Cable Network Al Jazeera America Shutting Down

The station has consistently struggled for ratings since its launch, with the New York Times reporting its prime-time ratings sometimes struggled “to exceed 30,000 viewers”.

One of those executives was Kate O’Brian, Al Jazeera America’s president, who tearfully told the assembled staff about severance packages.

Al Jazeera said it would provide more details of the expansion plans of its multi-platform digital services to the U.S. in the coming months.

In an official statement, Al Jazeera America CEO Al Anstey said the network has blamed the “economic landscape of the USA media environment” for the move.

A man works at a desk in the Al Jazeera America broadcast center in NY on August 20, 2013.

“I know the closure of AJAM will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future”, Anstey added. Its objective was to be the best alternative for investigative journalism and news analysis from a team integrated by recognized journalists such as Ali Velshi, Joie Chen and Mike Viqueira and other workers from NBC, CNN and Fox News. We have increasingly set ourselves apart from all the rest.

“Al Jazeera America entered a crowded marketplace with a brand that had a lot of baggage”, said Merrill Brown, director of the School of Communications and Media at Montclair State University.

But ultimately, it likely wasn’t dysfunction or a lack of viewers or a lack of that doomed the channel, but instead the plunging price of oil, which recently dipped below $30 a barrel.

But it always faced an uphill battle to build a loyal USA audience, given it was under the patronage of the Qatar government.

The outlet attempted to steer away from the political bickering that has engulfed many cable news shows and focus on the facts.

To make matters worse, the newsroom was hit with turmoil a year ago when staff members complained bitterly of a culture of fear.

The network also said it will be ramping up its digital offerings in the U.S.as it shuts down its news channel.