News Now

News Now, also known simply as Now, is a Portuguese television news channel owned by Medialivre. It launched on 17 June 2024 as a new entrant in Portugal’s competitive 24-hour news television market, where it operates alongside RTP Notícias, SIC Notícias and CNN Portugal. The channel is distributed on major Portuguese television platforms, including MEO, NOS and Vodafone Portugal, and was associated with position 9 on those platforms at launch. The project emerged during the first half of 2024 as Medialivre developed a new television operation. The company filed an application with Portugal’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) on 20 February 2024 to register the News Now brand. The registration process was reported as awaiting opposition, with a planned completion date of 2 May. On 5 March, Medialivre opened a new studio intended to support the creation of the channel. By mid-April, the group had acquired an additional studio to accommodate the planned operation. Early references reportedly used the provisional name Canal 9, reflecting the channel’s planned position on television platforms, before the News Now identity was publicly adopted. Medialivre presented the channel to the public on 3 May 2024 and revealed its logo at that event. The branding was subsequently simplified before launch, with the word “News” removed from the on-screen logo. The visual identity’s circular letterform attracted comparisons with the former Canal Nou logo and with the O in the Italian channel Nove logo, although News Now is a distinct Portuguese service. Medialivre executive Luís Santana said the channel would begin during the first half of 2024 and explained the choice of the name in connection with its positioning and platform placement. The channel’s initial schedule combined rolling news bulletins with regular daytime, evening and specialist programmes. Listed programmes included News Now Todas as Manhãs, News Now Todas as Tardes, News Now Meia Noite and News Now Todas as Noites, as well as Jornal do Mundo, Jornal às 12, Jornal às 20, Negócios, Informação Privilegiada, Global 5.0, Liberdade de Expressão and Frente a Frente. Other listed programming included Record na Hora, Sábado Viajante, Máxima, Repórter Sábado, GPS and Otimista, a programme associated with António Costa. The service was initially expected to use short news bulletins of approximately 15 minutes, although its broader schedule also included discussion, business, international and feature content. In early June 2024, News Now signed an agreement with Euronews covering the exchange, broadcast and production of news items between the two channels. This arrangement expanded the new Portuguese channel’s access to international news material while complementing its domestic coverage. News Now’s launch and early operation established it as Medialivre’s television news brand and as a new competitor in Portugal’s national news-channel sector. The channel also attracted criticism after an incident during its overnight coverage of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on 14 July 2024. News Now broadcast a photograph of Italian sports commentator Marco Violi while he was incorrectly believed to be connected with the attack. Violi was not the perpetrator. The incident was an editorial and verification error during breaking-news coverage, rather than evidence that Violi had participated in the event.

News Now was developed by Medialivre in early 2024 as a new Portuguese television news service. Medialivre submitted an application to Portugal’s National Institute of Industrial Property on 20 February 2024 for registration of the News Now brand. The application was reported as awaiting opposition, with the registration process expected to progress toward completion in early May. On 5 March 2024, Medialivre opened a new studio with the objective of creating a television channel. By mid-April, the group had acquired another studio intended to house the operation. The project was initially associated with the provisional name Canal 9, reflecting the channel’s planned placement on MEO, NOS and Vodafone Portugal platforms. Medialivre later settled on the News Now identity, also shortened to Now in ordinary usage. The channel was presented publicly on 3 May 2024, when its logo was shown for the first time. The logo’s circular O-shaped element prompted comparisons with the former Canal Nou identity and the Italian channel Nove. Before launch, the channel removed the word “News” from its logo. Medialivre executive Luís Santana said the service would begin during the first half of 2024 and linked the channel’s name and positioning to its planned platform presence. The channel launched on 17 June 2024. News Now entered a market already served by RTP Notícias, SIC Notícias and CNN Portugal. Its programming model combined frequent news bulletins with current-affairs discussion, interviews, business coverage, international reporting, weekend features and travel-oriented content. The listed schedule included morning, afternoon, midnight and evening news blocks, along with Jornal do Mundo, Jornal às 12, Jornal às 20, Liberdade de Expressão, Negócios, Informação Privilegiada, Global 5.0 and Frente a Frente. Additional programmes included Record na Hora, Sábado Viajante, Máxima, Repórter Sábado, GPS and Otimista. In early June 2024, before the channel’s launch, News Now entered into an agreement with Euronews concerning the broadcast and production of news items. The relationship gave News Now access to cooperation on international news content while it established its own Portuguese operation. The channel’s early coverage also produced a notable editorial error. During the overnight reporting of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on 14 July 2024, News Now displayed a photograph of Italian sports commentator Marco Violi after he was mistakenly believed to be linked to the attack. Violi was not the attacker. The episode became a point of criticism regarding verification during rapidly developing breaking-news coverage.

• 2024

  Medialivre files News Now brand application

  [1]News Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Medialivre applied to Portugal’s National Institute of Industrial Property for registration of the News Now brand on 20 February 2024.

• 2024

  New studio opened for planned channel

  [1]News Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Medialivre opened a studio on 5 March 2024 as part of preparations for a new television news channel.

• 2024

  News Now presented publicly

  [1]News Nowen.wikipedia.org

  Medialivre introduced the channel and revealed its logo on 3 May 2024.

• 2024

  Euronews agreement announced

  [1]News Nowen.wikipedia.org

  News Now signed an agreement with Euronews in early June covering the broadcast and production of news items.

• 2024

  Channel launch

  [1]News Nowen.wikipedia.org

  News Now began broadcasting on 17 June 2024.

A Portuguese television news channel combining rolling news coverage with current-affairs, business, international-news, interview and feature programming. It is positioned as a new competitor to RTP Notícias, SIC Notícias and CNN Portugal.

• Television news channel · 2024

  News Now television channel

  The core News Now service is a Portuguese television news channel launched in June 2024. It provides recurring domestic and international news bulletins, live or breaking-news coverage, current-affairs discussion, interviews and specialist segments. The channel is distributed through major Portuguese pay-television platforms and competes with the country’s established news channels.

• News and current-affairs programming · 2024

  News Now programme portfolio

  The channel’s listed programme portfolio includes morning, afternoon, midnight and evening news blocks, Jornal do Mundo, Jornal às 12, Jornal às 20, Liberdade de Expressão, Negócios, Informação Privilegiada, Global 5.0 and Frente a Frente. The schedule also includes weekend, travel, feature and interview-oriented programmes such as Sábado Viajante, Repórter Sábado, GPS and Otimista.

• 2024

  Agreement with EuronewsStrategy

  Background

  As a newly launched Portuguese news channel, News Now needed access to international reporting and production cooperation.

  Action taken

  News Now entered into an agreement with Euronews covering the broadcast and production of news items between the two channels.

  Aftermath

  The agreement supported News Now’s international news offering during the channel’s launch period.

  Source

1. 1News Nowen.wikipedia.org
2. 2News Now official websitenowcanal.pt