History of Al Jazeera Media Network in Timeline

Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN), based in Doha, Qatar, is a state-funded news organization reaching over 430 million people globally. Its prominent channels, Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, offer regional and international news coverage. The network also includes the digital platform AJ+. Al Jazeera broadcasts in over 150 countries and territories.

August 1994: Idea of launching an international news channel floated

In August 1994, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, then-Emir of Qatar, publicly floated the idea of launching an international news channel.

November 1, 1996: Launch of Al Jazeera Arabic

On November 1, 1996, Al Jazeera Arabic was launched by the government of Qatar and noted for its journalistic professionalism.

November 1996: Launch of Al Jazeera Satellite Channel

In November 1996, The Al Jazeera Satellite Channel was launched, following the closure of the BBC Arabic language television station.

1997: Al Jazeera expands broadcast hours

By the end of 1997, Al Jazeera expanded its broadcast from six to twelve hours per day and was available via terrestrial signal, cable, and satellite in the Arab world.

March 1998: Ministry of Information disbanded

In March 1998, the emir of Qatar disbanded the Ministry of Information, previously responsible for press censorship, giving Al Jazeera a mandate of independence.

January 1999: Al Jazeera begins 24-hour broadcasting

On January 1999, Al Jazeera began broadcasting on a 24-hour schedule, expanding its staff and establishing bureaus in various locations.

January 1999: Power outage in Algerian cities during Al Jazeera program

On January 27, 1999, several Algerian cities lost power, reportedly to prevent residents from watching an Al Jazeera program implicating the Algerian military in massacres.

2000: Advertising revenue and boycott pressure

In 2000, Al Jazeera brought in QAR15 million in advertising revenue, affected by pressure from Saudi Arabia to boycott the network.

2001: Al Jazeera is the sole international news network broadcasting from Kabul

In 2001, Al Jazeera stood as the sole international news network broadcasting from Kabul, Afghanistan.

May 2002: Bahrain bans Al Jazeera correspondents

On May 10, 2002, Bahrain banned Al Jazeera correspondents from reporting from inside the country, citing bias towards Israel and against Bahrain.

2002: Push for an English-language version of Al Jazeera

In late 2002, Ali Mohamed Kama, Al Jazeera's director of marketing, began to push for a "repositioning" of Al Jazeera, with English subtitles and dubbing.

March 2003: Launch of English-language website

In March 2003, Al Jazeera launched an English-language website named "Al Jazeera Net", aiming to connect to the Western audience.

March 2003: Al Jazeera website receives over one million visitors

In March 2003, Al Jazeera received over one million visitors at the onset of the Iraq War, becoming the fastest-growing online news source.

2003: Al Jazeera Net website shuttered

In 2003, Al Jazeera Net was taken offline due to denial of service attacks and hacking and was ultimately shuttered due to web providers canceling contracts and advertisers pulling out.

2003: Hiring of first English-language journalists

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

July 2004: Algerian government freezes activities of Al Jazeera correspondent

On July 4, 2004, the Algerian government froze the activities of Al Jazeera's Algerian correspondent, officially citing a reorganization but suspected as retaliation for a broadcast on Algeria's political situation.

2004: Al Jazeera correspondents return to Bahrain

In 2004, Al Jazeera correspondents returned to Bahrain after improvements in relations between Bahrain and Qatar.

2004: Expansion into sports with Al Jazeera Sport

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

2004: Constitution of Qatar guarantees press freedom

In 2004, the Constitution of Qatar was established, guaranteeing freedom of the press, further reinforcing Al Jazeera's independence.

April 2005: First Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival

On April 18, 2005, the first Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival was held at the Doha Sheraton in Doha, Qatar, marking the beginning of an annual event with a different theme each year.

July 2005: Al Jazeera announces plans to launch Al Jazeera International

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

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

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).

2005: Role in Reforms during the Arab Spring

Critics acknowledge Al Jazeera's role in reforms during the 2005 Arab Spring.

