so what do you think about Al-Jazeera international?

[Wildfire**MM]

the news-channel Al-Jazeera international was launched this fall

It haves many similarities with BBC world if you ask me

so what's your opinion?

[carnivorousplant]

How do you watch it, cable, satellite? I see it's on DVB on IA5. Cool.

[tagos]

the news-channel Al-Jazeera international was launched this fall

It haves many similarities with BBC world if you ask me

so what's your opinion?

It's very good IMHO. It's good to watch stuff that isn't so western-centric. It's certainly a lot less USA-biased than CNN in the UK incarnation of each. You see stuff on palestine, lebanon and africa you just never see anywhere else.

And some interesting interviews with US and iranian talking heads.

[lieu]

From what I understand (recent news article) it's pretty hard to get in the US since many consider it "The Terrorist Channel". :rolleyes: Frankly, I'd tune in pretty often if I could get it. I think it's important to see some of the things our western media won't show and, similarly, I'd like to see what kind of propoganda crap many middle eastern viewers are being fed as well.

I did see that Dave Marash was a correspondent for them. I think that lends some instant cred right there.

C'mon Dish Network, make it an option. Heck, I'd pay extra for it, no prob.

[carnivorousplant]

many consider it "The Terrorist Channel".
I mentioned that it is on DVB satellite. I used to watch Al Manar on DVB, not realizing it was an organ of Hezbollah. :eek:

[AuntiePam]

I'd watch it. I e-mailed DirecTV to ask if they'd be carrying it, and got a canned response -- the usual "We're always reviewing our programming".

[rowrrbazzle]

It haves many similarities with BBC world if you ask meA very sad commentary on the BBC.

[RikWriter]

From what I understand (recent news article) it's pretty hard to get in the US since many consider it "The Terrorist Channel". :rolleyes: .

Yeah, why would anyone think that? :rolleyes:

[carnivorousplant]

Yeah, why would anyone think that? :rolleyes:

Because they are a big fat dummy? :)

[madmonk28]

I get it here on a sat channel and it's not bad. I've only seen it a couple of times, but they have this insanely good looking woman anchor, don't know her name. I still prefer BBC world.

If you want to see a terrorist channel, there is a pro-Sunni insurgency channel out of Dubai that shows nothing but clips of IEDs and sniper attacks in Baghdad set to music interspersed with talking heads calling for death to a long list of people.

[asterion]

If you want to see a terrorist channel, there is a pro-Sunni insurgency channel out of Dubai that shows nothing but clips of IEDs and sniper attacks in Baghdad set to music interspersed with talking heads calling for death to a long list of people.What kind of music do you set clips of IEDs and sniper attacks to? Yakety Sax?

[madmonk28]

What kind of music do you set clips of IEDs and sniper attacks to? Yakety Sax?

It's traditonal Arabic music with vocals; there is this one crazy-creepy loop of sniper attacks over a children's choir. On Thanksgiving we sat around getting drunk watching it and making smart ass remarks and we chose to hum the Benny Hill music (that music they used at the end when everyone chased him and the film sped up).

Its funny because we had gone into the Green Zone for Thanksgiving which is really pretty safe and all the people whol lived in the Zone hated the channel, but every single one of us who live in the "Red Zone" (ie Iraq) couldn't get enough of it. We called it the boom boom channel. I think we were getting a sadistic pleasure out of freaking out the Zoners.

Back to the OP, Al Jazeera isn't that bad. I'd say some of it's editorial content skews to the insurgency the same way Fox skews to the Republicans. It's important to get opposing views of the world. I would point out that my Arabic speaking friends tell me the English channel dials back their slant as compared to the Arabic version. I don't speak Arabic, so I can't say.

[RikWriter]

Because they are a big fat dummy? :)

Naw, I am guessing it might be the insider videos from car bombings, ambushes, etc...
Even a big fat dummy could see it. But apparently some people aren't as smart as a big, fat dummy.

