![irony-meter[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/irony-meter1.jpg?quality=83)
Middle East “Big Oil” funded media outlet buys Al Gore’s CURRENT TV with plans to infiltrate offer the English Al Jazeera channel into American homes – my Irony Meter pegged.
Will it be the “All Al” channel now?
Some details…
From NYT’s Media decoder
9:16 p.m. | Updated Al Jazeera, the pan-Arab news giant, has long tried to convince Americans that it is a legitimate news organization, not a parrot of Middle Eastern propaganda or something more sinister.
It just bought itself 40 million more chances to make its case.
Al Jazeera on Wednesday announced a deal to take over Current TV, the low-rated cable channel that was founded by Al Gore, a former vice president, and his business partners seven years ago. Al Jazeera plans to shut Current and start an English-language channel, which will be available in more than 40 million homes, with newscasts emanating from both New York and Doha, Qatar.
For Al Jazeera, which is financed by the government of Qatar, the acquisition is a coming of age moment. A decade ago, Al Jazeera’s flagship Arabic-language channel was reviled by American politicians for showing videotapes from Al Qaeda members and sympathizers. Now the news operation is buying an American channel, having convinced Mr. Gore and the other owners of Current that it has the journalistic muscle and the money to compete head-to-head with CNN and other news channels in the United States.
Al Jazeera did not disclose the purchase price, but people with direct knowledge of the deal pegged it at around $500 million, indicating a $100 million payout for Mr. Gore, who owned 20 percent of Current.
===============================================================
Al Jazeera apparently has been looking for ways to sneak in for some time. Al Gore provided them the key.
In thinking of what I’d like to say to Mr. Gore about this, I’m reminded of House Speaker Boehner’s missive to Harry Reid making the news today.
There’s a silver lining though, next time Gore bloviates about climate skeptics “being in the pay of big oil”, we can hit him upside the head with his own pathetic hypocrisy.
As for cable TV subscribers, I’d say the best way to exercise your rights of protest is to not pay your bill, and/or disconnect. That will be my choice should it show up in my home.
UPDATES: (via Tom Graves in comments)
“Glenn Beck Tried to Buy Current TV But Was Rejected”
http://news.yahoo.com/glenn-beck-tried-buy-current-tv-rejected-032853589–finance.html
“Time Warner Cable Drops Al Gore’s Current TV Due To Purchase By Al Jazeera”
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Second take, amazing stuff right in front of us!
Well folks when you come right down to it I’d have a ‘bit‘ more faith in the credibility of what Al Jazeera puts out as news than I do in ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC…
I’ve watched a few of the documentries Al Jazeera has had on the violence of the drug cartels in Mexico (something I’m very familiar with), on slavery in the modern world, and the Koch brothers…
Good stuff…
Obviously Qatar is interested in expanding its role in fighting global warming, as evidenced from the recent conference. And if it takes $100 million for Al Gore to land on his feet – well that’s the cost of a good fight. Smart rats never jump. They quietly slip onto another ship.
January 2, 2013 at 8:01 pm
I would urge you, America to be careful of how you discuss this simply to avoid looking foolish. Yes the USA prides itself on being the land of the free but for the majority of us looking in we can see the falsity of this especially with regard to your media and especially with regard to middle east reporting about Israel.
Your media, the big newspapers especially are incredibly biased with reporting about , Israel and whilst you will hear atrocious stories of how filthy Arab terrorist murdered a poor schoolgirl you won’t read about the 100′s of Palestinian children killed in sweeping missile attacks every month.
============================================================================
They have smart bombs that only target children? The “filthy Arab terrorist” have smart rockets that avoid children?
The UN set up modern Israel, not the US.
Radical Jewish terrorist didn’t attack the US on 9/11. It was radical Muslim terrorist. Do you condemn what they did?
If not, “talk to the hand”.
Who bought it? Al Jazeera in Qatar or Al Jazeera English (AJE). I understand they are two different entities because of our media laws. AJE has been mainstream broadcasting in the DC area for years (for diplomats). I heard, years ago, that AJE has an Israeli investor owner, and I know it would need a US investor owner (reason why Murdoch had to become American citizen when he entered US market and didn’t want to share ownership).
Furthermore, AJE has entirely different content than AJ Qatar. Look at the their opinion page names:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/
Or some of their blog names:
http://blogs.aljazeera.com
Al Gore couldn’t make Current TV work. You think Gore was capable of instituting Al Jazeera’s Code of Ethics? AJE is the only news org to have one of these.
http://www.aljazeera.com/aboutus/2006/11/2008525185733692771.html
And lets not forget this.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryus2012/2012/04/201242462010275243.html
I am with ZootCadillac.
Al Jazeera has more balanced news then all US agencies put together.
I remember how in the early 80’s on my first extended stay in the US I was branded a communist for spouting some liberal west European ideas. I was also told to keep those ideas quiet as they would land me in jail.
Land of the free? That was an eyeopener.
As they say in the country I am living in at the moment: Yeah right.
