SOO MAAL Posted November 7, 2006 VIDEO: Al Jazeera International (Trailer) Al Jazeera sets launch for English channel Reuters Tuesday, October 31, 2006; 5:39 PM DOHA (Reuters) - The English language offshoot of pan-Arab television news channel Al Jazeera said on Tuesday it will start broadcasting on November 15. "As the world's first international English-language news and current affairs channel headquartered in the Middle East, Al Jazeera International is uniquely positioned to reverse the information flow from South to North and to provide a voice to under-reported regions around the world," a statement said. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, the station will have broadcast centers in Kuala Lumpur, Washington and London. The launch corresponds with the 10th anniversary of the popular Arabic-language sister channel, which market research suggests is among the world's best-known brands. The English-language Al Jazeera International has said it should initially reach around 80 million to 100 million households via cable and satellite. Al Jazeera's Arabic-language network has attracted intense criticism from the U.S., British and Middle Eastern governments, and the new channel will work closely with it. Al Jazeera upset Washington by airing statements from al Qaeda's Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attacks. Al Jazeera blazed to success after it went on air in 1996 with its combination of hard news, a slick format and talk shows that have broken taboos in the Arab world. Al-Jazeera English TV date set After repeated delays, the Arabic TV station al-Jazeera has announced a launch date of 15 November for its English-language news channel. US President George W Bush once allegedly threatened to bomb the Doha-based station. The channel is hoping to reach a target audience of 40 million households in Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. Al-Jazeera International plans a 24-hour service from bureaus in Kuala Lumpur, Doha, London and Washington DC. It is also seeking to be the first network to broadcast globally in high-definition (HDTV) format. Pioneering "We are extremely proud of what al-Jazeera has achieved over the past 10 years," said Wadah Khanfar, the network's director-general, referring to the inauguration of the Arabic-language on 1 November 1996. "Al-Jazeera today is an international media organisation. Al-Jazeera English will build on the pioneering spirit of al-Jazeera and will carry our media model to the entire world. "The launching of the English channel offers the chance to reach out to a new audience that is used to hearing the name of al-Jazeera without being able to watch it or to understand its language," Mr Khanfar says. "The new channel will provide the same ground-breaking news and impartial and balanced journalism to the English-speaking world." US difficulties Despite the Washington bureau, and the signing up of star names such as David Frost and Rageh Omaar, breaking into the American market has proven difficult. Commercial director Lindsey Oliver says she is confident the new channel will eventually be carried by major US cable and satellite operators, while conceding that al-Jazeera tended to inspire "very strong feelings". A recent poll found 53% of Americans opposed the launch of the channel and two-thirds of Americans thought the US government should not allow it entry to the US market. As well as 20 bureaus of its own, al-Jazeera International will also be able to call on the resources of its sister Arabic channel. But the extent to which the two channels will follow the same editorial policy is not entirely clear. Independent Al-Jazeera International Managing Editor Nigel Parsons says the new channel will be "totally independent", although plans announced earlier this year to put the manager of the Arabic channel in charge of both channels reportedly caused disquiet among journalists at the English-language channel. Reassurances were given that the two channels would operate in a similar "spirit", although they could cover stories differently. It was reported that editors from both channels were trying to come up with a common mission statement and a code of conduct which included an agreement on the use of terms such as "martyrs", "terrorism" and "resistance". The new channel has its detractors. Palestinian journalist Khalid Amayreh recently voiced fears that it would deviate from the "policies and ideals of the mother channel". He claimed that there was a risk it could assume an international identity very similar to its main Western competitors, pointing out that al-Jazeera's English-language website relied heavily on Western news agencies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted November 7, 