[madmonk28]

Naw, I am guessing it might be the insider videos from car bombings, ambushes, etc...
Even a big fat dummy could see it. But apparently some people aren't as smart as a big, fat dummy.
But as journalists, aren't they just doing their job? Wouldn't you expect a journalist covering Iraq to try to get access to insurgents and report the story?

[asterion]

It's traditonal Arabic music with vocals; there is this one crazy-creepy loop of sniper attacks over a children's choir. On Thanksgiving we sat around getting drunk watching it and making smart ass remarks and we chose to hum the Benny Hill music (that music they used at the end when everyone chased him and the film sped up). That would be Yakety Sax.

[Wildfire**MM]

From what I understand (recent news article) it's pretty hard to get in the US since many consider it "The Terrorist Channel". :rolleyes: Frankly, I'd tune in pretty often if I could get it. I think it's important to see some of the things our western media won't show and, similarly, I'd like to see what kind of propoganda crap many middle eastern viewers are being fed as well.

I did see that Dave Marash was a correspondent for them. I think that lends some instant cred right there.

C'mon Dish Network, make it an option. Heck, I'd pay extra for it, no prob.

I thought this was launched world wide

terrorist channel???

[GorillaMan]

I would point out that my Arabic speaking friends tell me the English channel dials back their slant as compared to the Arabic version. I don't speak Arabic, so I can't say.
Probably very true, but not necessarily any more than CNN and Fox are adjusted for their different audiences in their own international versions.

[Derleth]

terrorist channel???No, Al Manar is The Terrorist Channel. From "The New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/021014fa_fact4)":I began by asking him [Al Manar's news director Hassan Fadlallah] to compare Al Manar and the most famous Arabic satellite channel, Al Jazeera. "Neutrality like that of Al Jazeera is out of the question for us," Fadlallah said. "We cover only the victim, not the aggressor. CNN is the Zionist news network, Al Jazeera is neutral, and Al Manar takes the side of the Palestinians."

[snip]

"We're not looking to interview Sharon," Fadlallah said. "We want to get close to him in order to kill him."

[RikWriter]

But as journalists, aren't they just doing their job? Wouldn't you expect a journalist covering Iraq to try to get access to insurgents and report the story?


The videos they show are made as propoganda for the terrorists usually BY the terrorists themselves, not by journalists.

[jjimm]

FYI, David Frost now works for this station.

[yojimbo]

He does indeed. As do many ex BBC techies and reporters.

[Revenant Threshold]

The videos they show are made as propoganda for the terrorists usually BY the terrorists themselves, not by journalists.Just out of curiosity and not to defend, but do they show the videos in the sense of "So-and-so group released new video, it talks about this and this *snippets*" or do they actually show the full video?

[Paul in Qatar]

I never watch TV.

[CalMeacham]

It haves many similarities with BBC world if you ask me


Not surprising -- as I understand it, al Jazeera was started up by a group of ex-BBC people.

I'd be interested in looking at their channel. I look at their English-language website now anyway.

[Wildfire**MM]

From what I understand (recent news article) it's pretty hard to get in the US since many consider it "The Terrorist Channel". :rolleyes: Frankly, I'd tune in pretty often if I could get it. I think it's important to see some of the things our western media won't show and, similarly, I'd like to see what kind of propoganda crap many middle eastern viewers are being fed as well.


I'm willing to bet $1000 that this blocking is the work of the strong jewish group in US media. They want to block americans from seing it. They want to hold on to the view that shows angry muslims burning the US flag on a daily basis.

[Loach]

I'm willing to bet $1000 that this blocking is the work of the strong jewish group in US media. They want to block americans from seing it. They want to hold on to the view that shows angry muslims burning the US flag on a daily basis.

Thanks Borat, now I know why you opened the thread.

[Derleth]

I'm willing to bet $1000 that this blocking is the work of the strong jewish group in US media. They want to block americans from seing it. They want to hold on to the view that shows angry muslims burning the US flag on a daily basis.If the Jews exercise so much control over America, why does Palestine in any form still exist? Why does America (you know, the really BIG Jew-controlled nuclear power) allow anyone to constantly threaten the existence of the only Jewish state in the world?

