Al-Jazeera English Channel to Launch Next Month

The Arabic news broadcaster al-Jazeera said today it would launch its new English-language channel, al-Jazeera International, on November 15.

Al-Jazeera International, based in Doha, will broadcast a combination of 12 hours of live news plus interview programmes, features and analysis.

The channel - whose launch has been twice delayed - has centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC and supporting bureaux worldwide.

The launch of al-Jazeera International coincides with the 10th anniversary of the first broadcast of al-Jazeera's main Arabic language channel.

"The launching of the English channel offers the chance to reach out to a new audience that is used to hearing the name of al-Jazeera without being able to watch it or to understand [the] language," said Wadah Khanfar, director general of the al-Jazeera Network.

"The new channel will provide the same ground-breaking news and impartial and balanced journalism to the English speaking world."

Nigel Parsons, the former APTV executive who is managing director of al-Jazeera International, said the new channel would extend the al-Jazeera spirit into the English-speaking world.

"It has been a fantastic endeavour to build this TV channel over the past two years with the support of the al-Jazeera Network. Everyone involved in the project deserves credit," Mr Parsons added.

The launch of al-Jazeera International has twice been delayed due to construction and technical hitches at its four international centres.

It was originally due to begin in April but was pushed back to June and then September.