# Should U.S. Corporations be required to carry Al-Jazeera? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 31, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633 "2011-01-31T12:15:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/41 "2011-01-31T17:00:17Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Which raises an interesting question, BTW - how is Al Jazeera perceived in Israel? Is it seen as a fairly unremarkable news network, an analogue to Fox, a Middle Eastern BBC, or something else? It’s seen as a professional, polished network with an agenda - namely, anti-Israeli and pro-anti-Israeli groups like Hamas and Hizballah (which some people link to Qatar’s close relations with Iran and Syria, but that can’ really be proven). Of course, just because we think that they’re anti Israeli, that doesn’t mean we should pretend they don’t exist. They provide a valuable perspective, and to be fair, they get good scoops. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/42 "2011-01-31T17:04:00Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Well whaddaya know! I just checked on my TV, and it is available here. Mind, I had to go wayyy down the dial to find it–it’s among the Russian, Italian, and Chinese channels–and an onscreen message told me that it is subscription-only, meaning I’d have to call the cable company and buy it. > > So it is available, but under those conditions, I doubt it has many Canadian viewers. Keep in mind that these are the same cable companies that at one point charged around $10/month to people who wanted to watch Deutsche Welle TV… a channel that the German government was specifically giving away for free. This according to my German friend. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/43 "2011-01-31T17:04:55Z")
Certainly the Israeli Military gave them good access when they made the documentary on the Merkava Tank. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/44 "2011-01-31T17:09:17Z")
Found it. Bell TV offers Al-Jazeera for $3/month, along with something called i-Channel. Not sure whether that’s the English version or not, come to think of it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/45 "2011-01-31T17:17:54Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Certainly the Israeli Military gave them good access when they made the documentary on the Merkava Tank. As far as I know, they’re as free to operate here as any other international news outfit. I know they take part in government press briefings. ---
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/46 "2011-01-31T17:30:28Z")
I admit the OP presented no real evidence - but there is an interesting question there. Does government disapproval count as censorship without legislative action? I.e. if the claims about the previous and current administration openly being unhappy about companies carrying Al Jazeera that would disturb me. Also Al Jazeera English is fantastic and everybody should be watching it. The complete absence of showbiz news and ‘gossip’ along with limited sports reporting and a heavy international perspective makes it my type of news channel. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/47 "2011-01-31T17:32:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s seen as a professional, polished network with an agenda - namely, anti-Israeli and pro-anti-Israeli groups like Hamas and Hizballah (which some people link to Qatar’s close relations with Iran and Syria, but that can’ really be proven). Of course, just because we think that they’re anti Israeli, that doesn’t mean we should pretend they don’t exist. They provide a valuable perspective, and to be fair, they get good scoops. Thanks - this is interesting stuff. If I may pry a bit further - what makes them anti-Israeli? I assume they aren’t in the “drive the Zionists to the sea” crowd - that doesn’t go with with professionalism. Or sanity. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/48 "2011-01-31T17:33:12Z")
I get Link TV and Al Jazeera on my dish. They do not advertise it nor do they even tell you a thing about it. I . It is way up on the channels, My movie channels end at 308. Regular TV ends at 315 near the weather channel . Link Tv is at 9410 and 9415. I found it by flipping all the way through the channels. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/49 "2011-01-31T17:33:42Z")
Also - my inner imp of the perverse wonders how Al Jazeera would cover mass pro-democracy demonstrations in Qatar. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/50 "2011-01-31T17:36:22Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Also - my inner imp of the perverse wonders how Al Jazeera would cover mass pro-democracy demonstrations in Qatar. 😃 AJE’s coverage of things Qatar (and the Qatari royal family, etc) sucks rocks. Fortunately, no actual news of consequence to the outside world happens in Qatar. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/51 "2011-01-31T18:12:32Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think the most ironic thing is that the OP is implying that Al Jazeera is being censored, and yet the OP is quick to silence anyone that he doesn’t agree with. Perhaps there should be “must carry” posters on the board in order to promote debate, understanding, and alternative viewpoints. And he wants the government to force cable companies to outsource the news to foreign news agencies. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/52 "2011-01-31T18:17:44Z")
Required? No. But it seems clear that there’s a tacit political-religious bias at work. Objectively, Al Jazeera is an _important_ network for world news. It would be entirely sensible and natural for it to be widely available in the United States–except for our fear of Islam. So, Americans, _call your television provider_ and tell them that, yes, you would like Al Jazeera to be available. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/53 "2011-01-31T18:22:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > And he wants the government to force cable companies to outsource the news to foreign news agencies. That, sir, is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/54 "2011-01-31T18:57:51Z")
