Struggling to find a cable or satellite network interested in broadcasting its new English-language news channel in the U.S., Al-Jazeera English has decided to ignore such conventional channels altogether and establish a YouTube channel for American viewers. The New York Times reports:
The YouTube channel will run segments from such Al Jazeera English shows as “Frost Over the World” with David Frost; “Inside Iraq,” billed as a weekly debate program offering opinions from guests on Iraq; and “Riz Khan,” a former BBC and CNN journalist who now works for Al Jazeera, along with new material produced exclusively for the venture… It plans to add 10 to 15 new clips each week.
Al-Jazeera English will hardly be alone in having a branded channel on YouTube. It will face tough competition from YouTube’s existing channels, including CBS, BBC, France 24-English, VH-1 — and of course, Paris Hilton.