Al Gore Sells His Cable TV Channel to Al-Jazeera

[red states rule]

You can't make this stuff up. Al Gore TV goes to Al Jazerra. Looks like we will have the Muslim version of MSNBC
Al Jazeera, the pan-Arab news giant, has long tried to convince Americans that it is a legitimate news organization, not a parrot of Middle Eastern propaganda or something more sinister.It just bought itself 40 million more chances to make its case.
Al Jazeera on Wednesday announced (http://www.aljazeerausannouncement.com/) a deal to take over Current TV, the low-rated cable channel that was founded by Al Gore, a former vice president, and his business partners seven years ago. Al Jazeera plans to shut Current and start an English-language channel, which will be available in more than 40 million homes, with newscasts emanating from both New York and Doha, Qatar.
For Al Jazeera, which is financed by the government of Qatar, the acquisition is a coming of age moment. A decade ago, Al Jazeera’s flagship Arabic-language channel was reviled by American politicians for showing videotapes from Al Qaeda members and sympathizers. Now the news operation is buying an American channel, having convinced Mr. Gore and the other owners of Current that it has the journalistic muscle and the money to compete head-to-head with CNN and other news channels in the United States.
Al Jazeera did not disclose the purchase price, but people with direct knowledge of the deal pegged it at around $500 million, indicating a $100 million payout for Mr. Gore, who owned 20 percent of Current. Mr. Gore and his partners were eager to complete the deal by Dec. 31, lest it be subject to higher tax rates that took effect on Jan. 1, according to several people who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But the deal was not signed until Wednesday.
A spokesman for Al Jazeera said that antitrust regulators had not expressed any objections to the deal.
Going forward, the challenge will be persuading Americans to watch — an extremely tough proposition given the crowded television marketplace and the stereotypes about the channel that persist to this day. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/al-jazeera-said-to-be-acquiring-current-tv/?smid=tw-share

[Marcus Aurelius]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57561745/al-jazeera-acquires-al-gores-current-tv/


Al-Jazeera has long struggled to get carriage in the U.S., and the deal suffered an immediate casualty as Time Warner Cable Inc., the nation's second-largest cable TV operator, announced it is dropping Current TV due to the deal.

"Our agreement with Current has been terminated and we will no longer be carrying the service. We are removing the service as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.




Dave Marash, a former "Nightline" reporter who worked for Al-Jazeera in Washington, said he left the network in 2008 in part because he sensed an anti-American bias there.

[Marcus Aurelius]

New Current TV news anchor...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9Fmt-YT9kY/T4h0xWcNZ0I/AAAAAAAAEVY/pBez6f_t0yU/s1600/sexy_burqa.jpg

[taft2012]

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/01/03/al-gore-nets-reported-100-million-in-sale-current-tv-to-al-jazeera/



Former Vice President Al Gore has made himself a much, much richer man by selling his little watched cable channel Current TV to the Emir of Qatar-funded Arab news channel Al-Jazeera.


Gore netted $100 million with his 20 percent stake in the network when it was sold for a reported $500 million on Wednesday.


Al-Jazeera plans to euthanize the struggling, seven-year-old Current TV and turn it into Al-Jazeera America by adding five to 10 new U.S. bureaus beyond the five it has now. More than half of its content will be U.S. news, and the network will have its headquarters in New York, according to a rep.


But while Al-Jazeera will now be available in millions more American homes, it will not be seen on the nation's second-largest TV operator, Time Warner Cable, as they dropped Current TV immediately after the sale became final.

You can be sure the middle-eastern potentates will shut down the global warming blather on this channel now that they're in control. All discussions of green energy were detrimental to the long-term peddling of their black gold, on which the entire global region relies.

Surely Al Gore realized the same.

But $100 million profit? The global warming cause be damned, this is why these political hacks jumped on that bandwagon in the first place. To make money.

The only ones who didn't realize it all along were the blind liberals.

[Marcus Aurelius]

already a thread on this.

[aboutime]

Wonder if Obama will point out how AL GORE managed to avoid PAYING TAXES on the sale by making the deal BEFORE January 1st?

But then. We're not supposed to talk the truth about a Liberal, Democrat, Failure of 2000, so close to the election where the very same people who are STAYING QUIET on this....were pretty vocal about Romney, and his Millions.

