Arabic-language EuroNews approved

BRUSSELS, April 5 (UPI) -- The European Commission has OK'd an Arabic-language version of the European news channel EuroNews, a consortium of 11 broadcasters.

EU Communication Commissioner Margot Wallstrom is expected to formally confirm the decision next week, Hollywood Reporter said Thursday.

The EC, the executive arm of the European Union, indicated it is set to provide a $6.7 million annual grant for the Arabic service to join the seven other languages offered by EuroNews.

EuroNews reaches 140 million homes in Europe and nearly 16 million households in the Middle East and Africa. Because it is broadcast in seven languages -- English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish -- EuroNews uses voice-over narration to accompany news footage.