CANBERRA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Australia will launch a new Asia-Pacific television service to promote the country’s voice in the region, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Tuesday.

Downer said his department and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) managing director Jonathan Shier signed the five-year A$90 million (US$47 million) contract for the new service to boost Australia’s profile in the region.

"This funding is being provided because the government believes that a credible television service, which projects an Australian voice in the region, is in the national interest," Downer said in a statement.

"However, the service will also be expected to generate additional commercial support."

The original Australian International Television service was broadcast into the region in 1993 but quickly exhausted its budget and despite increased advertising revenues was costing the ABC A$4 million a year by 1996, when it was sold to the Seven Network Ltd.

Seven closed the service in March this year saying it was not viable.

Shier said he was pleased with plans for the new service, which will go to air later this year.

"Four new programmes will be produced for ABC Asia-Pacific, two news programmes (one with a strong regional focus), a studio-based interview style programme and an education programme," Shier said in a statement.