I’d believe AlJ before tbe BBC or CNN everyday. Despite their greeny perpesctive on everything.
Now we know exactly who Al Gore pals up to. No kidding. They didn’t come to Al, Al went to them to make the sale. He was in trouble and his propaganda just wasn’t selling. Needed better propaganda.
ZootCadillac says:
January 2, 2013 at 8:01 pm
I agree with you completely. In 1985 before Reagan deregulated the media biz, there were a little over 50 major media owners in the country. Now there are six. Six! And all of them are entertainment companies; news is barnacle they have to include. None of our news orgs have significant foreign desks anymore. We need the additional voices that Al Jazeera provides. Their investigative reports on what is going on around the world beat American efforts hands down. They actually send reporters to foreign locations to do the reporting. It ain’t Christiane Amanpour sitting in a bar in Belgrade reporting that she’s watching the Serbs massacre people in Markdale (Bosnia). (Stephen Kinzer, NYT, Oct. 9, 1994).
These are interesting times, as in the Chinese curse. We better wake up. Who is John Galt?
Given the amount of prejudice we have received from MSM, I think we’re the last people who should be defending the status quo. Al Jazeera is hardly an ally, but they represent a breath of long overdue change – even if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.
I agree though its hilarious to see Al Gore receiving money from big oil.
I am NOT with ZootCadillac who says: Fox news as a legitimate source as opposed to the far-right political activist mouthpiece it has become. I’m certainly not some raging communist as I’m sure by now many of you will be thinking. I’m a fairly well educated white, Englishman in the UK. I like to get my news from many different sources so as to get a better global view.
I don’t know about AJ as I never watch it. Once I found out about their “Sesame Street” that taught little kids how to hate Jews (I watched a few disgusting episodes) –I knew it was not for me.
As far as Fox–what???? I am a fairly well educated woman in the US (who listens to the BBC and Moscow news) and I want you to know that Fox is far from the mouth piece of the far-right political scene–in fact many conservatives no longer listen to it becasue it is so middle of the road–they tell more of the truth than the other MSM, so you are more likely to hear facts from them and spin from MSM–but ‘far right?’ Sorry, you fail on that one.
DesertYote says “even Soviet Pravda had more integrity”
I lived in Moscow for more than a year in early 90’s. Pravada does not have any integrity–or at least then–now may be different–it was the laughing stock of teh man on the street.
I believe too much information is far better than not enough. Free speech is a wonderful thing and very important to defend regardless of the content (within limits). If you do not like the content, then voice your opinion. History is full of examples of the negative outcomes from censorship. Free speech is a wonderful thing. The alternative is hideous.
“”””…..nga Din says:
January 2, 2013 at 8:53 pm
January 2, 2013 at 8:01 pm
I would urge you, America to be careful of how you discuss this simply to avoid looking foolish. Yes the USA prides itself on being the land of the free but for the majority of us looking in we can see the falsity of this especially with regard to your media and especially with regard to middle east reporting about Israel.
Your media, the big newspapers especially are incredibly biased with reporting about , Israel and whilst you will hear atrocious stories of how filthy Arab terrorist murdered a poor schoolgirl you won’t read about the 100′s of Palestinian children killed in sweeping missile attacks every month.
============================================================================
They have smart bombs that only target children? The “filthy Arab terrorist” have smart rockets that avoid children?……”””””
Well I don’t know who said what here Gunga, but, if it was you, then you are being deceived.
Our President; who also leads our troops as CIC openly bows to prominent Arab leaders, and has them as dinner guests at the White House; that’s not US media bias; you can fact check it yourself.
But the Israeli Prime Minister, can only enter our White House through the servant’s entrance around the side, so nobody sees him enter to be lectured by our anointed World leader.
And we can listen live to the speeches at the United Nations to hear for ouselves the utterances of Arab leaders, and also other Islamic democracies as well; scuse me, I guess there aren’t any islamic democracies, are there ?
We are not as stupid, as US media portrays us, so we can see what goes on in those areas surrounding Israel for ourselves.
I believe the Geneva Conventions classify it as a war crime to put military accoutrements that are legitimate targets of war, into civilian occupied locations, such as hospitals and schools. But perhaps you didn’t know that.
Actually, modern Israel, was set up by mostly Jewish people as well as their Arab cousins, who were largely refugees of a war against their very existence; the land in the region was theirs thousands of years before any UN existed.
Ok, I’ll bite/
@Gunga Din
They have smart bombs that only target children? The “filthy Arab terrorist” have smart rockets that avoid children?
The Israelis do indeed have smart bombs that can find designated targets very easily and very precisely. They are American armaments supplied by the US and paid for by US military aid of $24Bn from 2000-2009 and projected to be $30bn from 2009-2018. these very precise weapons killed 2969 Palestinians in the period of 2000-2009 of which 1128 were children. By contrast the Palestinians are using home made rockets with no targeting electronics. they calculate the fuel needed to reach a certain area and point and hope. The Israelis choose their targets with American weapons, the Palestinians just fire their darts in angry retribution at an occupying nation.