November 15, 2006: Launch of Al Jazeera English

On November 15, 2006, Al Jazeera English (AJE) was launched as the English-language counterpart to Al Jazeera Arabic, focusing on narrative reporting.

November 2006: Al Jazeera English launches

In November 2006, Al Jazeera English started broadcasting with centers in Doha, London, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington, D.C., and staff from top news outlets.

2006: Launch of Al Jazeera English

In 2006, Al Jazeera English was launched with an investment of approximately $1 billion by the Emir of Qatar.

2006: Wadah Khanfar appointed director general

In 2006, Wadah Khanfar, then the managing director of the Arabic Channel, was appointed director general of the Al Jazeera Satellite Network while continuing to serve as managing director of the Al Jazeera Arabic channel.

2006: Establishment of the Al Jazeera Center for Studies

In 2006, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies was established to conduct in-depth analysis of current affairs at regional and global levels and promote dialogue between cultures.

January 16, 2009: Launch of Baraem

On January 16, 2009, Baraem launched, targeting an audience of three to seven-year-olds and broadcasting 17 hours a day.

November 2009: Al Jazeera English approved to broadcast in Canada

In November 2009, Al Jazeera English received approval from the CRTC, enabling it to broadcast via satellite in Canada.

2010: Bahrain bans Al Jazeera correspondents again

In 2010, the Information Ministry again banned Al Jazeera correspondents from reporting inside the country, accusing the network of "flouting [Bahrain's] laws regulating the press and publishing" after Al Jazeera aired a report on poverty in Bahrain.

February 2011: Acquisition of Cine5

In February 2011, Al Jazeera acquired Cine5 for $40.5 million after it was put up for sale due to the owner's bankruptcy, with plans to launch a Turkish language Al Jazeera operation.

September 2011: Wadah Khanfar resigns as director general

In September 2011, Al Jazeera's long-time director general Wadah Khanfar unexpectedly resigned after eight years leading the network.

2011: Al Jazeera Media Network legally restructured

In 2011, Al Jazeera Media Network was legally restructured from a "public institution" to a "private institution of public utility".

2011: Significant role in spreading the Arab uprising

In 2011, Al Jazeera covered the Arab Spring more than any other news outlet and had a significant role in spreading the Arab uprising. It was the leading media outlet spreading the news about unrest in a small city in Tunisia throughout the Middle East.

2011: Al Jazeera prioritizes coverage of crises in other countries

Up until 2011, Al Jazeera maintained that it could not ignore more pressing crises in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, or Gaza in favor of concentrating on Qatar's trivial affairs.

April 2012: Delay of Turkish channel reported

In April 2012, there were reports of the channel being delayed over its refusal to call the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as terrorists, leading to disagreements and the withdrawal of a major investor and the resignation of Nuh Yilmaz.

January 2013: Purchase of Current TV and launch of Al Jazeera America

In January 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced that it purchased Current TV in the United States and would be launching an American news channel.

August 2013: Launch of Al Jazeera America

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

2013: Al Jazeera Children's Channel changes name to JeemTV

In 2013, Al Jazeera Children's Channel changed its name to JeemTV.

2013: Al Jazeera Turk creation announced

In 2013, Al Jazeera announced the creation of Al Jazeera Türk, a Turkish-language version of Al Jazeera.

2013: Accusations of backing Arab Spring protests in Iraq

In 2013, Al Jazeera was accused by many Iraqi government supporters of backing Arab Spring protests in the country.

January 2014: Al Jazeera Sport renamed beIN Sports

On January 2014, Al Jazeera Sport 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: Al Jazeera Turk website launched

On January 22, 2014, Al Jazeera Türk's website was launched with news content before the channel's broadcast launch.

June 2014: Soft launch of AJ+

In June 2014, AJ+, Al Jazeera Media Network's digital online-only news channel, soft-launched with a new webpage, Facebook page and videos on YouTube.

