Founded in 1996 as an Arabic-language satellite channel, Al Jazeera has become the most-watched news channel in the Arab world.

WSJ: Al Jazeera in Site Hunt

Ayish says Al Jazeera Satellite TV channel was the most popular broadcaster in the Arab World, followed by Abu Dhabi Television, and Al Arabiyah channel respectively.

CNN: Analysis: Arab media comes of age

Under a fifth of Egyptians now get their news from state television, while more than half follow the al-Jazeera satellite channel (whose crews were repeatedly harassed during the election).

ECONOMIST: Not yet a democracy

Yet it comes as a surprise that Yusuf Qaradawi, the star preacher on the popular al-Jazeera satellite channel, who is a widely respected moderate on most issues, should find himself at the heart of a far bigger storm.

ECONOMIST: A Sunni preacher upsets the Shias

While it is assumed that the new station would not be a mouthpiece for the French government, French media chiefs say it would offer a different perspective on world events than that offered by CNN or the BBC, or the increasingly popular Arabic satellite channel al-Jazeera.

BBC: Chirac pushes global French TV

Maintaining neutrality was the main objective of Al Jazeera Satellite television, according to Ibrahim Hilal, the channel's Chief Editor.

CNN: Analysis: Arab media comes of age