Al-Jazeera pulls plug on US news channel

Cable channel Al-Jazeera America, launched with great fanfare in 2013 by the global Qatar-based media group, will be shut down April 30, the company said Wednesday.

The move comes after an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the channel failed to attract more than a minuscule audience.

An internal memo from director general Mostefa Souag said the decision was "driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the US media marketplace."

Souag said the shutdown would be accompanied by an expansion of Al-Jazeera's digital services "to broaden our multi-platform presence in the United States."

Al-Jazeera paid some $500 million to launch the cable news operation aimed at rivaling CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.

In mid-2013, the channel went live after hiring some 850 staff and opening 12 bureaus in the United States and a state-of-the art studio in New York.

The wind-down of Al-Jazeera America will not affect the group's other global media operations, the memo said.

Al-Jazeera America chief executive Al Anstey told staff that he recognized the shutdown "will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future," adding that "the decision was no reflection on the work of that staff."

Excerpts of his comments appeared on Al-Jazeera's website.