From George Orwell (http://netcharles.com/orwell/essays/asiplease1944-05.htm):In just the same way, very few Communists, in my experience, will believe that the Trotskyists are not in the pay of Hitler. I have sometimes tried the experiment of pointing out that if the Trotskyists were in the pay of Hitler, or of anybody, they would occasionally have some money. But it is no use, it doesn’t register. So also with the belief in the machinations of the Jews, or the belief, widespread among Indian nationalists, that all Englishmen, of whatever political colour, are in secret conspiracy with one another. The belief in the Freemasons as a revolutionary organization is the strangest of all. In this country it would be just as reasonable to believe such a thing of the Buffaloes. Less than a generation ago, if not now, there were Catholic nuns who believed that at Masonic gatherings the Devil appeared in person, wearing full evening dress with a hole in the trousers for his tail to come through. In one form or another this kind of thing seems to attack nearly everybody, apparently answering to some obscure psychological need of our time.Emphasis mine.

[BrainGlutton]

The videos they show are made as propoganda for the terrorists usually BY the terrorists themselves, not by journalists.

So? If the Symbionese Liberation Army had filmed their own robberies back in the '70s and released prints to the TV stations, that would not have made SLA sympathizers, still less "terrorists," of any TV stations that chose to run them. That would have been responsible, thorough journalism, no more.

Is there any cable (not satellite) provider in the U.S. that does carry al-Jazeera International?

[asterion]

Is there any cable (not satellite) provider in the U.S. that does carry al-Jazeera International?Hell, a lot of cable companies won't even carry the NFL Network. Can you imagine them carrying Al-Jazeera International on anything but the super-top-everything package?

I don't get Al-Jazeera on my Dish Network plan and I don't think they've got a plan out that does have it.

[Alessan]

My satellite provider has picked it up as part of its basic package, so I'll check it out. From what little I've seen, it looks interesting.

[Captain Amazing]

My satellite provider has picked it up as part of its basic package, so I'll check it out. From what little I've seen, it looks interesting.

Well, yeah, but you're in Israel. You're not in America, where Jews control the media.

[Ximenean]

Jews probably do have some control over the media in Israel, let's face it :D

[Ximenean]

...um, which I guess was your point :smack:

[carnivorousplant]

My satellite provider has picked it up as part of its basic package,
What kind of satellite format do you have there, Alessan?

[Alessan]

What kind of satellite format do you have there, Alessan?
I don't know - what are the options? I know it's all digital.

[carnivorousplant]

I don't know - what are the options? I know it's all digital.

Do any of these names look familiair? (http://www.lyngsat.com/europe.html) ?

There is CBand, digital or analog with 8'-10' dishes, digital and analog, single channels and packages. Dish usually moves.

DVB, various size dishes from 18" single channels here.

DSS, small dishes, programming in packages, like DishNetwork and Direct TV in the USA.

[Alessan]

DSS, small dishes, programming in packages, like DishNetwork and Direct TV in the USA.
Based on their Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_%28Israel%29), I think it's this one.

[C K Dexter Haven]

Wildfire**MM: Your comment that Jews control the U.S. media is right up there with blacks having natural rhythm, Japanese being sneaky, and Catholics being cannibals. Part 1: it's nonsense. Part 2: It's stereotyping, if not "hate speech" which is prohibited on our Message Boards. Even if it's not "hate speech" per se, such a discussion belongs in Great Debates forum, not here.

[C K Dexter Haven]

Actually, as I think about it, this thread is about a station purporting to be "news," right? So, I don't think it fits the "arts and entertainment" criteria for Cafe Society forum anyhow. Hence, I'm moving it to Great Debates.

[Kyla]

I'm willing to bet $1000 that this blocking is the work of the strong jewish group in US media. They want to block americans from seing it. They want to hold on to the view that shows angry muslims burning the US flag on a daily basis.

Shit, who leaked the memo?