> [@Sri\_Theo](#): > > I admit the OP presented no real evidence - but there is an interesting question there. Does government disapproval count as censorship without legislative action? I.e. if the claims about the previous and current administration openly being unhappy about companies carrying Al Jazeera that would disturb me. I believe the usual POV has been that absent enforced or enforceable sanctions it is not really censorship if it’s a matter of the distribution channel either merely having made a cost analysis that says too many more disgusted subscribers will cancel service than they will gain from the channel, or being just too weak-spined to carry content that may rub the administration the wrong way. Now, if there were credible reasons to believe that as a result of that content distribution, government entities will make life hard on the carrier – e.g. deny permits to lay down cable or make corporate acquisitions, refuse contract proposals when they’re the best bidder otherwise – well… that could be a greyer area. For instance, the FCC or SEC commissioners, the head of the appropriate Senate Committee, or the White House Press Secretary pointendly reminding the CEO of Comcast after hearing of conversations with AJ, that next year some of its profitable markets come up for review as to whether to allow other carriers in their territory, or that their takeover of Lower Highland County Cable and Net still hasn’t cleared SEC, this could be perceived as inappropriate arm twisting IMO. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/55 "2011-01-31T19:31:57Z")
[QUOTE=spark240] But it seems clear that there’s a tacit political-religious bias at work. Objectively, Al Jazeera is an important network for world news. It would be entirely sensible and natural for it to be widely available in the United States–except for our fear of Islam. [/QUOTE] It doesn’t seem clear to me at all. Several posters from Canada admit they COULD get AJ, but that it doesn’t seem to be all that popular. Several posters in the US have said that it’s available on their cable or satellite systems, but that they have to pay extra for it. You could get a feed from it simply by having a high speed internet connection and opening up a browser…do you do this? What seems clear to me is that there isn’t a large enough market for AJ in the US to make it worth cable companies expenses to make it widely available. If it WAS, and if cable companies and other providers could make money on it, they would be doing so. This is similar to the folks who decry Fox News and moan about why there aren’t liberal news networks out there. The actual reason isn’t about some sort of conservative conspiracy to keep liberal news networks down, but basic market economics. If there was a large market for such a thing then someone would be filling it because, well, money is really nice to have. > [@](#): > > So, Americans, call your television provider and tell them that, yes, you would like Al Jazeera to be available. But I don’t have any interest in having AJ on my TV. Heck, I rarely listen to the news networks that I DO have on TV. The only channels I’m interested in or Discovery, TLC, Military Channel, Science, NATGEO, History Channel and AMC. Other than that the other channels are simply stuff I have to scroll through to get to the good stuff. And if I really DID want to look at AJ I’d simply open up my browser and go on their web site…same as I do for the BBC or other news networks I check out. -XT ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/56 "2011-01-31T19:43:56Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > What else besides outright censorship is causing the major U.S. carriers (aside from Link TV) to not include this channel? It’s not censorship if the broadcasters choose not to show a network they think won’t be profitable. [I’d tune in to see Pepermint Gomez.](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-december-13-2006/al-jazeera-english)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/57 "2011-01-31T19:56:15Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > It doesn’t seem clear to me at all. Several posters from Canada admit they COULD get AJ, but that it doesn’t seem to be all that popular. Several posters in the US have said that it’s available on their cable or satellite systems, but that they have to pay extra for it. You could get a feed from it simply by having a high speed internet connection and opening up a browser…do you do this? Yes, I watch Al Jazeera streaming online sometimes. I understood we were talking about the non-availability on US televisions without internet. I can find all kinds of things online for which nobody would make a case for cable or satellite distribution. > [@xtisme](#): > > What seems clear to me is that there isn’t a large enough market for AJ in the US to make it worth cable companies expenses to make it widely available. Certainly the TV companies _think_ that now. I’m saying that isn’t necessarily the case, or if it is, it’s because of misperceptions about what AJ is (“the terrorist news network,” or only in Arabic, or whatever). > [@xtisme](#): > > But I don’t have any interest in having AJ on my TV. > … > And if I really DID want to look at AJ I’d simply open up my browser and go on their web site…same as I do for the BBC or other news networks I check out. That’s fine. But there are a lot of people who don’t have high-speed internet available to them at all, and more who may have internet but don’t find it convenient to watch TV that way. And I’m suggesting that among these groups is a not-insignificant number who _would_ find something of value in AJ being available to them. Especially at times like now, I feel reasonably sure more Americans would choose to watch some Al Jazeera than to watch some of the marginal-interest stations that you and I both receive (and pay for) but only scroll past. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/58 "2011-01-31T20:13:51Z")
