Al Jazeera America (
AJAM) is a soon-to-be-defunct
American basic cable and
satellite news television channel that is owned by the
Al Jazeera Media Network. The channel was launched on August 20, 2013 to compete with
CNN,
HLN,
MSNBC,
Fox News Channel, and in certain markets,
RT America. The channel was Al Jazeera's second entry into the U.S. television market, after the launch of
beIN Sport in 2012. The channel, which had persistently low ratings, announced in January 2016 that it will close on April 30, 2016, citing the "economic landscape".