Qatar-based Al Jazeera English finally began broadcasting in India this week after a four-year wait to gain approval from the Indian information and broadcasting ministry.
Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey commented on the launch: “This is an exciting breakthrough that has been in the works for several years, and we are extremely pleased that Al Jazeera English’s groundbreaking news and programming will now be available in India.
India distribution head Diana Hosker added: “With the prospect of reaching an estimated 115 million households in India, this important market will be significant as we continue to expand our global reach.”
Al Jazeera already runs an India news bureau, based in New Delhi. The channel’s Arabic service originally launched in 1996, while Al Jazeera English was launched in 2006 and has 65 news bureaus around the world with the channel available in over 100 countries, claiming a reach of over 220 million households.
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