2006 Al Jazeera International Al Jazeera International is a 24-hour English-language news and current affairs channel headquartered in Doha, Qatar. A subsidiary of Al Jazeera, it aimed to commence global broadcasting in June 2006 [1] but had to postpone its launch until 15 November 2006 [2]. Al Jazeera International is the world’s first English-language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. The channel will provide both a regional voice and a global perspective to a potential world audience of over one billion English speakers, but without the usual Anglo-American worldview. [3] Instead of being run under central command, news management will rotate around broadcasting centres in and Kuala Lumpur, Doha, London and Washington, D.C. "following the sun". The station will broadcast factual programming including news features and analysis, documentaries, live debates, current affairs, business and sport. Contents 1 Reporters and presenters 2 International bureaux 2.1 Middle East 2.2 Africa 2.3 Asia & Australasia 2.4 The Americas 2.5 Europe 3 Reception 4 External links Reporters and presenters Former US Marine Josh Rushing, who was featured in the documentary Control Room, will be an on-air personality at the new channel.[4] It has also been announced that veteran British broadcaster Sir David Frost and former BBC and CNN anchor Riz Khan will join the new channel [5]. Other previously well-known journalists set to join the channel include: David Frost (broadcaster) (BBC) Felicity Barr (ITN) Stephen Cole (BBC) Jane Dutton (BBC, CNN) Darren Jordon (BBC) David Foster (Sky) Shiulie Ghosh (ITN) Kimberly Halkett (GLOBAL TV) Dave Marash (ABC) Rageh Omaar (BBC) Veronica Pedrosa (BBC, CNN) Shahnaz Pakravan (BBC, ITN) Mark Seddon (Various) Steff Gaulter (Sky) Barbara Serra (Sky) Lauren Taylor (ITN) International bureaux In addition to the four brodcast centres, Al Jazeera International will have 20 supporting bureaux which will gather and produce news. It will share the resources of the Arabic language channel's 42 bureaux and is planning to add further bureaux to be announced as they open. [6] Middle East Broadcast Centre: Doha Correspondents: Hoda Abdel-Hamid, Hashem Ahelbarra, James Bays, John Cookson, and Mike Hanna. Bureaux: Beirut, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza. Correspondents: Zeina Khodr & Rula Amin, Jacky Rowland, and Walid Batrawi. Africa Bureaux: Cairo, Abidjan, Nairobi, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Harare. Correspondents: Amr El Kahky, Gabi Menezes, Haru Mutasa, Kalay Maistry, and Farai Sevenzo. Asia & Australasia Broadcast Centre: Kuala Lumpur Correspondent: Tony Birtley Bureaux: Beijing, Delhi, Islamabad, Manila, and Sydney. Correspondents: Tony Cheng, Zain Awan & Rajesh Sundaram, Kamal Hyder, Marga Ortigas, and Dan Nolan The Americas Broadcast Centre: Washington DC Correspondents: Viviana Hurtado & Rob Reynolds Bureaux: Buenos Aires, Caracas, and New York. Correspondents: Lucia Newman, Mariana Sanchez, Mark Seddon, and Kristen Saloomey. Europe Broadcast Centre: London Correspondents: Alan Fisher Bureaux: Athens and Moscow. Correspondents: Barnaby Phillips and Jonah Hull Source: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted November 7, 2006 It will not be shown in the USA! Its only on for 12 hrs per day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted November 7, 2006 Any one know, How people in USA/CANADA can view Al-Jazeera International? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted November 7, 2006 Ex-CNN journo Riz Khan joins Al Jazeera Intl A Correspondent | May 27, 2005 21:24 IST Riz Khan, the Atlanta, USA-based former BBC and CNN journalist, is all set to joint Al Jazeera International, the 24-hour English news and current affairs channel that is set to go live in early 2006. Khan, who is credited with having pioneered the interactive Q&A format on CNN since joining it in 1993, with his shows Q&A with Riz Khan and Q&A-Asia with Riz Khan, will host a live daily show from Washington, DC, that will feature world leaders, newsmakers and other celebrities. What will set this show apart from others of its kind is the view participation from across the globe. Riz Khan's home page About his move, Khan, who quit CNN in 2001, was quoted as saying, 'I think we are at a turning point where viewers across the world are looking for a fresh approach to news and information.' Al Jazeera International will be the world's first English language news channel to be based in the Middle East. