Al-Jazeera ( English Version) Finds Hurdles in Bid To Air in U.S.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by reho33

I would like to see Al-Manar also. Banning it is not good as someone could decide to ban this board and prohibit discussion of FTA! Old phrase, keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer. From what I've been able to find, it is only available on Arabsat 2B, it got yanked from Hispsat, etc. Seems like everyone "flipped out" at the prospect of it being received here in the states and stopped it.

Al jezzera is one thing. Generally I don't think that it can be regarded as being bad after you see the movie control room.

almanar I'd say is indefinatly pure propaganda. Now me and you know that but what if your young and take everything from TV as being the truth and real? Heck I grew up in the 80's....with other guys growing up I probably had every wresting move tried on me...

There might be a way of viewing al manar online. The trouble I would see with it would be if someone younger views it and believes it more. If you know it's propaganda it won't effect you...if you do then....

[alhamari]

Does anyone have any idea if Aljazeera English Version have been aired yet? if it did, is it going to reach North America?

[rainman]

Originally Posted by alhamari

Does anyone have any idea if Aljazeera English Version have been aired yet? if it did, is it going to reach North America?

showing on IA5 in test mode right now.

[cwmorrow]

Originally Posted by reho33

I would like to see Al-Manar also.

Did not some political organization finance Al-Manar? I used to see it when channel surfing FTA.

[Darkman]

Originally Posted by rainman

showing on IA5 in test mode right now.

Not the actual content though...

Only an Advertising Card

[rainman]

Originally Posted by Darkman

Not the actual content though...

Only an Advertising Card

any idea when they are going to start showing real content?

[Darkman]

Well i found all this info on internet recently...

This is a "combined material" so to speak:

It's reported by several sources currently that Al-Jazeera International will launch this November.. Nov 2006:

Jazeera International will launch in November. And not November 2010 either. This November. ( http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/articl...ews_from_qatar )

---
Also,

AL-JAZEERA PLANS FALL U.S. DEBUT By PETER LAURIA T - New York Post Online Edition: Business: "August 20, 2006 -- The Arab world's No. 1 cable news network is finally coming to America.

The much-delayed launch of the English-language version of the controversial Al-Jazeera network is targeting its launch date on these shores in November.

The date, pushed back from its latest September start date, will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the network.

Ahead of the launch, Al-Jazeera International - which has already signed up famed British broadcaster David Frost -has secured carriage agreements with cable, satellite, telecom and broadband video providers, according to spokesman Michael Holtzman.

'We've gotten carriage across the board,' Holtzman said. 'We just can't identify with whom at this stage because they are at different stages.'

Holtzman said the debut will be available in more than just a smattering of American homes.

'There are major players at the table,' Holtzman said. 'This won't be a tiny toehold; we will have significant access.'

AJI previously stated that it hopes to launch with distribution in at least 40 million homes worldwide. ( http://chicagoray.blogspot.com/2006_...y_archive.html )

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Meanwhile conrovercy around this is brewing,

1) from mediabistro.com TVNewser:
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/...tl/default.asp

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2) Al Jazeera may air
EchoStar talks with controversial Arab channel about carrying English spinoff

By Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News
April 22, 2006

EchoStar's Dish Network is the only cable or satellite operator in the U.S. publicly willing to consider carrying controversial Arab news channel Al Jazeera's planned English-language spinoff.
Even on Dish, Al Jazeera's attempt to provide an alternative to Western news outlets like BBC World and CNN International isn't likely to appear on any of the satellite-TV operator's popular programming tiers.

"We have several offers and options under consideration, including with EchoStar, but have not yet signed anything," said Rana Jazayerli, a Washington-based spokeswoman for the news channel. "We will make our plans public after we have finalized."

Comcast, which has 700,000 subscribers in Colorado, has had "preliminary conversations" about carrying the network, said spokeswoman Cindy Parsons. She declined further comment, citing the cable operator's policy of not discussing programming negotiations.