[QUOTE=spark240] Yes, I watch Al Jazeera streaming online sometimes. I understood we were talking about the non-availability on US televisions without internet. I can find all kinds of things online for which nobody would make a case for cable or satellite distribution. [/QUOTE] Well, the OP is making the case that US media companies should be forced to carry it. Several posters in this thread, including gonzomax have stated that it is in fact available to them (as an extra pay channel) on their current cable or satellite systems (I have never checked, to be honest, though I know there is a ton of stuff that if I were willing to pay for it is available). It’s certainly not available as a broadcast TV type thing, but then not much is these days in the US…at least, I haven’t seen broadcast TV in over a decade and don’t even have an antenna on my house anymore. > [@](#): > > Certainly the TV companies think that now. I’m saying that isn’t necessarily the case, or if it is, it’s because of misperceptions about what AJ is (“the terrorist news network,” or only in Arabic, or whatever). What do you base this on? Do you think that there is an actual market for AJ but that people are being tricked into not wanting to pay for it because they think it’s a terrorist network?? If so, then that seems like a marketing failure on AJ’s part, if indeed there is a large untapped market for their programming here in the US. And if that’s the case, why do some in house distribution networks in the US have it and others don’t? > [@](#): > > That’s fine. But there are a lot of people who don’t have high-speed internet available to them at all, and more who may have internet but don’t find it convenient to watch TV that way. And I’m suggesting that among these groups is a not-insignificant number who would find something of value in AJ being available to them. Especially at times like now, I feel reasonably sure more Americans would choose to watch some Al Jazeera than to watch some of the marginal-interest stations that you and I both receive (and pay for) but only scroll past. If there is a large enough market for it in the US then someone will offer it. It’s all about the money. Basically, if the numbers aren’t insignificant then cable and other distribution networks would offer it as part of a package (like the BBC) because it would be a draw to get more business. If there were even a few people who MIGHT want it they would offer it as an extra pay channel (like gonzomax described). If there was little perceived market for it at all then, well, it wouldn’t be offered in that area and something else would. If you REALLY wanted to see it and you were too poor to have internet or a smart phone with internet, and you didn’t want to go to the library or other places with public internet, then you are probably also too poor to afford basic cable…let alone the extended cable packages that might have it. In which case you are probably out of luck, unfortunately. I don’t believe it’s a major issues that people too poor to have internet at all are putting as a top priority right now. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/59 "2011-01-31T20:28:54Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Well, the OP is making the case that US media companies should be forced to carry it. I disagreed. > [@xtisme](#): > > Do you think that there is an actual market for AJ but that people are being tricked into not wanting to pay for it because they think it’s a terrorist network?? Essentially, yes. Just a few months ago, on this board, Al Jazeera was described by **cosmosdan** (who I think is generally “liberal”) as “fear mongering by Muslims,” and compared to Glenn Beck. I leave you to imagine for yourself what other Americans may think, if SDMB liberals are thinking that. I’ll just note that the phrase “terrorist news network” is not my coinage, and was not satire. > [@xtisme](#): > > If there is a large enough market for it in the US then someone will offer it. It’s all about the money. Basically, if the numbers aren’t insignificant then cable and other distribution networks would offer it as part of a package (like the BBC) because it would be a draw to get more business. If there were even a few people who MIGHT want it they would offer it as an extra pay channel (like gonzomax described). And that’s precisely why I encourage people reading this thread, who might want to watch Al Jazeera sometime, to _call their TV providers_ and say so. And to let their friends know what AJ is really like. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633/60 "2011-01-31T20:42:51Z")
[QUOTE=spark240] I disagreed. [/QUOTE] With the OP or with my summary of what the OP was getting at? > [@](#): > > Essentially, yes. Just a few months ago, on this board, Al Jazeera was described by cosmosdan (who I think is generally “liberal”) as “fear mongering by Muslims,” and compared to Glenn Beck. Then they have an image problem (I honestly never thought of AJ as a terrorist network or whatever, though they certainly have a bias and skewed perspective, IMHO anyway, especially about things concerning Israel. Not really all that surprising, considering). > [@](#): > > I leave you to imagine for yourself what other Americans may think, if SDMB liberals are thinking that. I’ll just note that the phrase “terrorist news network” is not my coinage, and was not satire. Yet it IS available, according to some posters in this thread. > [@](#): > > And that’s precisely why I encourage people reading this thread, who might want to watch Al Jazeera sometime, to call their TV providers and say so. And to let their friends know what AJ is really like. Sure, I agree. It’s just like if a poster wants to see the All Bass Channel or the Dwarf Wrestling Channel, or whatever. They should certainly call their provider and ask for the programming they want, and if it’s not available they should put in a request that the provider make it available. If enough folks ask for it then it will start off as a one off pay channel, then move to being part of a package of channel choices (that’s how I get the Military Channel, TLC, Science, NATGEO and the several History Channels I get…only one History Channel and, I think Discovery is available with the basic package) and eventually, if it’s REALLY popular, onto the basic list (not that I see this as happening…BBC isn’t even on my basic programming list). -XT [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-u-s-corporations-be-required-to-carry-al-jazeera/569633.md?page=4)