For Al Jazeera Plus, or AJ+, as the new cyber news channel is currently known, Al Jazeera will set up dedicated offices globally, including in South Africa where Al Jazeera already has a growing presence for its existing TV news channel, as well as in Beijing in China, New Delhi in India and elsewhere.
AJ+ will have its main office in San Franciso in the United States and the new news channel will start in English. Hiring for Al Jazeera Plus is currently underway.
Speaking at the annual Mipcom in Cannes where TV buyers gather every year, Moeed Ahmad, Al Jazeera's manager for innovation and incubation said that when AJ+ launches in early 2014 it will seek to reach "the widest possible audience".
"There is a generation of people who wants to go beyond the box. They instinctively turn online to consume news. They share, like, Tweet, comment, interact and forward. To reach them requires a fresh approach," said Moeed Ahmad.
"Al Jazeera, through this channel, demonstrates a commitment to innovation by creating a new digital destination for journalism. Its content will grab attention, captivate, and empower global conversations," he said of the new digital cyber channel which will stream news, current affairs shows and human interest stories.
"We're trying to tell stories that resonate with people. On the new online service that will mean mostly short-form video but occasionally also longer analytical pieces," says Moeed Ahmad.
