Difference between Al Jazeera and BBC
For credible and up-to-the-minute news from around the globe, Al Jazeera and BBC are hard to beat. Both offering breaking news and insights to significant events from many countries around the world, these two stations are essential to anyone who wants to keep informed. In this comparison article, we take a look at the differences between these two news networks.
Profile
Al Jazeera is a news and current affairs TV channel that broadcasts 24 hours a day in English. The station’s headquarters are in Doha, Qatar, and it is affiliated with the Arabic-language Al Jazeera.
The BBC or British Broadcasting Corporation is the primary public service broadcaster in the U.K. The network is the largest broadcaster in the world, with a staff comprised of 23,000 personnel. The channel operates under a Royal Charter, and is basically an autonomous public service network.
Purpose
Al Jazeera is the first English-language news channel in the world based in the MiddleEast. Among its goals are to provide regional and global perspectives to an international news audience comprised of more than one billion English speakers. The channel aims to provide a non-Anglo-American worldview to news viewers, with an objective of giving voice to stories, promoting debate, and challenging established perceptions.
Under the terms of its charter, the BBC is meant to be totally impartial to both political and commercial concerns, and is responsible only to viewers and listeners. Nevertheless, the political objectivity of the BBC has been subject to controversy several times in the past.
Availability
Al Jazeera is currently available in many countries around the world, many of which receive the signal via satellite. Certain countries are able to receive Al Jazeera broadcasts via cable. In addition, Al Jazeera also offers online services that can be accessed via live streaming through the Livestation site. Certain Al Jazeera news segments are also frequently shown on the Worldfocus television program in the United States.
Much of the main newscasts on BBC One and other news programs in the United Kingdom are provided by BBC News. In addition, there is also the BBC Radio News, which provides news bulletins to BBC radio stations through the General News Service or GNS. BBC News can also be accessed via BBC News Online, which was launched in November of 1997. The site is currently one of the most popular news websites in the United Kingdom, reaching more than a quarter of the country's Internet users as well as an international audience.
Similarities and Differences
Al Jazeera
- A news and current affairs TV channel that broadcasts 24 hours a day in English
- The first English-language news channel in the world based in the Middle East
- Currently available in many countries around the world via satellite and cable
BBC
- The primary public service broadcaster in the U.K.
- The largest broadcaster in the world
- Operates under a Royal Charter
- Political objectivity of the BBC has been subject to controversy
