Al Jazeera to broadcast round the clock on Freeview

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Al Jazeera to broadcast round the clock on Freeview

Editor | 13-09-2012

Not content with winning awards in the face of huge competition from the likes of the BBC and Sky, Al Jazeera is to enhance its news coverage with 24-hour daily broadcasts on Freeview.

The only non-domestic news broadcaster to ever win the Royal Television Society award for News Channel of Year 2012, Al Jazeera English, is to increase broadcasting from five to 24 hours from 19 September. It will offer to the Freeview free DTT base of almost 20 million homes, including nearly 11 million main set homes, international live news, analysis, investigations and documentary programming.

Al Jazeera English already broadcasts 24/7 in more than 12 million DTH satellite homes and broadcasts to 260 million homes in 130 countries. It has a global network of 60 bureau covering six continents with journalists of more than fifty different nationalities.

Revealing distinct pleasure at the expansion, Al Anstey, managing director of Al Jazeera English said: “This is a major opportunity for many more viewers to experience our high-quality, in-depth coverage of events in the UK, in Europe, and around the globe. No matter when or where stories are happening, we are uniquely placed to deliver fast, round-the-clock coverage, with quality, depth and integrity. As well as news, we’re pleased more viewers will also have full access to our programmes and documentaries. They make up 40% of our output, giving us the ability to go deeper into global issues, as well as tell human stories that may not ordinarily make the headlines.”

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Al Jazeera English going 24/7 on Freeview


Published Thursday, Sep 13 2012, 11:15 BST | By Andrew Laughlin


Al Jazeera English, the English-language news channel with headquarters in the Middle East, is to start broadcasting 24 hours a day on Freeview from later this month.

From September 19, millions of Freeview viewers will get round-the-clock access to the RTS News Channel of the Year when it expands from the current five hours per evening on the digital terrestrial platform.

Around 20 million homes with Freeview (including an estimated 11m on the main set) will be able to watch the full range of Al Jazeera's international live news, analysis, investigations and documentary programming throughout the day and night.

Al Jazeera English already broadcasts a 24/7 schedule to more than 12m UK homes on satellite.

"This is a major opportunity for many more viewers to experience our high-quality, in-depth coverage of events in the UK, in Europe, and around the globe," said Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey.

"No matter when or where stories are happening, we are uniquely placed to deliver fast, round-the-clock coverage, with quality, depth and integrity.

"As well as news, we're pleased more viewers will also have full access to our programmes and documentaries. They make up 40% of our output, giving us the ability to go deeper into global issues, as well as tell human stories that may not ordinarily make the headlines."

Freeview viewers will be able to watch Al Jazeera English 24 hours a day on Freeview channel 83 from September 19.