Qatar's Al Jazeera eyes UK, French launches

Qatari media giant Al Jazeera has announced it is ready to launch a news channel in the United Kingdom anda French-language channel.

The Doha-based network is currently working to launch a news channel from the UK that will broadcast for five hours during prime time as a cut-in UK content aired on Al Jazeera English channel.

Studies are also at an advanced stage for a French-language channel that aims building bridges with other cultures and people.

The announcement was made yesterday by director general of Al Jazeera, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani.

Al Jazeera which opened Al Jazeera Balkan in Sarajevo in 2011 is preparing the opening of Al Jazeera Turkish, he said.

In January the television network also launched Al Jazeera America after the acquisition of Al Gore’s US cable channel Current TV for $500m.

Before the deal, Al Jazeera had limited access to the US market, reaching 4.7 million US homes, against the 40 million US homes that is reaching now after the acquisition. Al Jazeera today is seen in more than 260 million homes in 130 countries.