Qatari News Giant Al Jazeera Purchases American Channel Current TV
A journalist captures video of Current TV in San Francisco, California January 3, 2013. English-language satellite news channel Al Jazeera said it will buy Current TV, the struggling cable channel founded by Al Gore and partners, in a move that will boost the Qatar-based broadcaster’s footprint in the United States. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES – Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY MEDIA)
For years, the Arab news network Al Jazeera International has been trying to reach a significant audience in America, but did not quite succeed.
The TV network – based in Qatar and funded by the government there – was once seen by many Americans as a network that sympathizes with terrorists.
This view may change with the network’s purchase of the an American television news channel.
This week, Al Jazeera bought Current TV, founded and owned by former vice-president Al Gore and his associates.
The deal was reportedly close to $500 million.
The New York Times Media Reporter Brian Stelter said this move represents a huge leap in audience numbers for the Qatari-owned channel.