Al Jazeera English (AJE; Arabic: الجزيرة, romanized: al-jazīrah, lit. 'the island', pronounced [æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ]), often known as Al Jazeera, is a 24-hour English-language news channel operating under Al Jazeera Media Network, which is partially funded by the government of Qatar. Al Jazeera introduced an English-language division in 2006. It is the first global English-language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East.
Al Jazeera is known for its in-depth and frontline reporting particularly in conflict zones such as the Arab Spring, the Gaza–Israel conflict and others. Al Jazeera's coverage of the Arab Spring won the network numerous awards, including the Peabody Award. It positions itself as an alternative media platform to the dominance of Western media outlets like CNN and BBC, focusing on narrative reporting where subjects present their own stories.
The channel launched on 15 November 2006 with an investment of approximately $1 billion from the Qatari government. Initially slated to be named Al Jazeera International, the channel was renamed nine months prior to the launch. This decision was influenced by one of the channel's backers, who argued that the original Arabic-language channel already encompassed an international scope.
The channel was expected to reach approximately 40 million households, but it significantly surpassed this launch target, reaching 80 million homes. By 2009, the service was accessible in every major European market and available to 130 million homes across more than 100 countries through cable and satellite, according to a network spokeswoman in Washington.
However, the channel had limited penetration in the American market, where it was carried by only one satellite service and a handful of cable networks. Al Jazeera English subsequently launched a campaign to enter the North American market, including a dedicated website. In August 2011, it became available to some cable subscribers in New York, having previously been an option for some viewers in Washington, D.C., Ohio, and Los Angeles. The channel primarily reached the United States through its live online streaming service. Following approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on 26 November 2009, Al Jazeera English became readily available on most major Canadian television providers, including Rogers and Bell Satellite TV.
Al Jazeera English and Iran's state-run Press TV were the only international English-language television broadcasters with journalists reporting from inside both Gaza and Israel during the 2008–2009 Israel-Gaza conflict. Foreign press access to Gaza was limited via either Egypt or Israel. However, Al Jazeera's reporters Ayman Mohyeldin and Sherine Tadros were already inside Gaza when the conflict began.
The channel is also available online. The network encourages online viewing at its own website or via its channel on YouTube. Al Jazeera English HD launched in the United Kingdom on Freeview on 26 November 2013, and began streaming in HD on YouTube in 2015.
On 1 January 2020, Al Jazeera English debuted a new graphics package to coincide with the renovation of its main Doha studio, the last of the channel's three main studios (Doha, London, and Washington D.C.) to be upgraded since the channel's launch in 2006.
On 3 January 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced that it had purchased Current TV in the United States and would launch an American news channel. Sixty percent of the channel's programming would be produced in the United States, while 40% would be from Al Jazeera English. This was later changed at the request of pay-television providers to almost 100% US programming. However, Al Jazeera America maintained a close working relationship with Al Jazeera English. The channel aired Newshour in the morning and midday hours, and cut to live Al Jazeera English coverage of large breaking international news stories outside those hours. The Al Jazeera English programmes Witness, Earthrise, The Listening Post, Talk To Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Correspondent and 101 East along with Al Jazeera Investigates aired regularly on Al Jazeera America.
On 13 January 2016, Al Jazeera America announced that the network would shut down on 12 April 2016, citing the "economic landscape".
In 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network began planning a new channel called Al Jazeera UK; the British channel was set to broadcast for five hours during prime time as a local opt-out of Al Jazeera English. Ultimately, the planned UK channel never materialised. Al Jazeera English continued to broadcast some of its daily bulletins from London until July 2023, when it moved its base to Qatar.
The channel is available in many countries, mostly via satellite, sometimes via cable. The channel is also available online. Al Jazeera English provides a free HD stream on its website for unlimited viewing. Al Jazeera news segments were frequently included on the American public television program Worldfocus which aired from 6 October 2008 until 2 April 2010. Al Jazeera can also be streamed on any iOS or Android device with an internet connection using a free application.
Al Jazeera English is also available on connected TV and OTT streaming services like Pluto TV and Haystack News.
Along with a free unlimited high-quality stream on the official Al Jazeera English website, Online subscriptions allowing unlimited viewing may be purchased from Jump TV, RealPlayer, and VDC. Headlines from Al Jazeera English are available on Twitter.
Al Jazeera English's website also contains news reports and full episodes of their programs that can be viewed for free on their website. The videos are hosted by YouTube, where viewers can also go to find the videos.
Al Jazeera English is available in the UK and Ireland on Freeview channel 235, Sky channel 511, Freesat channel 203 and Virgin Media channel 622. A notice appearing on Freeview channel 235 indicates that Al Jazeera is scheduled to end there on 30 September 2024 but that its service will remain on channel 251 as a streaming service for STBs that support streaming.
The channel initially began test streaming Al Jazeera English (then called "Al Jazeera International") in March 2006 on Hot Bird, Astra 1E, Hispasat, AsiaSat3S, Eutelsat 28A and Panamsat PAS 10. Telenors Thor, Türksat and Eutelsat 25A were added to the satellites carrying it. Eutelsat 28A carried the test stream on frequency 11.681 under the name "AJI".
Al Jazeera English is available in Sub-Saharan Africa mainly via DStv and StarTimes' satellite and terrestrial TV platforms. It is also available FTA on satellites like Belintersat 51.5°E and Nilesat 201. In Northern Africa, Al Jazeera English is available on telcos like Etisalat. It is also available via satellite, on Badr°26E and various local cable operators.