Last month we told you about i24 News, a global news channel that is expanding to the U.S.
Today, i24 announced it has hired more than a half dozen seasoned U.S. journalists to staff the new channel for a launch on Monday, Feb. 13 at 6 a.m ET.
Among the hires: David Shuster, a former MSNBC and Al Jazeera America (AJAM) correspondent, who will be anchor and managing editor. He will anchor Stateside with David Shuster and be the co-anchor of Crossroads with David Shuster and Michelle Makori. Makori, who also has the managing editor title, comes from CCTV-America.
Other hires include Dan Raviv, as senior Washington correspondent. Raviv comes from CBS Radio News where he’d spent 23 years; Steve Langford, a veteran of both the Howard Stern show, and several local TV news stations, joins as New York Bureau Chief; and Former BBC and Fox News producer Nina Larsen joins as diplomatic correspondent.
Robert Wheelock, who spent 25 years at ABC News before joining AJAM has been named director of News and Operations; CNN veteran Bruce Williams, and ABC and AJAM veteran Gustavo Serrano both join as executive producers; and Amital Isaac, who produced for Good Morning America, has been named assignment manager.
Programming during the day will originate from i24’s studios in New York City at 3 Times Square (the Reuters building), Washington, D.C., Tel Aviv and Paris. The U.S. channel will be live from 6-10 p.m. ET with these programs:
6:00-7:00PM ET: “ClearCut with Michelle Makori”
The opening show connecting i24NEWS international coverage, offering a fast-paced and insightful breakdown of top stories from around the world. From politics to economics, business and technology, and how they all intersect, Michelle will bring the day’s most important and impactful developments to i24NEWS viewers.7:00-9:00PM ET: “Crossroads with David Shuster and Michelle Makori”
David and Michelle will analyze and contextualize the biggest stories from around the globe. This hour will feature our interviews and guest segments, as well as in-depth discussion and analysis.9:00-10:00PM ET: “Stateside with David Shuster”
This comprehensive and engaging news show will focus on the top stories in the U.S. and around the globe, as well as the connections and complexities that link the U.S. and Middle East. From conflict to coexistence, all of it will take center stage via field reports, in studio expert analysis, and guest interviews.
i24 is owned by Altice, the European telecom company that acquired the Optimum and SuddenLink cable systems last year. i24NEWS will launch on those systems which include about 4.6 million subscribers in 20 states.