DirecTV, the largest satellite-TV operator with 15 million customers, also has talked to Al Jazeera International but "doesn't have any plans to carry it right now," said Jade Ekstedt, spokeswoman for the El Segundo, Calif.-based company.

Douglas County-based EchoStar, whose Dish Network has 12 million subscribers, is interested because a nascent news channel fits with the company's strategy of offering the most international programming, with 126 channels in 28 languages available.

"We would be willing to consider carriage, since we provide the most Arabic channels in the United States," said spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez. "But we don't release details or status of negotiations with any new channels."
( The entire article is at the following source: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...641999,00.html )

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3) Will EchoStar/DISH Network Air Al-Jazeera International?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1727854/posts
http://www.stopaljazeera.org/index.html
http://www.stopaljazeera.org/blog/wi...international/

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4) Al Jazeera goes to US

by Kate Bulkley

Al Jazeera TV International has become the latest channel to sign up for Globecast's 200-channel World TV service, continuing a 30% year-on-year growth of the channel bouquet managed by Globecast for the US market.
"It's grown much faster than we ever expected," said Mary Frost, CEO of Globecast America since August. "Now fully 40% of our US revenue comes from World TV. The reason is that the technology costs have dropped for channels to join the service and customer expectations have grown, with people wanting more access to channels that are of specific interest to them," Frost explained.
World TV provides a bouquet of 200 international channels to an estimated 500,000 homes in the US who largely receive it direct-to-home from Intelsat. Half of the channels are in the clear while the others subscription, managed by Globecast.
( Source: http://www.ibc.org/cgi-bin/ibc_daily...=23700&issue=5 )

[rainman]

thanks for the info Darkman.

[Sadoun]

Excellent. If Globecast carries it, it is a 50/50 chance the channel will be FTA. Anyway, smart part on Globecast. That will increase their market share in the USA and will attract more international channels to join the GC bouquet. I would love to see BBC World and other news channels from Europe.

Maybe it is time for Globecast to increase their bandwidth on IA5 or add another satellite.

[Darkman]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

Maybe it is time for Globecast to increase their bandwidth on IA5 or add another satellite.

That would SURELY be great!

[rainman]

Originally Posted by Darkman

That would SURELY be great!

agreed more FTA channels would be great.

[Darkman]

Gail Shister | Maybe this time: Al-Jazeera says spin-off to launch soon
Philadelphia Inquirer

November 01, 2006

Stop me if you've heard this one: Al-Jazeera International says it will launch Nov. 15.

AJI, the English-language spin-off of controversial Arab-language Al-Jazeera Network, was expected to have launched early this year. Then late winter. Then early spring. Then late May.

Each time, AJI officials blamed the setbacks on technical problems. This time, they say everything's a go for Nov. 15, which coincides with Al-Jazeera's 10th anniversary...

--
( The entire article is at the following source: http://www.topix.net/content/kri/394...44342624077658 )

[rainman]

cool will be looking forward to it. just hope it's not scrambled.

[pr1947]

I thought this forum was intended for people like us to solve free to air problems. Discussing world politics should be discussed some place else not here.

[Darkman]

If i started something wrong then i am sorry...

Meanwhile.. i think Nov 15 is a day for SURE now...

Will see if and/or how it will end up on Globecast...
The talks are now that it might be on DISH as well...
( this is being discussed at DBSTalk - http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=69016 )

What will be interesting to see about this situation though is that generally what ends up on DISH, "goes away", so to speak, from IA 5, Globecast, etc....

Time will show i guess...
But for now then - we just sit back and wait

I personally want to see this channel added to all the platforms... - the more channels - the better (i look at it as "another stamp in an album" concept)
But Al. Jaz. should be interesting nuff channel to have, be it controvercial or not in any case.

[Darkman]

Originally Posted by pr1947

I thought this forum was intended for people like us to solve free to air problems. Discussing world politics should be discussed some place else not here.

