What was most surprising to me in this Steven R. Weisman report for the NYT was not that Al Jazeera may be on the block, but that the hugely popular (30 to 50 million viewers) Arab cable network is not profitable.
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“but that the hugely popular (30 to 50 million viewers) Arab cable network is not profitable.
”
Perhaps it is because of all the Arab politicians they have to bribe?
Interesting article, Roger. There could be a couple of reasons the unnamed Quatar official is saying Al Jazeera is not profitable. The obvious reason is that most of the world’s major consumer goods companies who could afford the network’s reach don’t want to be associated with such a stinky channel; but I couldn’t confirm this without seeing what kind of advertisers use it.
Then again, this “Quatar official” may just be trying to save face by claiming unprofitibility. He doesn’t want to say, “Yes, it is making money, but the United States is using its diplomatic channels to threaten us with all kinds of stuff I can’t talk about, so basically we’re caving.”
I find this report bordering on the bizarre. How does an owner not earn vast profits when your media outlet has this many viewers? It is my understanding that Al Jazeera has a virtual monopoly. Am I mistaken? Could it be that advertisers are afraid to offend the rulers in their own countries?
paying off terrorists ain’t cheap.
Is anyone really surprised that a government run business is not profitable?
I believe there are a other examples of government run business that have a hard time making money even as monopolies: the U.S. Post Office, for instance, who has an absolute, legal monopoly on the delivery of old fashioned snail mail in a market of 290 million people.
Hey, you block Cinemax at Night, Spice and the Playboy Channel and there goes 90% of your revenue…