History of Al Jazeera Media Network in Timeline

Al Jazeera Media Network, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, is a major media conglomerate partially funded by the Qatari government. Its flagship channels, Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, provide extensive coverage of regional and international news, including analysis, documentaries, and talk shows. Expanding beyond television, Al Jazeera has developed digital platforms like AJ+ to engage younger audiences with online-specific content. Reaching over 150 countries and territories, Al Jazeera boasts a global audience exceeding 430 million viewers.

November 1996: Al Jazeera's First Day On Air

Al Jazeera's first day on air was 1 November 1996, offering 6-hours of programming per day which would increase to 12 hours by the end of 1997.

November 1996: Al Jazeera Satellite Channel Launch

In November 1996, the original Al Jazeera Satellite Channel (then called JSC or Jazeera Satellite Channel) was launched. This followed the closure of the first BBC Arabic language television station, a joint venture with Orbit Communications Company.

January 1999: Al Jazeera Begins 24-Hour Broadcasting

On January 1, 1999, Al Jazeera began broadcasting 24 hours a day. Employment had more than tripled in one year to 500 employees.

2001: Al Jazeera in Kabul and Demand for English-language Version

In 2001, Al Jazeera was the sole international news network broadcasting from Kabul, Afghanistan. Following the events of 9/11, demand surged for an English-language version of Al Jazeera.

2002: Al Jazeera Repositioning

In late 2002, Al Jazeera's director of marketing, Ali Mohamed Kama, began pushing to "reposition" the network, including the introduction of English subtitles and dubbing.

March 2003: Launch of "Al Jazeera Net" Website

In March 2003, Al Jazeera launched an English-language website called "Al Jazeera Net", publishing various stories covered by the network but not depending on Arabic-language channels and websites.

2003: Al Jazeera Hires First English-language Journalists

In 2003, Al Jazeera hired its first English-language journalists, including Afshin Rattansi from the BBC's Today Programme.

2003: Cyberattacks and Cancellation of English-translated Website

In 2003, twelve hours after its launch, "Al Jazeera Net" was taken offline due to denial of service attacks. The website was hacked and then faced contract cancellations from web providers, leading to its shutdown later in the year.

2004: Al Jazeera Sports Established

In 2004 Al Jazeera expanded into the world of sports with the establishment of Al Jazeera Sports (now known as beIN Sports) and the building of 8 Arabic language specialty sports channels.

April 2005: First Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival

The first Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival was held on 18 April 2005 at the Doha Sheraton in Doha, Qatar.

July 2005: Al Jazeera Announces Plans for English-language Satellite Service

On July 4, 2005, Al Jazeera officially announced plans to launch a new English-language satellite service called Al Jazeera International.

September 9, 2005: Al Jazeera Children's Channel Launch

On September 9, 2005, Al Jazeera established a children's division with the launch of Al Jazeera Children's Channel (since 2013 it was known as JeemTV).

November 2006: Launch of Al Jazeera English

On November 15, 2006, the new English-language channel, Al Jazeera English, launched with broadcast centers in Doha, London, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington D.C.

2006: Al Jazeera Center for Studies Established

Established in 2006, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies conducts in-depth analysis of current affairs at both regional and global levels.

January 16, 2009: Baraem Launch

On January 16, 2009, Baraem launched, the channel targets an audience of three to seven-year-olds and broadcasts 17 hours a day (6 am to 11 pm Doha time).

November 2009: Al Jazeera English Approved to Broadcast in Canada

On 26 November 2009, Al Jazeera English received approval from the CRTC, which enables Al Jazeera English to broadcast via satellite in Canada.

February 2011: Al Jazeera Acquires Cine5 in Turkey

In February 2011, Al Jazeera acquired the Turkish network Cine5 for $40.5 million and planned to launch a Turkish language operation.

September 2011: Wadah Khanfar Resigns

Wadah Khanfar resigned as Director-General of the Al Jazeera Network on September 20, 2011, proclaiming that he had achieved his original goals and that eight years was enough time for any leader of an organization.

2011: Creation of Al Jazeera Balkans

In 2011, Al Jazeera Media Network created Al Jazeera Balkans, broadcasting in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2011: Al Jazeera Covers the Arab Spring

In 2011, Al Jazeera was the leading media spreading the news about unrest in a small city in Tunisia throughout the Middle East and covered the Arab spring more than any other news outlets.

2011: Al Jazeera Media Network Redesigned

In 2011, in accordance with the renaming of the corporation, Al Jazeera Media Network was legally re-designated from a "public institution to a 'private institution of public utility'.

April 2012: Delays and Disputes Over Turkish Channel Launch

In April 2012, the launch of Al Jazeera's Turkish channel was delayed due to its refusal to label the Kurdistan Workers Party as "terrorists". This led to disputes and withdrawals from the project.

January 2013: Al Jazeera Acquires Current TV

On January 2, 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced the purchase of Current TV from Al Gore, Joel Hyatt, and Ronald Burkle, with plans to launch an American news channel.

August 2013: Launch of Al Jazeera America

Al Jazeera America, an American version of Al Jazeera English, launched on August 20, 2013, exclusively on cable and satellite systems in the United States.

2013: Al Jazeera Children's Channel renamed JeemTV

In 2013, Al Jazeera Children's Channel was renamed as JeemTV.

2013: Announcement of Al Jazeera Türk

In 2013, Al Jazeera announced the creation of Al Jazeera Türk, a Turkish language version based in Istanbul.

January 2014: Al Jazeera Sports Renamed beIN Sports

On January 1, 2014, Al Jazeera Sports was renamed beIN Sports after it along with all of the organisation's non-news and current affairs assets were spun off and privatised into beIN Media Group.

January 22, 2014: Launch of Al Jazeera Türk Website

On January 22, 2014, Al Jazeera Türk's website launched with news content, making it the first 24-hour news operation to go digital before broadcast.

June 2014: AJ+ Soft-Launch

On June 2014, AJ+ soft-launched with a new webpage, Facebook page and videos on YouTube.

September 2014: AJ+ Full Launch

The full channel of AJ+ launched in September 2014 with an app.

January 13, 2016: Al Jazeera America Closure Announced

On January 13, 2016, Al Jazeera America CEO Al Anstey announced that the network would cease operations on April 12, 2016, citing the "economic landscape".

April 1, 2016: JeemTV and Baraem acquired by beIN Media Group

On April 1, 2016, both JeemTV and Baraem were acquired by beIN Media Group and were made part of beIN Channels Network.

April 12, 2016: Al Jazeera America Ceases Operations

On April 12, 2016, Al Jazeera America ceased operations, as was announced on January 13, 2016.

2017: Closure of Al Jazeera Türk Website

In 2017, the Al Jazeera Türk website shut down without the channel being launched.

2017: Al Jazeera Launches Podcasting Network

In 2017, the network launched a podcasting network called Jetty. Later renamed Al Jazeera Podcasts.

January 1, 2018: Al Jazeera Launches Mandarin-Language Website

On January 1, 2018, Al Jazeera launched a Mandarin-language news website becoming the first Middle Eastern news provider to target the Chinese audience.

2018: New Podcasts Added to Al Jazeera Podcasts Network

In 2018, new podcasts were added to the Al Jazeera Podcasts network, including The Game of Our Lives, Freedom Stories, The Virgie Show, and Movement.

2018: Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival Launch

In 2018, the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival was launched in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This international documentary film festival is held annually.