Sorry .. but that is how i feel anyhow (below) .. - my post basically from DBSTalk:

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Originally Posted by TBoneit

People are talking about leaving Dishnetwork and calling them friends of terrorists and all this is based on speculation that they will add an english speaking channel.

Speculation!!!

Give me a break.

Where is the Christian outrage that Cable, DirecTV and Echostar carry adult material. Where are the I'm leaving if they don't stop it.

MTV is a bigger problem since it is easily available.

I agree!

It's people choice anyhow "what and if" they choose to watch something anyways...

Don't like it - Don't watch it basically!

It's just another channel.. News channel (be it controvercial or NOT) in English... and will probably NOT be included in standard packages anyhow, even though even if it was.. still "Don't like it - Don't watch it!"

Too much BS going on in the world anyways to worry about something like that...

I for one being Jewish origin (not very religious though).. from Russia, would NOT mind seeing Al-Jaz. in English end up on North American platforms!

Be it on DISH or Globecast ( at IA5 .. and hopefully in FTA mode too ) or wherever.. - would be OK with me!

Just another alternative source of information.. - one can always use his own judgement or opinion anyhow about how that information is being stored in one's brain

and as TBoneit said above,
What about Porn material being offered at DISH or any other provider?
What about other provokative or contrivercial material being offered?
Music where people curse and promote drugs, violence, etc often.. etc? (even though i don't mind those neither.. - again one can always choose what to watch to or listen to or what's not)
What about Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or any other religious material being shown on many channels.. trying to promote or convience people that "their's is better then other's" (if you can put it that way)

Or what about all the political / politicians' BS, circus and brainwashing being presented to us on daily basis / fed in our heads, etc... ( expecially at elections time ;-) )
I don't think those politians are perfect people to start with.. and when some dirt comes up to the surfice about any of them - the pot boils then.. and the circus becomes even louder, lol..

The bottom line is - people can always decide on their own anyhow.. what to choose to watch, believe or follow in their lifes...

So if Al-Jaz. is added to N. American providers' platform - then it's added..
Let it be.. - it's NOT such a big deal anyways.. with all the other BS in our lifes and around us

[rainman]

Originally Posted by pr1947

I thought this forum was intended for people like us to solve free to air problems. Discussing world politics should be discussed some place else not here.

actually this was just a poll to see what the members thought of a controversial channel comming to america.

[Darkman]

hehe.. I knew it.. things are starting to brew there.. in that thread.. over at DBSTalk
(mentioned in post #45 above)

[Sadoun]

It is really strange that some people judge a letter "before" reading it?? How can you judge a channel before watching it?

Should we be like some countries that control what can or can't their citizens watch? What happened to our time honored principle of freedom of press?

Anyway, I will hold my judgment until I watch it. Like Darkman said, there are a whole lot of channels that we don't like or agree with on satellite right now. If you cancel your DN subscription and go to Cable or DTV, for the most part, they carry the same channels, anyway.

BTW, France has now decided that they need to have an international news channel to compete with CNN and the upcoming AJI (Al Jazeera International).

[Darkman]

hehe .. so maybe France International in English is coming soon then?

Would be Cool! (expecially if it's FTA, lol)

Where did you hear that Sadoun?
Do you have a source maybe?

[Sadoun]

Darkman

The new channel to deput December 1st is called France 24.

Take a look:
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/articl...native_outlook
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/...02_317475.html

[rainman]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

It is really strange that some people judge a letter "before" reading it?? How can you judge a channel before watching it?

Should we be like some countries that control what can or can't their citizens watch? What happened to our time honored principle of freedom of press?

Anyway, I will hold my judgment until I watch it. Like Darkman said, there are a whole lot of channels that we don't like or agree with on satellite right now. If you cancel your DN subscription and go to Cable or DTV, for the most part, they carry the same channels, anyway.

BTW, France has now decided that they need to have an international news channel to compete with CNN and the upcoming AJI (Al Jazeera International).