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, the channel was in the news following accusations of biased reportage on Afghanistan and Iraq. This line of thinking clearly does not faze Khan, who has been quoted as saying, 'Al Jazeera brings together all the pieces to provide a complete picture on global issues. I'm incredibly excited to have this rare chance to build something so new and influential from the ground up.' Riz Khan on why he quit CNN 'Al Jazeera International is all about revolutionising viewer choice. I've now got the chance to offer viewers around the globe a much-needed voice on the world stage. Imagine, a person at any level in society, in almost any country, having the chance to talk directly with a President or a Prime Minister, or even a global celebrity. It's a wonderfully honest and equal opportunity for people – something still uncommon in broadcasting.' Nigel Parsons, managing director of Al Jazeera International, has called the development 'the most exciting television news and current affairs project in decades -- one which will revolutionise the global news industry by offering viewers across the world a fresh perspective on news.' The new channel that will launch in early 2006, is said to be hiring staff for its broadcast centres. Parson said the channel will establish broadcast centres in, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington, DC, and bureaus worldwide. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted November 7, 2006 Rageh Omaar joins Al Jazeera International Al Jazeera International, the 24-hour English language news and current affairs channel, set to broadcast globally in the Spring of 2006, announced today that internationally renowned journalist Rageh Omaar has joined the new channel's line-up and will host a daily documentary programme from the station's London broadcast centre. Qatar: Monday, February 06 - 2006 Rageh will present the channel's daily documentary strand Witness from Al Jazeera International's London broadcast centre. The programme will give voice to witnesses from all over the globe, featuring human stories made by storytellers from all walks of life. Content will be gathered from the channel's broadcast centres strategically placed around the world (Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London & Washington DC) drawing on a new breed of video journalists reaching parts of the world often ignored. The Director of Programming at Al Jazeera International Paul Gibbs said, 'As the channel's daily documentary strand, Witness will be the epitome of traditional storytelling with characters that we care about and age old themes presented by internationally renowned journalist Rageh Omaar.' 'We will be unveiling more of our diverse programme offering as we get closer to launch in late Spring of this year,' Gibbs continued. 'It's hugely exciting to be joining a channel which promises to revolutionise global news and current affairs' said Rageh Omaar 'Witness will be what its title implies - a programme of first-hand account. No academics, no commentators unless they are themselves Witnesses.' Rageh Omaar was most recently BBC News' Africa Correspondent based in Johannesburg. His reporting during the Iraq war made him a household name with nearly 90% of the British population tuning in to see his reports from Baghdad on either the weekday BBC news bulletins, or on News 24. Many of his broadcasts were syndicated across the U.S., where the Washington Post labelled him the 'Scud Stud'. Previously Rageh was Developing World Correspondent for the BBC covering stories ranging from drought in Ethiopia to devastating floods in Mozambique. Prior to that he was Amman correspondent having taken a three-month sabbatical at the University of Jordan to study Arabic. Between 1994 and 1996, he worked as a broadcast journalist for the World Service and then became a producer and reporter for Newshour. Rageh began his journalistic career in 1990 as a trainee at The Voice newspaper in Brixton and then moved to City Limits magazine. In 1991 he moved to Ethiopia where he freelanced as a foreign correspondent, much of his work being broadcast by BBC World Service. In 1992, he returned to London as a producer for Focus on Africa for the World Service at Bush House. Rageh Omaar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia on 19 July 1967. He is the youngest of four children. Educated at Cheltenham Boys College, he went on to Oxford University where he gained a BA Honours in Modern History in 1990. Rageh will continue to make programmes for other broadcasters. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted November 7, 2006 Any one know, How people in USA/CANADA can view Al-Jazeera International? Get Nilesat/Arabsat/Hotbird. Its on one of or all of those satelites Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SOO MAAL Posted November 8, 2006 Thank You Bro Northener I will try Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
