Al Jazeera America has commissioned a series of documentaries “in an effort to raise its profile among news aficionados while stoking demand for the fledgling cable-news outlet,” Variety’s Brian Steinberg reports:
Finding ways to stand out is paramount for Al Jazeera America, which has ambitious plans and more than adequate funding, but needs to bolster the number of homes it reaches. In December, the network began airing on Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, a move that brings it into nearly 55 million homes. Al Jazeera launched August 20.
“When you are a new channel among hundreds in the cable world, you want to be gaining traction. You want people to come and sample you,” said High. “Yes, we hope this will basically spark conversation and draw attention.”
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