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Al Jazeera Buys Al Gore's Current TV Channel

Pan-Arab news agency will get a foothold in American TV market

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2013 6:29 PM CST

(Newser) – Goodbye Current TV, hello Al Jazeera America. Al Gore's struggling cable network has been bought by the pan-Arab news agency, which will get a long-sought "pathway into American living rooms," reports the New York Times. The changes probably won't take effect for about 3 months, at which point most of Current TV's lineup is expected to get the axe. Al Jazeera will create a channel called Al Jazeera America, with most of its programming produced in the US. Its debut should be available to about 60 million homes with cable or satellite.

“Al Jazeera is planning to invest significantly in building ‘Al Jazeera America,’ a network focused on international news for the American audience,” Current co-founder Joel Hyatt told staffers in an email. “Al and I will both serve on the advisory board of Al Jazeera America, and we look forward to helping build an important news network.” In seven years, Current probably got its biggest share of attention over its hiring and firing of Keith Olbermann.

Al Gore participates in the Current TV portion of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena last year.
Al Gore participates in the Current TV portion of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena last year.   (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Al Gore participates in the Current TV portion of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena last year.
Al Gore participates in the Current TV portion of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena last year.   (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 90 comments
Scott603
Jan 3, 2013 8:23 PM CST
I've watched a lot of al Jazeera and it is very professional and to the right of MSNBC and the left of Fox. It is well respected around the world, although they did get thrown out of China for running an anti-Chinese human rights story on their prisons.
right2dave
Jan 3, 2013 5:55 PM CST
Al Gore (Man did he learn to work the system) SCORES THE BIG BUCKS AGAIN.
HANKHILL
Jan 3, 2013 4:30 PM CST
al gore step right up to get your "true american" award!!!!! caliph barak hussein obama loves you!!!!!!!!!!
 

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