September 2014: Full launch of AJ+

In September 2014, AJ+ fully launched with an app.

January 13, 2016: Al Jazeera America announces cessation of operations

On January 13, 2016, Al Jazeera America announced it would cease operations on April 12, 2016, due to the "economic landscape".

March 2016: Al Jazeera announces layoffs

In March 2016, Al Jazeera announced it would lay off about 500 employees worldwide as part of cost-cutting measures.

April 1, 2016: Acquisition of JeemTV and Baraem 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.

2016: Iraq bans Al Jazeera

In 2016, the Iraqi government banned Al Jazeera, accusing it of inciting violence and sectarianism.

June 2017: UAE blocks Al Jazeera

On June 5, 2017, after the onset of the Qatar diplomatic crisis, the UAE blocked Al Jazeera in the emirates due to its perceived sympathies to the Qatari government.

2017: Launch of podcasting network Jetty

In 2017, Al Jazeera Media Network launched a podcasting network called Jetty, which was later renamed Al Jazeera Podcasts and made available on various platforms.

2017: Al Jazeera Turk website shut down

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

2017: Strategic partnership agreement with Google

In 2017, Al Jazeera signed a strategic partnership agreement with Google.

2017: Estimate of government funding in BBC interview

In a 2017 interview with the BBC, Acting Director General of AJMN Mostefa Souag estimated that "90% maybe" of Al Jazeera's budget comes from the government.

January 1, 2018: Launch of Mandarin-language news 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: Debut of podcasts on soccer, freedom, sex, and global music

In 2018, Al Jazeera Podcasts debuted The Game of Our Lives, which explains global economics and cultures through soccer, Freedom Stories with Melissa Harris-Perry, The Virgie Show with Virgie Tovar, and Movement with Meklit Hadero.

2018: Start of Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival

In 2018, the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival was started as an annual international documentary film festival based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

May 2019: Sudan closes Al Jazeera's office

In May 2019, Sudan closed Al Jazeera's office.

2019: Partnerships with China Intercontinental Communication Center and Bloomberg

In 2019, Al Jazeera signed a partnership agreement with the China Intercontinental Communication Center to expand documentary content and signed a content license agreement with Bloomberg.

2021: Launch of Rightly, an online news channel

In 2021, Al Jazeera Media Network launched Rightly, an online news channel targeted at center-right American conservatives, sparking internal and external questions about Al Jazeera's mission and potential audience reception.

2021: Partnership with Arewa 24

In 2021, Al Jazeera partnered with Arewa 24 to provide its content in Hausa.

2022: Scrutiny of Al Jazeera's reporting during the World Cup games

During the 2022 World Cup games, Al Jazeera's reporting on domestic issues in Qatar regarding the Al Thani Royal Family and internal Qatari affairs—such as the country's treatment of domestic workers—was scrutinized.

2023: Partnership with Avid Technology and expanded collaboration with Google Cloud

In 2023, Al Jazeera partnered with Avid Technology and announced an expanded collaboration with Google Cloud to integrate Google's generative AI into news production.

May 2024: Israel bans Al Jazeera

In May 2024, Israel banned Al Jazeera, forcing their offices in the country to close.

September 2024: IDF orders closure of Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah

In September 2024, the IDF ordered the closure of the Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah, considering it a threat to national security.

2025: Palestinian Authority suspends Qatar's Al Jazeera TV broadcasts

At the start of 2025, the Palestinian Authority suspended Qatar's Al Jazeera TV broadcasts from The West Bank, claiming it shows "inciting material."

January 2026: Allegations of Hamas support and removal from Swiss TV providers

In January 2026, the pro-Israel group "Focus Israel" alleged that the Al Jazeera Arabic channel aired propaganda supporting Hamas, in violation of Swiss law, leading Swisscom and Sunrise to remove the channel from their programming.