Al Jazeera buys Current TV

Shadow Dragon

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
4,773
Reaction score
261
Location
In the land of dragons
Al-Jazeera, the Pan-Arab news channel that struggled to win space on American cable television, has acquired Current TV, boosting its reach nearly ninefold to about 40 million homes.

With a focus on U.S. news, it plans to rebrand the left-leaning news network that co-founder Al Gore couldn't make relevant.

The former vice president confirmed the sale Wednesday, saying in a statement that Al-Jazeera shared Current TV's mission "to give voice to those who are not typically heard; to speak truth to power; to provide independent and diverse points of view; and to tell the stories that no one else is telling."

-SNIP-

Al-Jazeera has long struggled to get carriage in the U.S., and the deal suffered an immediate casualty as Time Warner Cable, the nation's second-largest cable TV operator, announced it would drop Current TV due to the deal.

"Our agreement with Current has been terminated, and we will no longer be carrying the service. We are removing the service as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.

Prior to Al-Jazeera's purchase, Current TV was in 60 million homes. It is carried by Comcast, which owned less than a 10% stake in Current TV, as well as DirecTV. Neither company announced plans to drop the channel.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/02/al-jazeera-current-tv-al-gore/1805685/

It's a shame you have Time Warner being cowards and dropping it right away do to the possibility of some backlash.

Personally, I'm happy about this and I hope it's successful. I'd love to see Fox and CNN get some competition. However, on the internet, there'll be a series of "OMG the liberals sold out to the terrorists just like we said they'd do." Though it'd likely have more misspellings.
 

Albedo

Alex
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Messages
7,363
Reaction score
2,924
Location
A dimension of pure BEES
I find Al Jazeera of persistently high quality, better than any of the American news networks* (which I haven't bothered watching in years), and increasingly the equal of BBC News, etc. I especially think it is unparalleled in reporting on issues in the developing world, that Western networks tend to ignore.

Can someone explain whyTF Time Warner would drop it? Some Byzantine business decision, or just racism?


*NPR excepted.
 

KateSmash

this was a triumph
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
2,330
Reaction score
410
A bit of both. TWC is always threatening to drop channels (including local stations) due to deals not 100% in their favor, and just dropped another good chunk of them on the 1st. At the very least, it provided good cover for this.

I was looking forward to having Al Jazeera too when I heard they'd bought Current.
 

Shadow Dragon

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
4,773
Reaction score
261
Location
In the land of dragons
Can someone explain whyTF Time Warner would drop it? Some Byzantine business decision, or just racism?
What KateSmash said about TW not liking a deal going by them first, also the fact that many in the US hear a network being owned by people in the Middle East and automatically think terrorism. Sadly, there will be some backlash over this and TW wanted to avoid any controversy.

However, it seems that there were enough sane people to get TW to rethink it:
Time Warner Cable minced no words when it announced on Wednesday night that it was dropping Current TV, just hours after Al Jazeera acquired the channel. “Our agreement with Current has been terminated and we will no longer be carrying the service,” the distributor said. “We are removing the service as quickly as possible.”


Critics of the distributor’s decision didn’t hold back, either, calling it cowardly, shameful and just plain dumb. On Twitter and Facebook, many people assumed that Time Warner Cable was expressing corporate opposition to Al Jazeera, the pan-Arab news giant, by taking Current off its cable systems in the United States.


But executives at the cable company said the channel wasn’t removed for political reasons. It had more to do, they said, with Current’s low ratings and its contract, which had a “change of ownership” clause that allowed it to be terminated. Time Warner Cable, which has 12 million subscribers, enough to make it the second-largest cable company in the country, has taken a hard line against low-rated channels.


That said, Time Warner Cable doesn’t want to be seen as outwardly hostile to Al Jazeera, especially at a time when other major distributors are keeping Current on their cable systems. (DirecTV, Dish Network, Verizon, and AT&T were among the distributors that consented to the takeover of Current.) Al Jazeera plans to replace Current with a channel, potentially called Al Jazeera America, that incorporates new programming from the United States and currrent programming from its headquarters in Qatar.


On Thursday afternoon, as complaints continued, Time Warner Cable issued a statement that opened the door to carrying the channel in the future. “We are keeping an open mind, and as the service develops, we will evaluate whether it makes sense, for our customers, to launch the network,” the statement read.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.c...-open-mind-on-reinstating-al-jazeera/?src=twr

On the off chance that it wasn't due to politics or fear of bad publicity, then their PR department sucks if it didn't warn them about how it'd look to everyone else.
 

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
12,635
Reaction score
1,603
Location
NC
I think Time Warner would sell its children to the Antichrist if it made a buck!

They carry RT, Russian Television.

I think wider views are great, but I have to say that all the propaganda everywhere is really getting on my last nerve. Sometimes it's just ideology, I guess, but all the spin and twisting makes news most everywhere so difficult to 'believe'. They aren't objective anymore. They probably weren't ever truly objective, but it's so clear now what is for ratings or what is just following stereotypes.

