews also plans a redesign of its brand and logo next year.