Current TV was founded by former Vice President Al Gore which in its original format allowed for viewer centered content. Shortly after the sale was announced Time Warner cable in New York dropped Current TV from its system without any prior notice.
Whether this was a political decision or business one remains to be seen. However given the Bush administrations derision of Al Jazeera's willingness to broadcast statements issued by Osama Bin Laden accusing them of supporting terrorism. As a consequence it is believed that U.S. forces deliberately attacked Al Jazeera's offices in Baghdad and Kabul.
Whether this was a political decision or business one remains to be seen. However given the Bush administrations derision of Al Jazeera's willingness to broadcast statements issued by Osama Bin Laden accusing them of supporting terrorism. As a consequence it is believed that U.S. forces deliberately attacked Al Jazeera's offices in Baghdad and Kabul.
Al Jazeera has acquired Current TV, the cable television network founded by former US Vice President Al Gore.
The Qatar-owned broadcaster plans to replace Current with a new Al Jazeera America news channel based in New York, doubling its US-based staff.
Al Jazeera has been struggling to gain more viewers in the US.
Launched in 2005, Current is at present available in about 60 million US homes. The deal was reportedly worth about $500m (£308m).
Al Jazeera said that almost 40% of all online viewing of its current London-headquartered Al Jazeera English news channel comes from the United States.
In 2010, Al-Jazeera English blamed a "very aggressive hostility" from the administration of former President George W Bush for reluctance among US cable companies to show the network.
But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the network as "real news" in 2011.
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