MUMBAI: As part of its international expansion plans, ABC News has launched its international service ABC News Now in three European territories on the internet service Zattoo.

The service will be initially available in Germany, Spain and Belgium but would soon expand its reach into additional markets including UK in the next six months.

Showing keen interest in the international markets, ABC had earlier announced plans to launch in India, which is still awaiting regulatory approval.

"We plan on significantly increasing our international presence. It is critically important for our news coverage and our survival to expand overseas and into broadband band other digital platforms," said ABC News senior VP digital Paul Slavin.

In October ABC opened seven new international bureaus in places that include Seoul, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, New Delhi and Mumbai in India, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Nairobi, Kenya. All the international bureaus have a single correspondent known as digital reporter, who primarily creates content for the digital platforms.

Slavin further added, "There were not a lot of outlets for international stories when we were just serving our television newscasts and there were other ways to cover international stories. It is hard to justify a bureau in a country when maybe four stories a year get on the air. Now, with the internet and with the cost of distributing content getting so much cheaper, we see international as significant opportunity and we are making a significant investment to become an international organization."

He said that they are looking for all types of distribution for the ABC News Now channel and content.

"Broadband is probably the easiest, but we will utilise every platform from cable, satellite, IPTV, broadband and mobile," he said.

He stated that ABC is looking for content partnerships to help expand their international presence and customise their international services.