• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, January 3, 2013

The Washington Post has announced plans to launch a video channel focused on politics this summer.

Similar to video platforms like the Wall Street Journal’s WSJ Live and Politico Live, the Post’s forthcoming channel will broadcast shows featuring the newspaper’s journalists and commentators as well as appearances by key newsmakers.

The planned programming will total over 30 hours of air-time per month, with video content positioned prominently on both the home page and within articles. “As news consumers increasingly turn to video, a video channel centered on politics is a natural for The Post,” said Martin Baron, the newspaper’s new executive editor. Andrew Pergam, the Post’s director of video, will oversee the political channel.

The Post’s existing video initiatives include “News in :59” and “The Fold” on PostTV and produced segments and video journalism on washingtonpost.com. Baron said the Post is focused on making a larger investment in video based on interest in its current programming.