I agree with you Sadoun. I hate when someone try and tell me what i can and can't watch or do.it's very simple if you don't like the channel remove it from your receiver.

[Darkman]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

Darkman

The new channel to deput December 1st is called France 24.

Take a look:
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/articl...native_outlook
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/...02_317475.html

Here is it's site:
http://www.france24.com/

[Darkman]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

Darkman

The new channel to deput December 1st is called France 24.

Per Globecast's press release - it might even launch as early as November 25th...

And looks like it will be on Globecast Platform.. (North America is NOT mentioned though) .. So maybe there is a hope for it still ..some day in N. America .. via Globecast .. as well

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As per Globecast's press release:

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GlobeCast selected by FRANCE 24 - France’s new global news channel - for its international satellite delivery



PARIS, 30 August 2006– GlobeCast has been chosen by the new French international news channel, FRANCE 24, to carry out its broadcast by satellite throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

GlobeCast’s satellite platforms, based in key orbital positions, will provide FRANCE 24 with access to several million television households throughout the world.

When it launches, FRANCE 24 will cover these regions with two channels, one entirely in French and the second carrying primarily English-language programming. Programs in Arabic will be added in mid-2007 and in Spanish in 2008.

GlobeCast will supply FRANCE 24 with an end-to-end solution which will include the reception of programming in Paris, multiplexing, uplink and capacity services on the following platforms:

- ASTRA at 19.2° East (Europe)
- EUROBIRD™1 at 28.5° East (United Kingdom and Ireland)
- NSS7 at 22° West (Africa)
- ArabSat-Badr at 26° East (Middle East)
- Nilesat at 7° West (Middle East)

FRANCE 24 chose GlobeCast for its renowned expertise in the delivery of television channels throughout the world, as well as its presence on five continents. Working independently vis-à-vis satellite operators, GlobeCast is “network agnostic” and not limited to providing capacity from a single satellite fleet. This permitted GlobeCast to bundle capacities in this first launch phase from five unique satellite operators into a multi-continental delivery platform for FRANCE 24.

FRANCE 24 is scheduled to launch between 25th November and 5th December 2006. The channel represents a 50/50 partnership between the public television group France Televisions and the French commercial channel, TF1.


--
Source(s) :
http://www.globecast.com/_2004/_02_a...s_releases.htm
http://www.globecast.com/_2004/_0_li...6_france24.htm

[Darkman]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

Excellent. If Globecast carries it, it is a 50/50 chance the channel will be FTA. Anyway, smart part on Globecast. That will increase their market share in the USA and will attract more international channels to join the GC bouquet. I would love to see BBC World and other news channels from Europe.

Maybe it is time for Globecast to increase their bandwidth on IA5 or add another satellite.

Al Jazeera International Chooses GlobeCast to Deliver English-language News Worldwide

Al Jazeera International, the 24-hour English-language news and current affairs channel, has called on GlobeCast to provide and to manage its principal satellite distribution network as it gears up to its worldwide launch in the spring of this year, with initial coverage over Europe, Asia and Australia as well as future expansion to other regions. The contract also includes the build-out of a high-definition (HD) fiber contribution network which will connect the Al Jazeera International broadcast centers, strategically placed across the world in London, Washington DC, Kuala Lumpur, and the channel’s headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

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Source: http://www.globecast.com/_newsletter....htm#aljazeera

[Darkman]

Al Jazeera International launches Wednesday; not available in India

Indiantelevision.com Team
(14 November 2006 10:00 pm)

MUMBAI: There's just a day left for the official launch of the Al Jazeera International, the English language sibling of the sometimes controversial Arabic language channel Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera International will kick off its inaugural broadcast from its headquarters in Doha, Qatar at 12 GMT tomorrow.

In English-language markets, the channel will beam down from the Astra and Eurobird satellites to DSat homes in the UK; the Globecast platform in the US; Optus in Australia; and foreign-language platform Orcus in New Zealand, informs an official release.