Hypocrisy, Lies, and Double-standards are STILL IN EFFECT if you are a Democrat.

[tailfins]

The audience for Current TV is those who think MS-NBC (MS-LSD) is too conservative. I try really hard to give Muslims the benefit of the doubt. When it comes to abortion, traditional marriage, vice, etc., they have every reason to be on the side of conservatives. Why are they supporting socialists? Even our resident Muslim, Jafar, sides with the lefties.

[fj1200]

Uh, they don't want Current TV, they want its distribution channel which took a hit when TW dropped it from its lineup. I wonder if the final price will be affected by that.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Uh, they don't want Current TV, they want its distribution channel which took a hit when TW dropped it from its lineup. I wonder if the final price will be affected by that.

TW didn't drop them until after the buyout.

[aboutime]

Either way. Does anyone notice a pattern about how AL takes advantage of Americans, first with GLOBAL WARMING lies, and now. Betraying his own nation....for OBAMA BUCKS....and plenty of them. 4234

[aboutime]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57561745/al-jazeera-acquires-al-gores-current-tv/



Aside from his love for money. Al Gore obviously has no love for his own country. And this is PAYBACK for his being CHEATED back in 2000.

Somebody has to pay for the endless Psychiatrist visits, and AL doesn't care where,or who he betrays.

He is a Human HANGING CHAD. Useless, and cheap. 4232 too! Poor Al. 4233

[fj1200]

TW didn't drop them until after the buyout.

Exactly, if AJ was smart they would have had some sort of hold back contingent on households. The value of Current is nothing but built-in distribution.

[fj1200]

This is more interesting to me:

Report: Glenn Beck tried to buy Current TV

Glenn Beck's Blaze Media approached the struggling cable news network last year, the Wall Street Journal reports (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324374004578218043102095584.html)h ttp://global.fncstatic.com/static/v/all/img/external-link.png, but was rebuffed because "the legacy of who the network goes to is important to us and we are sensitive to networks not aligned with our point of view."

Instead, Gore went with the Emir of Qatar-funded Arab news channel Al-Jazeera.

...


The network is subsidized by the ruling family of oil rich Qatar, which some critics have said smacks of hypocrisy, given Gore's beliefs that global warming is due in large part to mankind's reliance on fossil fuels.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/01/03/al-gore-current-tv-glenn-beck-al-jazeera/?intcmp=related#ixzz2GwEucfZL

I'm sure Al didn't want a conservative to show how to make money out of a dog.

[tailfins]

This is more interesting to me:

Report: Glenn Beck tried to buy Current TV


I'm sure Al didn't want a conservative to show how to make money out of a dog.

The buyer must be wise or they wouldn't call it Owl Jazeera.

[darin]

In 2007 I met Josh Rushing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Rushing)-He was the keynote speaker for a conference I ran for a 3-Star general. Former Marine Public Affairs Officer; correspondant for Al Jazeera English. Very bright, very balanced, and offered a unique perspective on the world.

[tailfins]

You can't make this stuff up. Al Gore TV goes to Al Jazerra. Looks like we will have the Muslim version of MSNBC

I just don't get it. You would think that Al Jazeera would be a counterpart to the Christian Broadcasting Network, praising Allah instead of Jesus. I didn't know Vlad Lenin was a Muslim prophet.

[darin]

Merged

[Marcus Aurelius]

..."the legacy of who the network goes to is important to us and we are sensitive to networks not aligned with our point of view."

Holy crap on a cracker. Al Gore just outed himself on that one.

[jafar00]

Have any of you actually watched Al Jazeera for a couple of hours?

The channel presents a very high quality of balanced journalism which is more than you can say for MSNBC or CNN for example.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Holy crap on a cracker. Al Gore just outed himself on that one.

Beck offered more money but Al would rather our enemies have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quite telling, no??--Tyr

[tailfins]

Have any of you actually watched Al Jazeera for a couple of hours?

The channel presents a very high quality of balanced journalism which is more than you can say for MSNBC or CNN for example.

In what direction do you consider MS-LSD or CNN to be unbalanced?

[aboutime]

Have any of you actually watched Al Jazeera for a couple of hours?

