Close on the heels of launching sports network beIN Sport in the United States, news broadcaster Al Jazeera Media Network has now announced the acquisition of former US Vice President Al Gore's news network Current TV for an undisclosed amount.
Al Jazeera said that soon its coverage will be available in more than 40 million US households, up from 4.7 million prior to the deal. It also announced the launch of a new US-based news channel that will provide both domestic news and international news for American audiences.
Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, Director General of Al Jazeera, said that the creation of the new US-based news channel and the purchase of Current TV are historic developments. “For many years, we understood that we could make a positive contribution to the news and information available in and about the United States and what we are announcing today will help us achieve that goal. By acquiring Current TV, Al Jazeera will significantly expand our existing distribution footprint in the US, as well as increase our newsgathering and reporting efforts in America. We look forward to working together with our new cable and satellite partners to serve our new audiences across the US."
The new channel will be headquartered in New York City. In addition to the existing Al Jazeera news bureaus in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, Al Jazeera will open additional bureaus in key locations across the United States. Al Jazeera's expansion will double the network's US-based staff to more than 300 employees.
