Al-Jazeera on Sky Digital

I find it rather interesting to watch Osama bin Laden broadcasting blatant propaganda on Quatar's state television channel, Al-Jazeera which just happens to be available on channel 864.

In no way do I think Al-Jazerra should be forbidden from broadcasting on the platform, but how does everyone else feel about this channel transmitting across the UK?

(Edited by DAS at 8:22 pm on Oct. 7, 2001)

684 isn't it? Not 864?

I don't think it should be shut down, because it seems to show coverage of the attacks, and news reports from bin Laden before the other news channels.

Well it's definatly interesting to watch this conflict from a real different view.

Who said anything about it being banned?

Sorry, 684.

OK, granted. But in general, I earlier watched bin Laden appealing to all Muslims to fight a holy war against the US, which has apparently 'been cursed by Allah'.

Surely these pictures can be shown by news channels if they are important to the news events. But at a time like this, should such stiring propaganda be permitted to broadcast via Sky Digital?

Nobody said anything about it being banned - and I don't want it to be. I find it very interesting to watch. However, I also find it interesting that it is allowed on Sky in the first place

(Edited by DAS at 8:29 pm on Oct. 7, 2001)

I personally think it's quite good Al-wotsit is broadcasting in the UK (although I admit I didn't know it was). The news channels were basically showing ObL's statement in full anyway - the channel no is 674 btw.

What I think is odd is that, even though you can get the channel in the UK, News 24 were showing the statement in an off-air recording from abc in the us, in an offair recording from Al-wotsit!

Is it on Astra 1, Disney's old frequency, which was perhaps converted to digital, 'cos I couldn't tune it in properly, but I'm sure I saw it on my analogue Sky system!

Fox News was showing Sky News this morning, strange or what?!?

An important factor with this whole episode with the WTC is America trying to dictate to other nations how they should be run & poking their noses in where it (sometimes) isn't wanted.

How is that going to look if Al-Jazeera is banned from broadcasting over here? USA were thinking of banning it's broadcasts but thought better of it - censorship in a democracy?!


Al-Jazeera news access is free to all stations, so long as an Aston is on-screen saying 'Pictures courtesy of Al-Jazeera' throughout their footage

BTW - word on the street (quite literally) is that there's going to be troubles in Birmingham over the next couple of days

I understand that a large number of the staff employed by Al-Jazeera, at least when they launched, were exiles from the short-lived BBC World Arab TV service.

This was shut down after the satellite broadcaster (Orbit I think) who commissioned the BBC to make it wished to exercise a degree of editorial control over the output.

The BBC refused to allow any control of output - and so the broadcaster ceased to broadcast the service - and the BBC closed it - causing quite a few people to lose their jobs - in not very nice circumstances.

Al-Jazeera was formed by the government (or member of royal family?) of Qatar soon after - and recruited a number of ex-BBC journalists. I understand that the service is near-unique amongst arab broadcasters in sticking more closely to accepted BBC-type journalistic principles, and broadcasts material disliked by many arab governments, as well as the west. It may not be perfect - but I think it is the nearest thing to CNN/BBC World that exists in the Arab world.

It must be difficult for both the American government and press, to realize that Al-Jazeera, in this conflict might be what CNN was in the Gulf war.

Not to forget, that the press was seemed to get little information, from the government. Perhaps this could lead to a more broad coverage from the American press including CNN, which in my opinion focuses more on American views, and less on what the general situation is in the world.

Medias, such as Al-Jazeera and BBC World, have handled this situation better, with a more international oriented focus.

Noggin is correct in saying that they employ many ex BBC Arabic journalists etc.

The unfortunate thing is that many people who left their homeland to work in London were unable to return home when Orbit cancelled it's contract with the BBC, because of the News they were putting out. Many said they would be killed if they returned.

It was a very, very sad day when the last programme came from it's studio. We all made great friends and were sad to say goodbye to many of them. Who could ever forget Leila But she was married! ha ha

The Arabic people are so courteous, gracious & down-right nice folk.

(Edited by Techy Peep at 9:37 pm on Oct. 14, 2001)