The channel presents a very high quality of balanced journalism which is more than you can say for MSNBC or CNN for example.


jafar. Aside from not having the capabilities to watch it. Why would we want to when we have you to bring us all of the Propaganda directed at the END of America, and the Death of All Americans.

Why would we watch it for a few hours if we had it? Most all of us on this forum aren't as easily led, or gullible as those who would watch 24/7 versions of Anti-American lies.

[avatar4321]

Beck offered more money but Al would rather our enemies have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quite telling, no??--Tyr

Actually, They didn't let Beck provide an offer. They refused to even consider it.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Have any of you actually watched Al Jazeera for a couple of hours?

The channel presents a very high quality of balanced journalism which is more than you can say for MSNBC or CNN for example.

Next to your belief in a pedophile prophet, that is about the stupidest thing you have ever posted on this board.

[NightTrain]

Have any of you actually watched Al Jazeera for a couple of hours?

The channel presents a very high quality of balanced journalism which is more than you can say for MSNBC or CNN for example.


Well, this is timely!

Jafar, we're all waiting for you to respond to that Al Jazeera article you posted the other day and I dissected for you.

Journalism? I think not.

[jafar00]

In what direction do you consider MS-LSD or CNN to be unbalanced?

I don't like them. Their journalism is trash compared to Al Jazeera.

[Marcus Aurelius]

I don't like them. Their journalism is trash compared to Al Jazeera.

if Al Jazeera is your gold standard for journalism, you're nowhere near as smart as you think you are.

[CSM]

AJ is no worse than our own homegrown media. All of them have a not-so-hidden agenda, try to pass propaganda as news, intentionally lie, distort, and misrepresent cirumstances to further their cause. Until folks wake up and DEMAND truth in the news ( and our governments) rather than "journalism" and opinion, "news sources" are specious.

[mundame]

AJ is no worse than our own homegrown media. All of them have a not-so-hidden agenda, try to pass propaganda as news, intentionally lie, distort, and misrepresent cirumstances to further their cause. Until folks wake up and DEMAND truth in the news ( and our governments) rather than "journalism" and opinion, "news sources" are specious.

True enough!

However, Al Jazeera is the media system of our enemies and as such I don't believe it should be broadcast here! Hitler's radio stations were not broadcast here during WWII. Ezra Pound's anti-American propaganda was not broadcast here. IMO, enemies are for killing and conquest over them in war, they are not for listening to and being converted by them.

It is amazing to me that Al Gore did such a terrible thing.

[CSM]

True enough!

However, Al Jazeera is the media system of our enemies and as such I don't believe it should be broadcast here! Hitler's radio stations were not broadcast here during WWII. Ezra Pound's anti-American propaganda was not broadcast here. IMO, enemies are for killing and conquest over them in war, they are not for listening to and being converted by them.

It is amazing to me that Al Gore did such a terrible thing.

Actually, Hitler's broadcasts were heard here and all over Europe though not through US owned stations. During the Cold War, Soviet broadcasts could be heard through their equivalent of "Voice of America" and "Radio Free Europe".

I think it is important to hear what the enemy is broadcasting; what propaganda they are spewing otherwise there is no counter to it from friendlies. In some people's minds, the lack of denial is an admission of guilt thus the propaganda works. The propaganda aspect of conflict is just as important as the kinetics.

[mundame]

I think it is important to hear what the enemy is broadcasting; what propaganda they are spewing otherwise there is no counter to it from friendlies. In some people's minds, the lack of denial is an admission of guilt thus the propaganda works. The propaganda aspect of conflict is just as important as the kinetics.

You have an interesting position and know history well, I can see. However, I have become concerned about the tremendous power propaganda has on people, given the real brain-washing going on from the left, so that it is taboo to talk about the worst problems in our society. I see the Al-Jazeera station in America just promoting ever-more Muslim privileging until Muslims have the critical mass to do their usual violent takeover.

I am ashamed of Al Gore for furthering Muslim interests in this country.

[CSM]

You have an interesting position and know history well, I can see. However, I have become concerned about the tremendous power propaganda has on people, given the real brain-washing going on from the left, so that it is taboo to talk about the worst problems in our society. I see the Al-Jazeera station in America just promoting ever-more Muslim privileging until Muslims have the critical mass to do their usual violent takeover.

I am ashamed of Al Gore for furthering Muslim interests in this country.

