The President, who has pushed for the channel since 2002, said that it would show “the values of France and its vision of the world”.

Demand for a channel under French control was increased by dissatisfaction at the international media reporting of France’s position on the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The Government was also irritated by American media reports that “Paris is burning” during the recent riots throughout France.

The French International News Network — known colloquially as “CNN à la française” — will be a joint venture between TF1, the leading private television broadcaster, and France Télévisions, the public broadcaster, according to Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, the Communications Minister.

With 240 staff, the channel will broadcast to Europe, Africa and the Middle East at first, and later to Asia, Latin America and North America.

News will be provided around the clock in French, but four hours of English programming a day is planned, and there is an option of adding Arabic and Spanish.

A government spokesman said that the channel would have public funding “commensurate with its ambition”. The Government is providing €30 million (£20 million) this year and €65 million next year — a fraction of the budgets of the BBC and CNN. (AFP)

Times Recommends

• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Indian Army spends10m rupees on golf buggies
• Sacha Baron Cohen forced to tone down Brüno