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| Al-Jazeera English hits airwaves | Al-Jazeera English hits airwaves |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Arabic television news channel al-Jazeera has launched its new English-language station. | The Arabic television news channel al-Jazeera has launched its new English-language station. |
| Al-Jazeera English began broadcasting from the station's headquarters in Doha, Qatar, at 1500 (1200 GMT). | Al-Jazeera English began broadcasting from the station's headquarters in Doha, Qatar, at 1500 (1200 GMT). |
| A screen graphic with a clock ticking down the minutes gave way to a photo montage of the biggest news stories of recent years, including 9/11. | A screen graphic with a clock ticking down the minutes gave way to a photo montage of the biggest news stories of recent years, including 9/11. |
| Al-Jazeera in Arabic is known for its forthright style, frank journalism and willingness to discuss taboo issues. | Al-Jazeera in Arabic is known for its forthright style, frank journalism and willingness to discuss taboo issues. |
| This has made it a thorn in the side of governments from Washington to Riyadh, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Cairo. | This has made it a thorn in the side of governments from Washington to Riyadh, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Cairo. |
| After the opening credits, presenters Shiulie Ghosh and Sami Zeidan ushered in the new channel, saying it would be "setting the news agenda". | After the opening credits, presenters Shiulie Ghosh and Sami Zeidan ushered in the new channel, saying it would be "setting the news agenda". |
| "It's November 15th, a new era in television news." | "It's November 15th, a new era in television news." |
| The channel then went to images of correspondents in various locations including Gaza then Sudan's Darfur region, followed by Iran and Zimbabwe. | The channel then went to images of correspondents in various locations including Gaza then Sudan's Darfur region, followed by Iran and Zimbabwe. |
| As it went on air, the channel had to contend with a breaking news story on a tsunami expected to hit Russia and northern Japan. | As it went on air, the channel had to contend with a breaking news story on a tsunami expected to hit Russia and northern Japan. |
| 'Middle Eastern feel' | 'Middle Eastern feel' |
| Al-Jazeera English will initially broadcast for 12 hours a day before becoming a 24-hour news operation from 1 January. | Al-Jazeera English will initially broadcast for 12 hours a day before becoming a 24-hour news operation from 1 January. |
| It will broadcast from studios in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, in addition to 20 other countries. | It will broadcast from studios in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, in addition to 20 other countries. |
| It will be available to 80 million homes - double its target audience - in Europe, Africa and south-east Asia. | It will be available to 80 million homes - double its target audience - in Europe, Africa and south-east Asia. |
| In the United States, the channel will be available via a broadband internet connection, but not distributed by a major cable or satellite system. | In the United States, the channel will be available via a broadband internet connection, but not distributed by a major cable or satellite system. |
| Originally due to launch in 2005, the station employs some 800 people from 55 countries and hopes to bring a different perspective to international events. | Originally due to launch in 2005, the station employs some 800 people from 55 countries and hopes to bring a different perspective to international events. |
| We will be getting our reaction, first and foremost, from the Middle East Felicity Barr, presenter | We will be getting our reaction, first and foremost, from the Middle East Felicity Barr, presenter |
| "It is definitely an international channel, but it's certainly going to have a Middle Eastern feel about it," one of the channel's presenters, Felicity Barr, told the BBC. | "It is definitely an international channel, but it's certainly going to have a Middle Eastern feel about it," one of the channel's presenters, Felicity Barr, told the BBC. |
| "The instant reaction for, say, a Western organisation, is to get analysis from the United States or from the UK," she explained. | "The instant reaction for, say, a Western organisation, is to get analysis from the United States or from the UK," she explained. |
| "We will be getting our reaction, first and foremost, from the Middle East." | "We will be getting our reaction, first and foremost, from the Middle East." |
| The channel is hoping to revolutionise English-language television in the same way it revolutionised Arabic-language television 10 years ago. | The channel is hoping to revolutionise English-language television in the same way it revolutionised Arabic-language television 10 years ago. |
| But our correspondent says this will be a much harder task. | But our correspondent says this will be a much harder task. |
| Established rivals | Established rivals |
| Al-Jazeera's achievement in the Middle East was to break a monopoly on information held by governments and state broadcasters, our correspondent says. | Al-Jazeera's achievement in the Middle East was to break a monopoly on information held by governments and state broadcasters, our correspondent says. |
| EDITORS' BLOG Al-Jazeera English looks like it will be a serious competitor... Richard PorterHead of news, BBC World Richard's comments in full But the international market is already much more developed with well established rivals in the BBC and CNN. | EDITORS' BLOG Al-Jazeera English looks like it will be a serious competitor... Richard PorterHead of news, BBC World Richard's comments in full But the international market is already much more developed with well established rivals in the BBC and CNN. |
| "One of our goals is to reverse the flow of information to the south," Wadah Khanfar, director general of the al-Jazeera Group explained to Reuters news agency. | "One of our goals is to reverse the flow of information to the south," Wadah Khanfar, director general of the al-Jazeera Group explained to Reuters news agency. |
| While the hope is that a major English-language channel operating from the Middle East will give the Arab world a global voice, our correspondent says the launch will simply be a moment of pride. | While the hope is that a major English-language channel operating from the Middle East will give the Arab world a global voice, our correspondent says the launch will simply be a moment of pride. |
| But, he adds, 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. | But, he adds, 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. |
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