Propaganda is really only effective on those who are either ill- educated or willfully ignorant. It can indeed be a very pwoerful tool (otherwise, it wouldn't be used). As with many things, there are multiple facets contributing to the effictiveness of propaganda. Unfortunately, we currently live in a society that takes a two minute sound bite they hear from the media and embrace it as truth. Many folks are just too lazy or too "busy" to dig into the facts and determine for themselves what is truth. We have a society today that believes the government will care for the people from cradle to grave; the government can best determine how you should live, what you should believe and what principles should adhere to.

Al-Jazeera is a media outlet with suspect underpinnings; of that there is no doubt. Like all propaganda, there is an element of truth (sometimes a miniscule element of truth) upon which their propaganda is based. This is, of course, intentional and is done so that when questioned, the propagandists can point to that one snipet of truth and formulate the rather specious argument that, since that one fact is presented, everything else they present must also be true. US media does it all the time, as does our government. It is one of the reasons why I do not trust politicians. They are expert at fabricating extensive fallacies based on a small kernel of truth. What is worse, as long as our government continues to make more and more people dependent upon the entitlements they hand out, the more reluctant its citizens are to oppose any stance other than that of the government. Al-Jazeera is just another note in the cacophony of propaganda noise bombarding the American people on a daily basis.

We as individuals can arm ourselves against such propaganda by seeking the facts and forming our opinions based on the facts. We can insist on integrity in our elected officials and we can insist on facts in the news; we can stop accepting opinions of talking heads we see on tv and, once we have done the research, speak the truth. It is difficult to do, but that truly is one defense against propaganda.

[aboutime]

Propaganda is really only effective on those who are either ill- educated or willfully ignorant. It can indeed be a very pwoerful tool (otherwise, it wouldn't be used). As with many things, there are multiple facets contributing to the effictiveness of propaganda. Unfortunately, we currently live in a society that takes a two minute sound bite they hear from the media and embrace it as truth. Many folks are just too lazy or too "busy" to dig into the facts and determine for themselves what is truth. We have a society today that believes the government will care for the people from cradle to grave; the government can best determine how you should live, what you should believe and what principles should adhere to.

Al-Jazeera is a media outlet with suspect underpinnings; of that there is no doubt. Like all propaganda, there is an element of truth (sometimes a miniscule element of truth) upon which their propaganda is based. This is, of course, intentional and is done so that when questioned, the propagandists can point to that one snipet of truth and formulate the rather specious argument that, since that one fact is presented, everything else they present must also be true. US media does it all the time, as does our government. It is one of the reasons why I do not trust politicians. They are expert at fabricating extensive fallacies based on a small kernel of truth. What is worse, as long as our government continues to make more and more people dependent upon the entitlements they hand out, the more reluctant its citizens are to oppose any stance other than that of the government. Al-Jazeera is just another note in the cacophony of propaganda noise bombarding the American people on a daily basis.

We as individuals can arm ourselves against such propaganda by seeking the facts and forming our opinions based on the facts. We can insist on integrity in our elected officials and we can insist on facts in the news; we can stop accepting opinions of talking heads we see on tv and, once we have done the research, speak the truth. It is difficult to do, but that truly is one defense against propaganda.


CSM. Gotta agree with you on all points. However. The underlying problem we are up against is. There are SO MANY ill-educated Americans who have no idea what is taking place. Like those who voted for Obama. It seems almost insurmountable to change.

People like you, and I. With the members of this forum are such a TINY portion of the greater number of nearly 320 million Americans. We can do all you suggest. But the larger numbers are still Un-educated, or ill-educated enough. They are a larger percentage than we can dream of here.

[mundame]

We as individuals can arm ourselves against such propaganda by seeking the facts and forming our opinions based on the facts. We can insist on integrity in our elected officials and we can insist on facts in the news; we can stop accepting opinions of talking heads we see on tv and, once we have done the research, speak the truth. It is difficult to do, but that truly is one defense against propaganda.

YOU can, CSM, and you will. But participants on political forums are a highly self-selected group. Most people will eat up whatever they hear and develop all sorts of pro-Muslim prejudices in response to Al Jazeera propaganda, I suspect. Then they'll take over.

I do not think things are going well in this country.....

