Al-Jazeera to launch Balkan regional TV in 2011: report
AFP
SARAJEVO- Pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera will launch a regional television in the Balkans in January, Bosnian daily Dnevni Avaz reported Saturday.
The seat of its regional project, Al-Jazeera Balkans, would be based in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Hercegovina, a Balkan country with an important Muslim community.
Al-Jazeera bought local TV chain NTV 99 for 1.2 million euros (1.56 million dollars) and plans to invest a further 10 million euros by the end of this year, the daily said.
The company published an add in local papers on Friday looking for a managing director for its Balkans branch, without giving the date when the programme might start.
"Al-Jazeera Balkans will be a leader in providing high quality news and current affairs... in the region, and will have offices throughout the Balkans and bureaus in key locations worldwide," the add said.
Dnevni Avaz reported that the chain would hire around 40 journalists in the region, mostly in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia.
The Qatar-based company was founded in 1996. Initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel, it has since expanded into a network with several outlets, including the Internet.
Its English service satellite channel was launched in 2006.
The station gained worldwide attention following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when it was the only channel to cover the war in Afghanistan live. It has also broadcast numerous audio and video messages by Osama bin Laden.
While lauding Al-Jazeera for its role as an independent media outlet in the Middle East prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, Washington has since often criticised an anti-American bias in Al-Jazeera's news coverage.
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The company published an add in local papers on Friday looking for a managing director for its Balkans branch, without giving the date when the programme might start.
"Al-Jazeera Balkans will be a leader in providing high quality news and current affairs... in the region, and will have offices throughout the Balkans and bureaus in key locations worldwide," the add said.
Dnevni Avaz reported that the chain would hire around 40 journalists in the region, mostly in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia.
The Qatar-based company was founded in 1996. Initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel, it has since expanded into a network with several outlets, including the Internet.
Its English service satellite channel was launched in 2006.
The station gained worldwide attention following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when it was the only channel to cover the war in Afghanistan live. It has also broadcast numerous audio and video messages by Osama bin Laden.
While lauding Al-Jazeera for its role as an independent media outlet in the Middle East prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, Washington has since often criticised an anti-American bias in Al-Jazeera's news coverage.
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