Al Jazeera English launches on Austar

Notes and media contacts

About Al Jazeera English:

Al Jazeera English is the first English language world news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. Launched in November 2006, Al Jazeera English is setting the global news agenda and acts as a bridge between cultures. With unique access as the channel of reference for Middle East events, and broadcast centres strategically placed around the world in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English is balancing the information flow from South to North, providing independent and impartial news for a global audience, giving voice to different perspectives from under-reported regions around the world.

Al Jazeera English is available in over 100 countries to over 150 million households worldwide, and was recently awarded "Best 24 Hour News Program" at the 48th Annual Monte Carlo Television Festival. The channel also recently received its second International Emmy nominations - one in news for its coverage of the Russia-Georgia War, one in current affairs for AJE's Witness Special - Return to Nablus and one for digital programmes for their coverage of the US election.

Al Jazeera started out over twelve years ago as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world dedicated to providing comprehensive television news and live debate for the Arab world. Al Jazeera was formally named the Al Jazeera Network in March 2006, transforming its operation into an international media corporation - the Al Jazeera Network now consists of the flagship Al Jazeera Arabic channel, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Sport, Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites), the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live), and Al Jazeera Mobile.

Visit www.aljazeera.net/english for more details.

Find out how to watch AJE in your region: http://english.aljazeera.net/watchaje

Watch online at www.livestation.com/aje and www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish

About Austar:

Austar United Communications Limited (Austar) is a leading subscription television provider in Australia, offering primarily digital satellite services to customers in regional and rural areas.

Established in 1995, Austar's television business is the company's core business. Since its establishment, Austar's television subscriber base has grown to over 750,000 (at September 30, 2009), the largest subscription television operator in regional and rural Australia. Austar provides of subscription television services in a service area of approximately 2.4m homes, one-third of Australia's total homes, primarily using digital satellite technology.

For further information please contact:

Christina Aivaliotis
Al Jazeera
Tel: +974 4892555

International & Media Relations
Al Jazeera
PO Box 23123 Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4896045
Fax: +974 4873577

Emma Rackley
Group Manager, Corporate Affairs
Austar
Tel: +61 2 9394 9806