MUMBAI: Zee News has tied up with US based public broadcaster VoA (Voice of America) for providing a five-minute daily segment named America LIVE. The partnership will enable Zee News to air Indian stories from all across America, say reports.

Ironically, the partnership comes shortly after the Hindi service of Voice of America, launched in July 1955, was terminated on 30 September 2008, upsetting many loyal listeners. Over the years, VOA had garnered huge listenership mainly in the remote corners of the Hindi belt of the country.

Going on air from 1 December 2008, VOA will offer Zee news stories in the afternoon at 2 pm and during the prime time news bulletin, News Top 10, apart from the half-hour specials on topical issues for Indian audiences.

Zee News CEO Barun Das has been quoted as saying, Zee News has always endeavoured to provide its viewers news and updates from across the globe. Our alliance with Voice of America is an added milestone to expand our reach in the International market. We strongly believe that adding value to viewers depends on our leverage, access and global leadership and this is yet another step in that direction. We are confident that this agreement will be beneficial for both the companies....

According to Voice of America director Danforth Austin, Launched in the wake of one of the most terrible terrorist attacks since 9/11, �America LIVE' underscores the importance of clear communication among and between peoples in an often dangerous world. In our first broadcast the Indian audience heard U.S. leaders condemn the violent acts in Mumbai and express solidarity with India in this difficult time. �America LIVE' also relayed to Zee News audience the sentiments of members of the Indian-American community in the U.S. as they shared the grief experienced by the people of India. Through this new partnership VOA hopes to contribute to �Zee News' programming with leading news from the United States and its reaction to events that shape the world today....

Apart from routine stories on business, human interest, politics and special half-an-hour reports, Voice of America will be covering all the major events and news stories LIVE from different parts of the United States to give Zee News viewers an interesting and informative peek into daily affairs.Zee News, the Hindi News and Current Affairs Channel has taken giant strides since its inception in 1992. Reaching millions of viewers in five continents, the channel revolutionized the way news was brought home to the viewers. The channel was the first private broadcaster of news in South Asia and it created history in 1999 when it became the first 24 hours Hindi news channel of the country.

Going on air on 1942, Voice of America is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The news service broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of 134 million people.

Apart from Hindi, VOA which broadcasts in 45 languages also plans to eliminate seven radio language services this year including Ukrainian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Georgian among others.