[Sunspace]

We don't have Al-Jazeera International on Rogers cable or DBS satellite here (Toronto). And Rogers Cable has all sorts of stuff, including six channels in Russian and three in Tamil. Pity. I'd like to see it. It would balance out Fox News Channel.

I also wish we got CNN International instead of the US domestic service, which is rather vapid at times. And I hope we'll get the France 24 news channel, but at least you can watch that off their website (at least for the time being).

[Unregistered Bull]

Wildfire**MM: Your comment that Jews control the U.S. media is right up there with blacks having natural rhythm, Japanese being sneaky, and Catholics being cannibals. Part 1: it's nonsense. Part 2: It's stereotyping, if not "hate speech" which is prohibited on our Message Boards. Even if it's not "hate speech" per se, such a discussion belongs in Great Debates forum, not here.

The US media does fairly good job at ignoring any wrongdoing ever done by Israel and is heavily pro-Israeli in almost all reporting on Israel though. I don't know enough on the religous makeup of the movers and shakers of the US media (which pretty sucks anyway, regardless) to make the same connection. I don't think that his accusation is particularly nonsensical or hateful. Fundamentalists Christians are so often talked about negatively in this manner on the Dope, not too mention adherants to Islam, without it being called "hate speech."

[Aquila Be]

I believe we can be sure about one thing.

Al Jazeera will provide its English speaking viewers with a new version of reality, judging by this interview of Al-Jazeera Editor-in-Chief Ahmed Sheikh on 7 December 2006.

worldpoliticswatch (http://www.worldpoliticswatch.com/article.aspx?id=395)

Q: Who is responsible for the situation?
A: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most important reasons why these crises and problems continue to simmer. The day when Israel was founded created the basis for our problems. The West should finally come to understand this. Everything would be much calmer if the Palestinians were given their rights.
Q: Do you mean to say that if Israel did not exist, there would suddenly be democracy in Egypt, that the schools in Morocco would be better, that the public clinics in Jordan would function better?
A: I think so.

Targo

[BrainGlutton]

We don't have Al-Jazeera International on Rogers cable or DBS satellite here (Toronto). And Rogers Cable has all sorts of stuff, including six channels in Russian and three in Tamil.

I was in Chicago a couple of summers ago and ate dinner at an Eritrean restaurant. They had Eritrean TV playing (in English, mostly). Whether they got via cable or dish I don't know.

[BrainGlutton]

Eritrean cuisine, BTW, is much like Ethiopian -- you get a mound of bite-sized pieces of meat in a spicy sauce, and mounds of mashed vegetables, both of which you eat on pieces of a damp, spongy flatbread.

[BrainGlutton]

FYI, The Daily Show is doing an "al-Jazeera Makeover" tonight! :)

[BrainGlutton]

FYI, The Daily Show is doing an "al-Jazeera Makeover" tonight! :)

And they frackin' nailed it! :D

Come to think of it . . . al-Jazeera might do better in the U.S. if they had a name that didn't invite comparisons to "jizz" . . . Though to me, it always calls to mind an old Cat Stevens song from the Numbers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_%28Cat_Stevens_album%29) album: "They call me Jzero . . ." . . . which is even more apt since he changed his name to "Yusuf Islam" . . .

OK, I'll stop free-associating now. For now.

[gonzomax]

I have Dish and we get link TV. They include INN and Mosaic. These are international news programs from around the world. Mosaic gets Israeli,Afgan,Irani,Iraqi, and Qatar viewpoints. But they are way too short. I would watch the Al Jazeera channel if it was available specially because the Al Jazeera web site is not working any more.
If Israel provided a program I would watch that too. Not enough news from the world is available. We miss viewpoints from South America,Central America ,Japan etc. We are too damn provincial.

[Captain Amazing]

II would watch the Al Jazeera channel if it was available specially because the Al Jazeera web site is not working any more.

It's working. Here's their website:

http://english.aljazeera.net/News

[Jaochai]

Speaking of which, you can watch it right from Realplayer or what-have-you on their website. I payed the 6 dollars a month to watch it high-resolution; it's fascinating. And that Shahnaz Pakravan? SO fine.