January 13, 2015
Al Jazeera America folds morning programming

By Thomas Lifson

John Nolte of Breitbart aptly summarizes the changes announced by Al Jazeera America: “The collapse begins.”

Instead of producing its own programming, the basement-rated cable news network will simply re-broadcast Al Jazeera programs from its parent studio in Qatar. Also canceled is the late morning program, “Consider This With Antonio Mora.”

Mediabistro reports that behind-the-scenes staffers will be reassigned and “the fate of on-air talent is unclear.” Variety, however, reports that primetime anchors Ali Velshi and Joie Chen will have less airtime and mid-to-late afternoon programming is also on the chopping block.

Is it a coincidence that oil prices have halved, cutting the income of the emir of Qatar by a similar percentage? The Saudis have recently announced that they don’t expect hundred-dollar-a-barrel prices to return, a forecast that sent as many shivers to Qatar as to North Dakota.

Read more: American Thinker

---snip---