With its purchase of left-leaning Current TV, the Pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera has fulfilled a long-held quest to reach tens of millions of U.S. homes.
The nation’s second-largest TV operator, Time Warner Cable Inc., dropped Current after the deal was confirmed on Wednesday, a sign that the channel will have an uphill climb to expand its reach.
“Our agreement with
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Still, the acquisition of
Mr. Gore confirmed the sale on Wednesday, saying in a statement that Al-Jazeera shares Current TV ’s mission “to give voice to those who are not typically heard; to speak truth to power; to provide independent and diverse points of view; and to tell the stories that no one else is telling.”
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Mr. Collender said there are no rules against foreign ownership of a cable channel unlike the strict rules limiting foreign ownership of free-to-air TV stations. He said the move is based on demand, adding that 40 per cent of viewing traffic on Al-Jazeera English’s website is from the U.S.
“This is a pure business decision based on recognized demand,” Mr. Collender said. “When people watch Al-Jazeera , they tend to like it a great deal.”