United States version of Qatar news channel Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera America, abruptly shutting down at the end of April after a disastrous two years.

After a disastrous two and a half years, Al Jazeera America, the United States version of Al Jazeera English (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) seen in South Africa and across Africa, and the Arabic Al Jazeera elsewhere in the world, is abruptly shutting down at the end of April.

"The wind down of Al Jazeera America is not expected to have any impact on other businesses or operations of the network," wrote Mostefa Souag, the acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network, in a note.

The ongoing plunge in the price of oil is blamed for the shutdown of Al Jazeera America - with oil now hovering around $30 a barrel, and with the Doha based Al Jazeera in Qatar largely propped up by the revenues derived from the oil-rich nation, Al Jazeera already indicated earlier that it's going to get rid of around 1 000 people across its global network.

With Qatar's economy - and depending so much on oil - doing less well, it's likely that Al Jazeera feeling the money squeeze, decided to pull the plug on a division running a news channel in a country that nobody was really watching.

The New York Times broke the news late Wednesday that Al Jazeera executives told Al Jazeera America staff that the Qatar funded TV news channel is ceasing operations at the end of April this year.

In a memo to the staff, Al Jazeera America's chief executive, Al Anstey, wrote that "the decision by Al Jazeera America's board [to shut it down] is driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace"

"I know the closure of Al Jazeera America will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future".

"The decision that has been made is in no way because Al Jazeera America has done anything but a great job. Our commitment to great journalism is unrivaled".

Al Jazeera America, since it launched in August 2013 in the place of Al Gore's Current TV, the United Kingdom version of which was seen on on Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV until it was shut down, has been a disaster, more in the news itself than making news.

Al Jazeera America hardly ever had positive news or bothered to speak about it, with the result that real negative insider stories - much like South Africa's public broadcaster, the SABC - constantly dominated the narrative and is what made the news when there was news.

The change and sale from Current TV to Al Jazeera America has been an ongoing legal battle with the channel barely registering viewers in America - often less than 30 000 during prime time in the United States. 

Al Jazeera America struggled to get advertisers, to find viewers, to be taken seriously and to find credibility, all the while battling to be carried on some pay-TV operators in the United States. 

Staff went on record last year about the "culture of fear" and directionless leadership inside Al Jazeera America which saw the controversial Ehab Al Shihabi removed as Al Jazeera America boss and replaced by Al Anstey, while a lot of staff fled and top executive left. 

Staff were also in revolt to unionise, Al Jazeera America cut staff, Al Jazeera America workers complained about sexism, anti-Semitism, and Al Jazeera America's legal representative David W. Harleston was suspended following the discovery that he was apparently not licensed to practice law.

Just recently Al Jazeera America again made news - not for what it broadcast but the news channel itself: under scrutiny for the documentary that was also shown on Al Jazeera English and seen in South Africa about illegal sport performance enhancing drugs allegedly sent to the wife and house of the American quarterback Peyton Manning.

Al Jazeera in turmoil: a 'vicious' corporate 'culture of fear' at Al Jazeera America; while journalist Mohamed Fahmy in Egypt sues over 'negligence'.

Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) remains mired in scandal - rocked by backbiting, massive internal drama, vicious in-fighting and law suits - and don't forget about allegations of sexism and anti-Semitism against the Qatar-based 24-hour TV news channel.

Al Jazeera America is riddled with sexism where workers describe the atmosphere as corporate culture as vindictive.

The former Al Jazeera America video archivist Matthew Luke is suing Al Jazeera America as the news channel is unravelling in America.

The New York Times has a fascinating, must-read expose on the turmoil behind the scenes as the beleaguered TV news channel. where Al Jazeera America's CEO Ehad Al Shahibi was promptly fired from the position last week.

The British Al Anstey who helped to set up Al Jazeera English which is seen on MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's StarSat across Africa is suddenly taking over as CEO of Al Jazeera America.

Al Anstey is now going to try to be "bringing the team together" - read his internal memo to the Al Jazeera America staff.

The New York Times also has the story of respected former Al Jazeera America executive Mary McGinnis who resigned last week in protest, saying Al Jazeera America is permeated "with a culture of fear".

The news channel is "shaken" according to the Financial Times. Al Jazeera which covers others' news doesn't want to be open and tells the media it doesn't "go into personnel issues".