[jafar00]

True enough!

However, Al Jazeera is the media system of our enemies and as such I don't believe it should be broadcast here!

Really? Who is the enemy that they represent? They are based in Qatar which is a "close" US Ally last time I checked.

[SassyLady]

Did AJ broadcast any beheadings....uncensored? Just curious.

[aboutime]

How fitting is that? A coincidence? AL Gore selling to AL-Jazeera? And they have a bigger Hypocritical Carbon Footprint than
Dear Old Whiny AL....4246

[jafar00]

Did AJ broadcast any beheadings....uncensored? Just curious.

I've not seen any. There are stories if you search the AJ website though.

[jimnyc]

I've not seen any. There are stories if you search the AJ website though.

At the time, during the opening of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Al Jazeera was originally considered a terrorist mouthpiece. Their broadcasting of some very controversial videos and other footage made some believe they were actually harming the cause. Probably why one of their stations was bombed, although it was determined to be an accident. And I believe the info as to the location of the Al Jazeera came from Qatar.

More here too... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera

[gabosaurus]

Never thought I would see the day when RSR would be against the Free Enterprise system.

The Chinese government owns two American stations, one in English and one in Chinese.
Al-Jazeera faces just as much opposition from terrorists as they do from Western states. A lot of the inside reporting from otherwise closed Middle East regions comes from A-J.
A lot of conservatives dislike A-J because they broadcast opinions from both sides of the conflict and don't suck up to Israel. Conservatives only want people to hear one side of the story.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Never thought I would see the day when RSR would be against the Free Enterprise system.

The Chinese government owns two American stations, one in English and one in Chinese.
Al-Jazeera faces just as much opposition from terrorists as they do from Western states. A lot of the inside reporting from otherwise closed Middle East regions comes from A-J.
A lot of conservatives dislike A-J because they broadcast opinions from both sides of the conflict and don't suck up to Israel. Conservatives only want people to hear one side of the story.


A patently false assumption gabby... Most conservatives are firmly in the belief that the truth being outed will bring the best judgments and actions to correct a problem. -Tyr

[aboutime]

Never thought I would see the day when RSR would be against the Free Enterprise system.

The Chinese government owns two American stations, one in English and one in Chinese.
Al-Jazeera faces just as much opposition from terrorists as they do from Western states. A lot of the inside reporting from otherwise closed Middle East regions comes from A-J.
A lot of conservatives dislike A-J because they broadcast opinions from both sides of the conflict and don't suck up to Israel. Conservatives only want people to hear one side of the story.


Okay gabby. Now's your chance. Tell all of us WHICH SIDE OF THE STORY you are trying to say, makes us be against the Free Enterprise System.
Be specific, since you've made the accusation. Do you have anything to back it up. Or, was that just more of the same-old Gabbyness?

[jafar00]

At the time, during the opening of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Al Jazeera was originally considered a terrorist mouthpiece. Their broadcasting of some very controversial videos and other footage made some believe they were actually harming the cause. Probably why one of their stations was bombed, although it was determined to be an accident. And I believe the info as to the location of the Al Jazeera came from Qatar.

More here too... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera

The Wiki is interesting. I knew a bit about their history but this made for interesting reading.

Also, it seems Al Gore did the US a favour in these troubling times...

Al Jazeera AmericaSee also: Current TV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_TV)
On January 2, 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced that it purchased Current TV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_TV) in the United States and would be launching an American news channel. 60% of the channel's programming would be produced in America while 40% would be from Al Jazeera English.
In a news release, Al Jazeera Director General Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani said, "By acquiring Current TV, Al Jazeera will significantly expand our existing distribution footprint in the U.S., 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 U.S." The new channel is said to be providing domestic and international news for an American audience. Al Jazeera plans to open new bureaus across the United States and increase the network's staff in the United States to over 300 employees.
Current TV currently has large distribution throughout the United States on cable and satellite TV. However, Time Warner Cable, which planned to drop Current TV due to low ratings, dropped Al Jazeera, but released a statement saying that they would consider carrying the channel after they evaluated whether it made sense for their customers.[27] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera#cite_note-27)[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera#cite_note-28)[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera#cite_note-29)[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera#cite_note-30)[31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera#cite_note-31)[32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera#cite_note-32)


More jobs! :)