[RCO]

Al-Jazeera coming to Canada

By CHRISTINA SPENCER, SUN MEDIA


OTTAWA - The Canadian radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has approved a licence for Al-Jazeera English despite concerns from some that it could violate Canadian regulations on abusive comments.

But influential groups such as the Canadian Jewish Congress and B’nai Brith Canada did not oppose adding Al Jazeera to the list of available digital channels – partly because the network agreed to set up a consultative committee to give the Jewish community input, the CRTC said.

The broadcast regulator received more than 2,600 comments supporting Al-Jazeera’s licence application and about 40 comments opposing it.

Among those in favour of allowing the 24-hour English language news channel were the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, the Canadian Arab Federation, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, NDP leader Jack Layton and Conservative Senator Hugh Segal.

Though the Canadian Jewish Congress did not oppose the application, it said it was concerned about the service, according to the CRTC. The congress asked the commission to make sure Al-Jazeera avoids Holocaust denial or anti-Semitic statements and that it stay independent from its controversial Arabic-language counterpart.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Me.....6-sun.html

[Craig]

One step closer to becoming an Islamic nation.

[Some Guy 2.0]

[DavidK]

[Craig]

[SFrank85]

Let them come. I am sure it will be gone in a couple years. It is the english station. How many muslims will watch the english version?

[Forward]

[DavidK]

[bsenka]

[FF_Canuck]

[bsenka]

[RCO]

( it has arrived )


Al Jazeera now on the air in Canada

By QMI Agency


TORONTO - Al Jazeera is now on the air in Canada.

The 24-hour cable news channel officially began programming in Canada on Tuesday, launching on Bell TV on channel 516, Rogers in Ontario on channel 176 and Videotron illico Digital TV on channel 173.

The station also announced it will open a Canadian bureau in June. This will make Al Jazeera the only international news channel with a bureau in the country.

Canadian-born journalist Imtiaz Tyab, most recently a London-based reporter for the BBC, will join Al Jazeera as the Canadian correspondent, to be based in Toronto. Tyab is also a former reporter for CBC News in Vancouver.

Calling Canada “one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world,” Tony Burman, managing director of Al Jazeera's English operations, said he believes the channel will be well-received in the country.

“Our cutting-edge reporting and programming will fill an important void by bringing another voice in international news to this important market,” Burman said Tuesday.

Al Jazeera officials hope to announce the station will be available with other television providers in the near future.

In May, Al Jazeera's lineup includes a feature on Canada's role in Afghanistan and a look at what Canada's departure in 2011 will mean for NATO; in-depth features on Canada's oil sands, including reports from Alberta on life at Fort McMurray and an examination of the environmental impact of the project; and a report from Winnipeg on how the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings will impact the nation's aboriginal people.

On Tuesday, the station featured a debate about Canada's involvement in Afghanistan. The panel included Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae.

Al Jazeera English (AJE), the first English-language world news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East, launched in 2006. The broadcaster now has more than 70 news bureaus around the world.

AJE employs more than 1,000 people worldwide.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Me.....1-qmi.html

[potan]

Anything that cuts into the CBC's market share is welcome.