Collateral damage should be expected to be higher on the Israeli side. it is far from it. This is not a war the US are supposed to be involved in yet they actively fund it.
However i think you have wilfully ignored my point. I’ve not discussed any blame or personal position about the war, i have merely pointed out the biased way in which it is reported to Americans within the US media. You may ignore this but if your information is only taken from the one area which i suggest has bias and censorship then perhaps it bears more investigation?
The UN set up modern Israel, not the US.
That’s technically correct although it was very much a British and US collaboration. Britain being very much subject to the whims of the US after WWII owing to the massive debts they were in. however it’s not a claim I made or implied and I fail to see what this has to do with my point that US media is biased and controlled and that it’s citizens should welcome outside media, or at least take the opportunity to find out for themselves if what they have been told is factually correct.
Radical Jewish terrorist didn’t attack the US on 9/11. It was radical Muslim terrorist.
I fail to see what that has to do with my post above. I’ve not made any accusations about any group other than the US mainstream media. I could counter by saying that much of US mainland terrorism has historically been committed by radical, right-wing fundamentalist Christian groups or individuals. If a criminal’s religion is pertinent to his crime then why have the US not declared war on these groups? it’s a nonsense point and not one i brought up.
Do you condemn what they did
Absolutely. What right minded individual would not? I condemn all acts of barbarism against the innocent.
I’m a Rtd. UK Army Staff Sgt. RA. I fought alongside US troops to liberate Kuwait. I’ve been deployed to that area many times. I’ve killed these people, in great numbers, for you and your like, so I’m told, to enjoy the freedoms you feel you are entitled to but the way many people talk about Muslims today without understanding the slightest about the actual person makes me wish i hadn’t bothered. And that’s coming from an atheist who thinks all organised religion is a bane to humanity.
If not, “talk to the hand”.
Yeah, i guess.
ianrs says:
January 2, 2013 at 9:18 pm
I’d believe AlJ before tbe BBC or CNN everyday. Despite their greeny perpesctive on everything.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There, right there in that comment, is the problem.
When our knowledge of a given issue is high, we almost always see the reporting as incompetent, superficial, and inaccurate. What better example can we have of this than MSM reporting of climate science?
So, will Al Jazeera be biased? You betcha. Is that a problem? Sure.
But the bigger problem is that their reporting of middle east affairs will be just as incompetent, superficial, and inaccurate as is their reporting of climate science. Just because they do more of it doesn’t mean they are any better at it. Exact same goes for CNN, Fox, BBC, WSJ…. pick a topic that you have in depth knowledge of and check to see how it is reported. All we’re getting from the MSM these days is current events. Bias is mostly about which current events are reported and which not. The bigger problem is that high integrity journalistic investigation that puts the current events into proper perspective is lacking entirely.
A pox on all their houses.
ZootCadillac says:
“I’ve seen US media often, it still amazes me that many posters here see Fox news as a legitimate source as opposed to the far-right political activist mouthpiece it has become.”
Far-right political activist mouthpiece…?
Hardly.
OPEC countries and especially Arab countries use 100’s of millions of dollars to assure media influence amongst other things.
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal owns a 7 percent stake in News Corp — the parent company of Fox News — making him the largest shareholder outside the family of News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch.
But he exerts no pressure and has no influence on the direction and content…….
Rrrrright.
Isn’t it fitting that Al Gore will receive his $100 Million in 2013 under the new and improved Obama tax rates? Think of all the “good” he could have done with the millions he would have saved under the old Bush tax rates. That’s too bad for him, unless he plans to use a foreign tax shelter. It would be interesting to find out how much he actually ends up paying for his 2013 taxes. Obama will need a few extra million to help pay for his next Hawaiian vacation.
Well, even if you are not a fan of AJE, at least there will be a sharp reduction of propaganda on that channel now!!! 🙂
This is a flyby comment as I am having a rough week.
I would not totally discount Al Jazeera as a news organization. (I no longer know how to categorize “legitimate” news organizations). I do not watch Al Jazeera (or any other news) but much of what I have read passes the laugh test.
Look at how they cover women’s issues as treatment of women is a major failing of Islamic culture as currently practiced.
Full disclosure, I have not dropped in on Al Jazeera written media for several months.
[snip]
Zoot, perhaps it’s news to you that terrorists hide among women and children for a reason. Same reason they fake atrocities for video propaganda on outlets like AJ. And many Brits and Russians and sophisticates all over the world are anti-semites. Doesn’t make em right.
Al Jazeera English has been available in the UK for years. Like every news outlet it’s not perfect, but it’s one of the better ones.
In the slippery, vested interest world of MSM it is necessary to ‘triangulate’ at every opportunity.
Having Al Jazeera widely available in the US will give open minded people another ‘perspective’ on major issues. This can only be a good thing.
As for Al Gore being a fat hypocrite…well that seems true, regardless of which angle you look at it from.