TIRANA (Albania), February 5 (SeeNews) – Global news provider CNN said on Monday it is looking forward to working with Albanian company Gener2 to bring a new media platform called A2 to Albania and at the same time have a greater editorial reach in the country.
The new platform will be able to use CNN coverage of international events, whereas CNN will use footage from A2 in the event of breaking news from Albania, CNN said in a statement e-mailed to SeeNews.
“We don’t disclose financial terms of any arrangement,” CNN added.
The new channel, expected to be launched by the end of the year, will reach the residents of Albania as well as millions of Albanians living outside the country, Gener2 said in a separate statement, adding that the development of A2 is a result of an exclusive partnership between Gener2 and CNN.
“By launching this CNN affiliated news channel headquartered in Tirana, we want to raise the bar in the local news production, change media reality in Albania and offer fast, in depth, accurate and credible news source. In developing this exciting new venture we partnered with media experts with great experience and background, leading global technological, creative and communication companies and we believe that final product will be beyond anything present on Albanian and regional media market,” Gener2 CEO Bashkim Ulaj said, according to the statement.
As an exclusive CNN affiliate, the new channel will complement its original programming by incorporating selected CNN programing and news translated into Albanian, the statement added.
“A2 has the potential to bring a new and unique style of journalism to Albania as it becomes the country’s exclusive CNN partner and joins our network of over 1,100 worldwide affiliates. We look forward to working with Gener2 over the coming months in training, consulting and content ideas to develop a media platform that can become a news leader in Albania,” Gener2 quoted Greg Beitchman, Vice President, Content Sales and Partnerships at CNN International Commercial, as saying.
Gener2 is one of the largest privately owned construction and civil engineering companies in Albania. Its business activities include multiple industries: civil construction, infrastructure and road construction, engineering and project management, energy and telecommunications, property management and retail, the statement noted.
CNN International Commercial is the division of Turner International responsible for the business operations of CNN’s properties outside of the United States.