FAST FOOD GIANT McDonalds is launching its own in-store TV channel in its restaurants across the United States aiming to entertain customers while they get stuck into their Big Mac and fries.

The McDonald’s digital television channel will be in 11,000 US restaurants and will deliver programming “focused on what a McDonald’s customer is most passionate about… sports, lifestyle, entertainment, and music,” according to a statement on the official website.

Currently there appear to be no plans to introduce the channel outside of the US. A spokesperson for McDonald’s in Ireland did not immediately return calls.

The channel will be used to provide a family friendly atmosphere, NBC reports, with programmes including children’s music videos, travel channel programmes and movies such as Where the Wild Things Are.

Content will even be localised with news updates and stories from the area where the restaurant is based. The fast-food giant expects 26 million American diners to see it every month.

McDonald’s operates more than 31,000 restaurants in 181 different countries serving some 1.75 billion people each month.