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Today, in addition to its Arabic- and English- language news channels, Al-Jazeera also has documentary, sport, and children channels, as well as a live channel called Al Jazeera Mubashar.
Al Jazeera, which bills itself as the "voice of the voiceless," is famous for telecasting fiery debates between those with contradicting views. At the same time, it has defended its professionalism and right to inform.
It cemented its reputation with exclusive coverage of the first days of the war in Afghanistan in late 2001.
But its critics accuse[ it of having become a voice for Islamist hardliners, such as Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, whose messages it was always the first to receive and broadcast.
It was banned in Iraq where its covered was deemed to favour the Sunni insurgency there.
In December, Kuwait shut down the local Al Jazeera office after the channel extensively covered a police crackdown on a gathering held by the Kuwaiti opposition on December 8.
Last May, Bahrain also banned the news channel, which has offended many countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Al Jazeera has also been locked in a dispute with Jordan, which it accused of jamming 2010 World Cup coverage for which it had exclusive pay-TV rights -- an accusation denied by the monarchy.
Morocco suspended the Doha-based channel's operations and withdrew its staff's accreditation in October after what Rabat described as "numerous failures" that went against the "rules of serious and responsible journalism."
On Sunday, Egypt moved to shut down Al Jazeera's coverage of mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak's regime, ordering the halt of all its activities in Egypt and the annulment of its licences, and withdrawing the press cards of all its staff in Egypt.
Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat meanwhile halted its relays of Al Jazeera programming on Sunday.
The pan-Arab broadcaster vowed that it would not be silenced. It said the shut down -- on day six of unprecedented and often violent street protests -- was aimed at "censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people."
Al Jazeera has more than 65 offices worldwide and more than 3,000 employees, including over 400 journalists from more than 60 countries.
Its main competitor in the Arab world is Saudi-owned and Dubai-based Al Arabiya news channel, whose tone is much less blunt.
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Al Jazeera, which bills itself as the "voice of the voiceless," is famous for telecasting fiery debates between those with contradicting views. At the same time, it has defended its professionalism and right to inform.
It cemented its reputation with exclusive coverage of the first days of the war in Afghanistan in late 2001.
But its critics accuse[ it of having become a voice for Islamist hardliners, such as Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, whose messages it was always the first to receive and broadcast.
It was banned in Iraq where its covered was deemed to favour the Sunni insurgency there.
In December, Kuwait shut down the local Al Jazeera office after the channel extensively covered a police crackdown on a gathering held by the Kuwaiti opposition on December 8.
Last May, Bahrain also banned the news channel, which has offended many countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Al Jazeera has also been locked in a dispute with Jordan, which it accused of jamming 2010 World Cup coverage for which it had exclusive pay-TV rights -- an accusation denied by the monarchy.
Morocco suspended the Doha-based channel's operations and withdrew its staff's accreditation in October after what Rabat described as "numerous failures" that went against the "rules of serious and responsible journalism."
On Sunday, Egypt moved to shut down Al Jazeera's coverage of mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak's regime, ordering the halt of all its activities in Egypt and the annulment of its licences, and withdrawing the press cards of all its staff in Egypt.
Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat meanwhile halted its relays of Al Jazeera programming on Sunday.
The pan-Arab broadcaster vowed that it would not be silenced. It said the shut down -- on day six of unprecedented and often violent street protests -- was aimed at "censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people."
Al Jazeera has more than 65 offices worldwide and more than 3,000 employees, including over 400 journalists from more than 60 countries.
Its main competitor in the Arab world is Saudi-owned and Dubai-based Al Arabiya news channel, whose tone is much less blunt.
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