Interestingly, though India has been identified as a potential market, the channel will not be available in the country after the Union Home Ministry informed that the Qatar-based Arab news channel, Al Jazeera is not be allowed to register an office in India, thereby restricting its plans to beam into the country.


The government had earlier asked the channel to go off the air six months ago on account of not conforming to the downlinking guidelines by 10 May. Al Jazeera had submitted an application to the company affairs ministry for registration of a company in India, as stipulated by the government for channels uplinking from overseas and seeking to downlink into the country.

While the I&B ministry cleared the application, however, the home ministry declined the application citing security considerations. According to a media report, the ministry, in a letter dated 14 September, specified that the company should not be permitted to deal in the business of providing news.

Earlier this year, information and broadcasting minister PR Dasmunsi had clarified that the reason Arab television channels like Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabia, QTV had gone off air was because they had not applied for downlink permission in India.

Broadcast across the globe, Al Jazeera English will far exceed its original launch target of 40 million cable and satellite homes. It will be distributed across all continents throughout the world and in addition to cable and satellite will be available on broadband IPTV, ADSL, terrestrial and mobile phone platforms.

Not surprisingly the channel has got a very limited distribution in the US after it was "blanked" by big satellite players like News Corp's DirecTV and Charlie Ergen's Echostar and cable giants like Comcast and Time Warner. Al Jazeera English will only be available to subscribers of the GlobeCast Network - a subsidiary of France Telecom that carries channels from all parts of the world and services mainly non-Americans.

Among the European satellite and cable platforms to carry the channel are Canal Sat and TPS in France, Kabel Deutschland and Kabel BW in Germany, HK Broadband in Hong Kong, YES TV in Israel, Sky Italia, Astro Malaysia, Canal Digital in The Netherlands, ORCUS in New Zealand, Canal Digitaal in Nordic Region and Sky Guide 514 in United Kingdom.


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Source: http://www.indiantelevision.com/head...nov/nov170.htm

[Darkman]

Al-Jazeera English ready for debut - but not in U.S.

By Gail Shister
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)

It's a drag to be fenced out of your own backyard, says Dave Marash.

Marash, Washington anchor for Al-Jazeera English, is disappointed that the Qatar-based news network - scheduled to launch Wednesday - will reach more than 80 million homes worldwide, but none on U.S. cable.

AJE (formerly known as Al-Jazeera International), the English spin-off of controversial Arab-Language Al-Jazeera Network, will be carried here on four obscure outlets: GlobeCast; Jump TV; VDC and Fision, AJE announced Tuesday.

It will also be streamed live on aljazeera/english.net.

GlobeCast is a satellite network; Jump TV and VDC are on the Internet....


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( The entire article is at the following source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...n/16012455.htm )

[Darkman]

Associated Press

NEW YORK - Al-Jazeera's English-language network is set to begin operation on Wednesday without any distribution by a major cable or satellite system in the United States.

The all-news network, based in Doha, Qatar, said it would be available to computer users via a broadband Internet connection. But despite months of trying and delays in its launch date, it named only four companies available in the United States that would offer it....


--- etc ----


...Al-Jazeera English will be available to customers of GlobeCast, the subsidiary of a French company that offers satellite TV service costing around $300 to install. The other companies Al-Jazeera English said it had agreements with are Fision, a digital service that will be available shortly in Houston; Jump TV, which describes itself as "the world's leading broadcaster of ethnic TV over the Internet; and VDC, a service that offers TV on the Internet to about 10,000 customers in the U.S.

Elsewhere around the globe, Al-Jazeera English said the picture is brighter. The network said it would be available via cable or satellite in more than 80 million homes, or double its launch target of 40 million.


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( The entire article is at the following source: http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/16012709.htm )

[Darkman]

'...But it will not be available in America via either EchoStar, Comcast or Rupert Murdoch's DirecTV at launch, although US viewers will be able to tune in via the GlobeCast satellite...."

Source: http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/sto...948048,00.html

[rainman]

was showing a launch count down this morning on IA5. should start arround 7am est.