Key milestones
Below are some key dates in the establishment of Al Jazeera International:
November 1996: Al Jazeera is launched in Qatar with the support of the Emir of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
October 2001: Al Jazeera is the only foreign television broadcaster in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan during the war and has the only uplink facility, with which it can do live two-way communications with Al Jazeera headquarters in Doha.
August 2004 to February 2005: Senior management team is put into place.
Early 2005: Broadcast centres announced for Kuala Lumpur, London, and Washington DC.
May 2005: Bureau Chiefs announced for Broadcast centres: Trish Carter, Sue Phillips and Will Stebbins for the channel’s Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC broadcast centres respectively.
May 2005: Plans for internationally-renowned journalist, Riz Khan’s interview show from Washington D.C., announced.
October 2005: Media legend Sir David Frost joins Al Jazeera International to present Frost Over the World.
December 2005: Al Jazeera International announces Amanda Palmer as Presenter and unveils plans for entertainment programming.
January 2006: Well-known producer and presenter Shahnaz Pakravan joins the channel and plans are revealed for global women’s programme, Everywoman.
February 2006: Internationally renowned journalist Rageh Omaar joins the channel to host the daily documentary programme Witness
March 2006: Dr Shereen El Feki appointed as presenter of the business and politics programme People & Power.
April 2006: Leading media affairs presenter Richard Gizbert joins Al Jazeera International to present media review programme Listening Post.
May 2006: Sports line-up revealed: new programme Sportsworld and acclaimed sports presenters and reporters on board.
May 2006: Ibrahim Helal joins as Deputy Managing Director, News and Programming