Irish media group RTÉ will launch an online streaming news service Thursday, functioning as an Internet-based news channel, called RTÉ News Now, the Sunday Business Post reported.

The service will be available on RTÉ.ie. It may also be available on mobile phone networks in the future.

The news service will take the central role of RTÉ's planned media player, currently still in the development process, and is expected to be similar to the BBC iPlayer, according to the Sunday Business Post.

RTÉ News Now will stream live, breaking news, as well as special events, such as Oireachtas (Ireland's legislature) debates, which are not broadcast on television, a spokesman for RTÉ Publishing told the Sunday Business Post.

Soon after its launch, RTÉ hopes to make the service available on mobiles, and is currently discussing the possibility with carriers.