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YLE, Finland's public broadcaster, has announced that all international shortwave broadcasts will cease on January 1st, 2007. Broadcasting will instead concentrate on satellite and internet streaming.

From YLE News: "From January,1st. a world band radio will no longer keep Finnish listeners in touch with news from home. This follows a decision taken earlier this year by YLE to close down all international short wave broadcasts in favour of internet, mobile and satellite services". (No direct link available).

While English broadcasts on Radio Finland were dropped many years ago, it is still possible to watch short TV broadcasts and read news from their website in English, on YLE24.

December 6th saw the launch of France 24, the global French news and information channel, broadcasting on satellite, cable and the internet. There are two channels; one entirely in French and the second mostly in English, with some French.

The station is funded by the French government to the tune of €80 million per year, and programs are provided by a consortium of French media companies.

The English stream can be viewed here and the French stream can be viewed here.