Al Jazeera isn't very bad at that, imho. I like it better than RT, myself.
 

missesdash

You can't sit with us!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Messages
6,858
Reaction score
1,092
Location
Paris, France
I can't help but think the general reception would be a lot better if they didn't use the name "Al Jazeera." I'm well aware that it would cater to ignorance, but it would also allow a greater audience to become, in theory, less ignorant.
 

patskywriter

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
326
Reaction score
54
Location
Durham, NC, USA
Website
www.durhamskywriter.com
I use Dish Network and have been enjoying Al Jazeera for a while. If Time-Warner is indeed timid, it could list the alternative name "JSC," which stands for Jazeera Satellite Channel. I wish I could afford the Dish Network package that includes MSNBC; I do miss that channel.
 

Maxx

Got the hang of it, here
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
3,227
Reaction score
202
Location
Durham NC
I can't help but think the general reception would be a lot better if they didn't use the name "Al Jazeera." I'm well aware that it would cater to ignorance, but it would also allow a greater audience to become, in theory, less ignorant.

It migth be more helpful to rename some other news channel "Al Jazz-era" (note the jazzy spelling) and change the name of "Al Jazeera" to "Masterpiece" (and then with a calligraphic slo-mo finish) "Classic" or something.
 

Haggis

Evil, undead Chihuahua
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 14, 2005
Messages
56,217
Reaction score
18,303
Location
A dark, evil place.
Personally, I'm happy about this and I hope it's successful. I'd love to see Fox and CNN get some competition. However, on the internet, there'll be a series of "OMG the liberals sold out to the terrorists just like we said they'd do." Though it'd likely have more misspellings.
Was that "misspellings" dig against conservatives really necessary, Shadow Dragon? I've known two or three personally who can spell.
 

Shadow Dragon

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
4,773
Reaction score
261
Location
In the land of dragons
I didn't really mean it against conservatives as a while. Mainly towards far-right/neocons and just comments on the internet in general.
 

Maxx

Got the hang of it, here
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
3,227
Reaction score
202
Location
Durham NC
I didn't really mean it against conservatives as a while. Mainly towards far-right/neocons and just comments on the internet in general.

WATZ R U SAY? I CANHAZ CONSERVATIVE CATS.
 
Last edited:

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,933
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
To my mind AJ has a very good reputation for non-bias and standing up to intimidation. Hopefully a station that can operate in war zones and countries without the rule of law will be able to cope with US punditry.
 

zerosystem

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
411
Reaction score
11
It's funny how Al Gore, who has dedicated his life to fighting big oil, has no problem now taking their money. As far as Al Jazeera goes, I've watched the english network and I have to say that for the most part, their coverage is stellar. Can't wait to see how it's received in the States.
 

Maxx

Got the hang of it, here
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
3,227
Reaction score
202
Location
Durham NC
It's funny how Al Gore, who has dedicated his life to fighting big oil, has no problem now taking their money. As far as Al Jazeera goes, I've watched the english network and I have to say that for the most part, their coverage is stellar. Can't wait to see how it's received in the States.

It seems like selling Current for a lot of money might be the biggest blow he has managed against Big Oil (I guess any Arab state-supported corporation is equivalent to Big Oil?).

Also AJ doesn't seem to be denialist on the Global warming front.
 
Last edited:

Maxx

Got the hang of it, here
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
3,227
Reaction score
202
Location
Durham NC
To my mind AJ has a very good reputation for non-bias and standing up to intimidation. Hopefully a station that can operate in war zones and countries without the rule of law will be able to cope with US punditry.

I don't know about their Bias, but I've seen a lot of good stuff on AJ.

Also, a quick trip around AJ suggests that AJ isn't denialist on the Global warming front (for example):

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/2013176496145302.html
 
Last edited:

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,933
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
It seems like selling Current for a lot of money might be the biggest blow he has managed against Big Oil (I guess any Arab state-supported corporation is equivalent to Big Oil?).

Not to mention the Saudi interests Murdoch sold Fox/Newscore to, big oil was one of the least dodgy things about them. You don't get that much loose cash by selling peanuts on a street corner.
 

dah

eh
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
98
Reaction score
41
Website
www.empiricallysound.blogspot.com
Now that I've moved out of N.A. and can finally watch Al Jazeera, I'm finding out more about the current events of African countries than I've ever had. Ever. And FINALLY.

And it's not just poverty stats or war stories. It's the stories of African people doing things, making change/art/film/happiness and just contributing to the world. I love it, but I'm angry that my home news media did not show me this side of the world (or most parts of the world actually) in a balanced way.
 

William Haskins

poet
Kind Benefactor
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
29,097
Reaction score
8,846
Age
58
Website
www.poisonpen.net
TVNewser has learned that Al Jazeera America will eliminate all morning news programming.

We’re being told that off-air staff will be reassigned to other shows or news hours, with many heading to primetime. The fate of on-air talent is unclear, but network insiders have told us they’re staying with AJAM.

Al Jazeera America plans to air programming from Al Jazeera’s main studios in Qatar in the mornings, U.S. time. AJAM has been cutting costs drastically, including on costly remotes and live shots. Just last week, the network cut back on the use of a second New York studio.
http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/al-jazeera-america-cuts-morning-shows/251981?red=as
 

badwolf.usmc

#CustomUserTitle
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 25, 2014
Messages
255
Reaction score
37
Location
Northern Indiana
Never watched Current TV. Also don't have cable. I watched Al Jazeera while on deployment and while it is OK, at best, I still prefer BBC.
 

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
12,635
Reaction score
1,603
Location
NC
I'm disappointed in Al Jazeera America. It's way too focused on America compared to Al Jazeera and other cable news channels, imho. I very rarely watch it any more.