APTN Launches Live 24 Hour News Service

Associated Press Television News (APTN) has launched APTN Direct, a live service for news broadcasters that provides 24-hour coverage of breaking events to newsrooms.

AP made a multi-million dollar investment in videophones, satellite uplinks to launch the service Oct. 1. The service grew out of AP's experience during the Iraq conflict when a live service was first developed using videophone technology. APTN Direct also offers an interactive Web-based messaging service that enables instant online communication with APTN's London newsroom. A number of international broadcasters have already signed up for the service.