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  UNEP 31 Mar 06
World's first environmental broadband TV channel 'green.tv' launches today

green.tv, the world's first broadband TV channel dedicated to environmental issues, launches today. green.tv also goes live today as a podcast on iTunes and has a front page listing, courtesy of Apple. green.tv has been developed with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

"green.tv is a truly innovative project which will no doubt influence the field of environmental film-making and research. It will eventually offer a comprehensive 'one stop shop' for environmental TV programming ' something that has so far not been available. green.tv has the potential to be become a broadband reference point or benchmark in this field,' said Eric Falt, Director of UNEP's Division of Communications and Public Information.

green.tv is the brainchild of environmental film Director/Producer, Ade Thomas: 'green.tv will be a kind of green Google for green films. If you want to see a news item about climate change, watch a kids' story about penguins or a feature about wind farms, go to www.green.tv and you'll be able to see some engaging and thought-provoking films about the environment, at a time when a greater understanding and awareness of these issues is critical.'

Elliot Morley, UK Environment Minister, said: 'There are more people using the internet than watching TV and we also know that there is enormous interest in environmental issues. I think green.tv has tremendous potential, bringing together new technology and innovation in terms of how we spread information."

green.tv will carry films from around the world produced by NGOs, community filmmakers, public sector bodies and companies with a firm interest in protecting our environment.

Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Barbara Young, said: 'With the environment being such a prime concern globally, new technologies, like broadband TV, are invaluable mediums to communicate the issues, the priorities, the challenges and help us all work towards creating a better environment."

Tony Juniper, vice-chair of Friends of the Earth International, said:, 'I'm sure there's going to be a massive demand for a special interest environmental channel. Friends of the Earth feel very frustrated at the very limited coverage of these issues and as a result of limited coverage the public is very confused. So we do need more good quality coverage of some of these complicated issues so that people can really start to make up their minds about big issues such as climate change."

Greenpeace UK's Executive Director, Stephen Tindale, added: 'The mainstream media only have time to scratch the surface of environmental issues, so I think that a dedicated TV channel, that was there to explain all the complexities, will have tremendous demand.'

On launch the channel will show films from UNEP, Friends of the Earth UK, Greenpeace International, the Sierra Club, the IUCN, Stop Climate Chaos, Barclays, Water Aid, the Eden Project, npower renewables, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Environment Agency, Ben and Jerry's, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Environment Agency.

green.tv will have seven channels covering: air, land, water, climate change, people, species and technologies. In each of these channels there'll be a feature, a news item and a kids story. green.tv will have the look and feel of a global TV channel but it will combine this with the best elements of the internet, giving users access to online chatrooms and the ability to watch video on demand. 'green.tv will be online in a form where everyone can view some fantastic video content about the environment.

All they'll need is a broadband connection and all of green.tv's films will be available to view in full screen, no matter what browser or media player people are using,' Thomas added.

green.tv is at http://www.green.tv
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