Al Jazeera America is in need of a complete reboot. The news channel has started firing staff, cancelled programming and is filling programming with Al Jazeera English content.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy is now suing Al Jazeera claiming negligence on the part of the TV news channel, saying Al Jazeera's negligent actions contributed to his 400-day detention in Egypt.

ATTACK ON JOURNALISM IN AFRICA: Three Al Jazeera staff convicted in Egypt in politically motivated court case.

From Africa's southern most tip, South Africa, to the edge of its northernmost end, Egypt, press freedom and freedom of speech are under attack and continue to be threatened as three Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 401) were convicted and condemned and given prison sentences today.

Mohammed Fahmy, Baher Mohammed and Peter Greste - kept in cages all during their court trial like animals - were sentenced today to between 7 and 10 years in prison.

This travesty was the "conclusion" of a shambolic and surreal court case filled with bogus claims and fake evidence regarding alleged terrorism charges, and which was eye-poppingly jarring for its farcical court procedures.

The conviction news sent shockwaves through Africa's journalism community as well as the global journalism community, with several international broadcasters, TV news channels and publications devoting attention, time and coverage to the outrageous act.

The three have been detained since December - 177 days. The shambolic trial took five months.

"Today three colleagues and friends were sentenced, and will continue behind bars for doing a brilliant job of being great journalists, 'guilty' of covering stories with great skill and integrity," says Al Anstey, Al Jazeera English's managing director in a statement.

"At no point during the long, dwarn-out 'trial' did the absurd allegations stand up to scrutiny".

"The support shown for Mohamed, Peter and Baher has been loud, unified, and determined, and has come from every corner of the world".

"The call for their freedom has come from journalists, people right around the globe, as well as leaders worldwide. This great solidarity is a stand for basic freedoms - the freedom of speech, for the right for people to be informed, and for the right for journalists around the world to be able to do their job".

"There is only one sensible outcome now. For the verdict to be overtuned, and justice to be recognised by Egypt," says Al Anstey.

Elections 2014: Al Jazeera covering South African elections with three correspondents in the country.

Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 401) is covering the run-up to, and election day in South Africa on Wednesday 7 May with three correspondents, Azad Essa, Haru Mutasa and Tania Page.

Al Jazeera ia reporting in the run-up to tomorrow's general election, election day, the counting of votes and the election announcement expected on 10 May.

Al Jazeera says the 24-hour TV news channel will present a detailed report card on the main issues faced by South Africans and voters.

"The election in South Africa is very important to us and our viewers right around the globe," says Al Anstey, Al Jazeera English' managing director.

"Our coverage will cover all angles of the story, from our teams across the country. We will be hearing from people from across South Africa as they decide on which way to vote, and react to the outcome of this important election".

Al Jazeera calling for a Global Day of Action next week, Thursday 27 February, because 'journalism is not a crime'.

Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 401) is calling for a global day of action next week on Thursday 27 February in support of press freedom and the release of its three journalists - Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed - jailed and remaining locked up in Egypt for doing their job.

Al Anstey, Al Jazeera English's managing director says the Qatar based 24-hour TV news channel is "deeply disappointed" that the three journalists have not been released and remain in jail.

The court case against the three journalists has been postponed to 5 March after they pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. 

Al Jazeera has received global support from all the major global TV news operations, demanding that the journalists be released.

"The charges against our staff are baseless, unacceptable, and wholly unjustified," says Al Anstey in a statement.

"What is going in in in Egypt right now is a trial of journalism itself, so it is critical that we remain resolute in calling for freedom of speech, for the right for people to know, and for the immediate release of all of Al Jazeera's journalists in detention in Egypt".

"We truly appreciate the solidarity from journalists and individuals right around the world. The pressure has continued to build since they were taken into custody. We must keep this up, so we ask everyone to contribute to the Global Day of Action on Thursday 27th February. Journalism is not a crime."

BREAKING. Al Anstey appointed as managing director of Al Jazeera's English service.

Al Anstey has been appointed as managing director of Al Jazeera (DStv 406) English service, tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 24 hour news channel, with its headquarters based in Doha, Qatar and 65 international bureaus across the world.

Al Anstey was one of the founders of Al Jazeera's English service and was a key member of the news channel's start up team. He ran Al Jazeera's news department after the launch of the channel in November 2006 until earlier this year. Prior to joining Al Jazeera in 2006 Al Anstey was the head of foreign news at ITN in the United Kingdom.