Al Jazeera aquires Current TV

[gonzoliberal]

Al Jazeera on Wednesday completed a deal to take over Current TV, the low-rated cable channel that was founded by Al Gore and his business partners seven years ago.

continued;

Current will provide the pan-Arab news giant with something it has sought for years: a pathway into American living rooms. Current is available in about 60 million of the 100 million homes in the United States with cable or satellite service.

Rather than simply use Current to distribute its English-language channel, called Al Jazeera English and based in Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera will create a new channel, called Al Jazeera America, based in New York. Roughly 60 percent of the programming will be produced in the United States, while the remaining 40 percent will come from Al Jazeera English.

Al Jazeera may absorb some Current TV staff members, according to people with knowledge of the deal who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But Current’s schedule of shows will most likely be dissolved in the spring.

....

[Brohan]

Al Jazeera on Wednesday completed a deal to take over Current TV, the low-rated cable channel that was founded by Al Gore and his business partners seven years ago.

continued;

Current will provide the pan-Arab news giant with something it has sought for years: a pathway into American living rooms. Current is available in about 60 million of the 100 million homes in the United States with cable or satellite service.

Rather than simply use Current to distribute its English-language channel, called Al Jazeera English and based in Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera will create a new channel, called Al Jazeera America, based in New York. Roughly 60 percent of the programming will be produced in the United States, while the remaining 40 percent will come from Al Jazeera English.

Al Jazeera may absorb some Current TV staff members, according to people with knowledge of the deal who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But Current’s schedule of shows will most likely be dissolved in the spring.

....

Wow, this isn't from the onion.

[LarryN]

A job opportunity for Keith Olbermann!

[Joy in Mudville]

I am opposed to foreign ownership of broadcast networks. Cable I don't care so much about.

[dsummoner]

Al Jazeera generally has some good content. Of course, they do go off into the land of Libbie freak kookeria when they try to peddle the idiocy of social(ist) justice and global socialism.

[Sprightly]

I quite enjoy having access to Al Jazeera television.

[downhome]

The best part of Current imo is the Vanguard documentaries. I hope they can continue to be produced.

[Pauliseum]

I am opposed to foreign ownership of broadcast networks. Cable I don't care so much about.

Fox is foreign-owned.

[Joy in Mudville]

Fox is foreign-owned.

And I don't think that that is in the best interest of the United States.

[Sprightly]

Wouldn't this apply?

http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/...Note.1803.html

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reviews initial authorizations and transfers of control of telecommunications licences.[1] Section 310 of the Communications Act of 1934,[2] as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996,[3] imposes foreign ownership restrictions on U.S. broadcast, common carrier, or aeronautical radio station licensees.[4] Section 310 covers foreign ownership restrictions applicable to FCC licences, and Section 310(b)(4) in particular is implicated in the majority of cases where foreign ownership is an issue.[5] In addition, applications from companies with foreign ownership[6] or a transfer of control or assignment application in which foreign ownership is an issue may be scrutinized more closely by the Executive Branch, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security, for potential national security, law enforcement and public safety issues.[7] The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation typically intervene in the FCC review to ensure that foreign investment in U.S. telecommunications assets does not impair U.S. law enforcement, national security or infrastructure protection interests.

[Joy in Mudville]

Wouldn't this apply?

http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/...Note.1803.html

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reviews initial authorizations and transfers of control of telecommunications licences.[1] Section 310 of the Communications Act of 1934,[2] as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996,[3] imposes foreign ownership restrictions on U.S. broadcast, common carrier, or aeronautical radio station licensees.[4] Section 310 covers foreign ownership restrictions applicable to FCC licences, and Section 310(b)(4) in particular is implicated in the majority of cases where foreign ownership is an issue.[5] In addition, applications from companies with foreign ownership[6] or a transfer of control or assignment application in which foreign ownership is an issue may be scrutinized more closely by the Executive Branch, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security, for potential national security, law enforcement and public safety issues.[7] The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation typically intervene in the FCC review to ensure that foreign investment in U.S. telecommunications assets does not impair U.S. law enforcement, national security or infrastructure protection interests.

My sense is that it does not as Current TV is a cable network and does not, to my knowledge take up a space on the electromagnetic spectrum

I am not sure how News Corp gets around this regarding Fox which is, of course, a broadcast network.

[HAIL2BNG]

News Corp is an American company.

[LarryN]

Fox is foreign-owned.

My sense is that it does not as Current TV is a cable network and does not, to my knowledge take up a space on the electromagnetic spectrum

I am not sure how News Corp gets around this regarding Fox which is, of course, a broadcast network.

Fox News and the Fox broadcast network are owned by News Corporation, which is controlled by Rupert Murdoch, an American citizen. News Corporation is incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and has it's headquarters in Manhattan.

[Jeebus]

What a appropriate partnership - Al Qaeda and Al Gore.

Now they can hate America openly instead of disguising it like MSNBC.

[SemiAuto]

What a appropriate partnership - Al Qaeda and Al Gore.

Now they can hate America openly instead of disguising it like MSNBC.

Al Jazeera is not Al Qaeda.

[soulflower]

My sense is that it does not as Current TV is a cable network and does not, to my knowledge take up a space on the electromagnetic spectrum

I am not sure how News Corp gets around this regarding Fox which is, of course, a broadcast network.

Fox technically doesn't own any local broadcast stations. They are affiliated with and provide content to local stations.

The local Fox affiliate in Baltimore is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting.

TV and Radio broadcasting uses the public airwaves.

Cable TV airspace is privately owned...

[Marshan Man]

What a appropriate partnership - Al Qaeda and Al Gore.

Now they can hate America openly instead of disguising it like MSNBC.

?? What the...

[soulflower]

Al Jazeera has better news content than CNN, Fox, and MSNBC

[Jeebus]

Al Jazeera is not Al Qaeda.

lol, OK,

Interested in any Florida swampland or perhaps the Brooklyn Bridge?

[Sprightly]

lol, OK,

Interested in any Florida swampland or perhaps the Brooklyn Bridge?

Have you ever streamed the Al Jazeera channel and actually watched it?