Al Jazeera English - What do you think?

TheDriver

HI Folks, The test loop page on Astra 2 now states that they are beginning broadcasting on Wednesday 15th at 12:00 GMT.

Our man in Havana

Any sign of it in the sky epg?

DMC

It should be 514.... it wasn't there last night...

pencil

Hey Guys

A mate of mine is involved in the setup in Al Jazeera English

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/91EEF363-FE1D-4EB9-A7D9-EF3701E39A3B.htm

I'd love to be able to watch this - I have 'Satellite Freeview' in Galway - is it possible to tune this in?

Cheers

stuartfanning

Looks very good. Especially impressed with live reports from Zimbabwe and Somalia, which you would not see on UK/US news channels. It's going to be anchored from London at 21.00 & 22.00, and from Washington at 23.00 I believe.

JohnC.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/91EEF363-FE1D-4EB9-A7D9-EF3701E39A3B.htm
Shows some satellites it is available on and tuning settings. It is also available on Sky on 514 without a viewing card.

JohnC.

I've only been watching since about 5:05, so about 30 minutes, and it does look good so far. One of the presenters on now was on Sky News until recently, wasn't he? Is the woman with him English too? She has a good accent.

Wasn't expecting the English version to also be broadcasting from Doha with English presenters. Though as you say, there will be some from London and Washington and, according to the website, Kuala Lumpur.

Certainly a different focus from the usual English language stations, with much more of a focus on Asia and Africa. Kind of a refreshing change.

MenloPete

So in answer to your question, in case its not obvious...
If your Freesat system is receiving BBC and ITV it's pointed at Astra 2 / Eurobird so the following applies to you if you want to tune it in:

Frequency Symbol Rate
11680 MHz V 27500

watty

Please don't confuse
:: Freeview = UK Terrestrial Digital via TV aerial brand name
:: Freesat from Sky = Free To View card for £21 to UK post code address, for C4, Five, Five US and Five Live
:: Free To Air = (FTA) No card or subscription required

If in the future it is encrypted on 28.2 that has the Sky pay TV, it will still be free from 13E and 19E. At present it can be received on a Sky or FTA without card or sub, but manual tuning or scan may be required. Currently on Sky EPG.

If you love this you should get a 2nd and/or 3rd LNB and Diseqc and add the MANY english news programs on 13E and 19E not on UK 28.2 source

watty

If its who I think you talking about she used to be on BBC World TV.

I watch NileTv, DW TV, BBC World TV, IBA Ch33 english bullitian and Russia Today(24hr english). But perhaps these are not english language news that you get?

DMC

To cater for Al-jazeera English (as its now officially called), the original Arabic network appears to have been removed from the Sky EPG. A simple reshuffle for the launch, as carriage was not negotiated in time?

DMC

A full list of presenters and the networks they have worked fro previously, is listed here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera_International#Reporters_and_presenters

Shiuile Ghosh, who read the news at 5pm and 6pm at the top the hour is late of the ITV News parish.

pencil

Cheers, I have it on Astra 2

stuartfanning

DMC wrote:

To cater for Al-jazeera English (as its now officially called), the original Arabic network appears to have been removed from the Sky EPG. A simple reshuffle for the launch, as carriage was not negotiated in time?

I think Al Jazeera's Arab network was taken off the Sky EPG some time ago.

DMC

Hmmm, the Arabic service doesn't appear to be on 28E at all, according to Lyngsat. I wonder why it isn't there anymore...

muffinhead

So just to clarify, is Al Jazeera English actually on the Sky EPG or is it only available via the 'Other Channels' by manual tuning?

watty

It seems to have replaced the Arabic service on Sky EPG (of al jazeera). You'll want 13E or 25.5 E if you speak arabic.

byte

It's on the EPG now anyway, on 514 as DMC said.

Must take a closer look later.

TheDriver

Some of the programmes on it are very good with documentaries not having the usual American slant and doesn't appear to be biased either as was most peoples fears. In fact, most presenters seem to be British and a lot are familair faces.

watty

The BBC World Service, (Not BBC Enterprises "BBC World TV") was some years ago going to setup an Arabic TV service. They "hired" staff etc. Then the idea was scrapped. Those people then setup Al Jazeera. They have been a thorn in flesh of all the M.E. regiemes. While sometimes they may seem to be less than objective and may have seemed in Bush's eyes to have promoted Al Q'Aida, they are not jihadist's but really trying to be objective balanced journalists.

Finally some years later, this year the BBC World Service (Not BBC Enterprises "BBC World TV") has decided to start its 1st TV channel as an Arabic serivice. But Nothing so far has happened.

Trevord

Al Jazeera seems to be available on two frequencies on 28.2 E - both in english (one is the old Real Madrid TV location I think - epg still relates to it in fact) maybe one will swithc back to arabic

radiospan

Anyone know anything about this bit on Wikipedia that says:
"It is the first global high-definition television network." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera_English)

On Sky it isn't even 16:9, never mind HD.

watty

Someone got carried away. it only has what 3 studios worldwide?

You can though have an internal Global HD network for feeds and distribution even if no transmissions are HD.

On 13e it is 16:9

JohnC.

4 studios, Doha, London, Washington and Kuala Lumpur. With bureau dotted around the place too.

watty

3 + Hq

radiospan

watty wrote:

On 13e it is 16:9

I must have a look at that later. Odd how it's not 16:9 on Sky.