Al Jazeera set to shake up news channel competition

摘要

The closure last month of ITV News Channel has left the BBC and BSkyB fighting it out with their 24-hour news channels, but another three-way race for UK viewers is about to start. Al Jazeera International, an English-language version of the Qatar-based Arabic news channel, will launch in early spring with a huge budget, well-known presenters and ambitious plans. The 24-hour, high-definition channel will have a rumoured £75 million a year at its disposal — a third more than the BBC News 24 budget and double that of Sky News — and high-profile presenters, led by veteran Sir David Frost, supported by behind-the-camera talent.