Al Jazeera Network

Al Jazeera English is the first 24-hour English-language world news channel to be broadcast across the globe from the Middle East. Unlike other international news channels, Al Jazeera English is broadcast ‘as the world turns’ via a single live feed from four strategically placed broadcast centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC.

2009 witnessed an explosion of African growth for Al Jazeera English with a flurry of deals taking it into millions of new homes across the continent indicating that Al Jazeera English is fast-becoming the leading international news source in Sub-Saharan Africa. The English-language news channel has a worldwide distribution of more than 190 million households and its reach has topped 25 million homes in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Martin Ryan, Al Jazeera Network’s head of distribution for the region, remarks: "African viewers are looking for a new perspective on their region and on world news. Partnerships with broadcasters and media outlets are crucial in keeping our African audience in touch with Al Jazeera’s compelling journalism—both at home and on the move."

In addition to increasing the distribution or our award-winning news channel and mobile services, we now enter into this important market to promote and sell a selection of Al Jazeera English programmes which reflect the Al Jazeera angle and style with regards reporting political, social, historical and current affairs issues.  We report and bring stories directly from the people involved with an access to places, people and situations not previously sought by other broadcasters.

Interview with Martin Ryan

What are your top properties for DISCOP Africa?

Pirates Haven, Artsworld, Uncomfortably Numb, Saving Soweto, Street Food

How have you seen your business in the African continent evolve?

The selling of Al Jazeera English programs took off in 2009 so our attendance at DISCOP is to establish a better understanding of the region and promote our content added value material to other broadcasters.  To enhance our distribution, we assigned A24 to globally promote our Africa themed programming content as well as sell content to Africa on an ad supported basis.  This is an important collaboration in the promotion and exploitation of our growing portfolio.

What are your overall expectations for DISCOP Africa?

From a program sales perspective, to meet and establish contact with African broadcasters and understand the overall market.  It is crucial that we attend such events to promote our content and establish ourselves commercially as a broadcaster with content ready to sell.  Al Jazeera is a popular channel in Africa as well as the coverage we give this continent therefore we are keen to establish an ongoing programme sales business relationship with new clients in this region.