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Al Jazeera counts down to launch Al-Jazeera counts down to launch
(about 2 hours later)
The Arabic television news channel Al Jazeera is about to launch its 24-hour English language service. The Arabic television news channel al-Jazeera is about to launch its 24-hour English language service.
The new channel will be broadcast around the world with the ambition of providing a different perspective on international events.The new channel will be broadcast around the world with the ambition of providing a different perspective on international events.
Al Jazeera International plans a 24-hour service from bureaus in Kuala Lumpur, Doha, London and Washington DC. Al-Jazeera International plans a 24-hour service from bureaus in Kuala Lumpur, Doha, London and Washington DC.
The channel is hoping to reach a target audience of 40 million households in Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.The channel is hoping to reach a target audience of 40 million households in Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Ten years after Al Jazeera revolutionised Arab language television, the network is about to try do the same in English - but this will be a much harder task. Ten years after al-Jazeera revolutionised Arab language television, the network is about to try do the same in English - but this will be a much harder task.
Established rivalsEstablished rivals
Al Jazeera's achievement in the Middle East was to break a monopoly on information held by governments and state broadcasters. Al-Jazeera's achievement in the Middle East was to break a monopoly on information held by governments and state broadcasters.
The channel's forthright style, its frank journalism and willingness to discuss taboo issues has made it the most popular broadcaster in the region and a thorn in the side of governments from Washington to Riyadh.The channel's forthright style, its frank journalism and willingness to discuss taboo issues has made it the most popular broadcaster in the region and a thorn in the side of governments from Washington to Riyadh.
Al Jazeera says it wants to bring this approach to world news but here the market is already much more developed with well established rivals in the BBC and CNN. Al-Jazeera says it wants to bring this approach to world news but here the market is already much more developed with well established rivals in the BBC and CNN.
The question for some in the region is whether the new channel will be as outspoken as its sister station and whether it will adopt a similar editorial stance.The question for some in the region is whether the new channel will be as outspoken as its sister station and whether it will adopt a similar editorial stance.
There have already been reports of differences between the two channels.There have already been reports of differences between the two channels.
But for many in the region this will simply be a moment of pride.But for many in the region this will simply be a moment of pride.
For the first time a major English-language channel will be operated from the Middle East and the hope is that it will give the Arab world a global voice.For the first time a major English-language channel will be operated from the Middle East and the hope is that it will give the Arab world a global voice.