Al-Jazeera International, the English-language network of the Qatar-based broadcaster, will launch its service on Nov. 15.

The network missed its target launch of last spring, and then did not want to begin during the summer months, when viewership is lower.

The English-language broadcaster hopes to reach up to 40 million viewers worldwide.

However, it has yet to announce any agreements with cable or satellite systems in the United States, one of its largest potential markets.

It will operate out of four main offices, in Doha, the capital of Qatar, London, Washington and Kuala Lumpur.

The launch of the English broadcast service comes 10 years after the launch of the influential Arab language network.

Al-Jazeera's freewheeling newscasts have overshadowed state-run TV stations across much of the Arab world and encouraged development of more private- sector media alternatives.

Terrorist videos

However, it has clashed with Washington over its portrayal of Middle Eastern politics, especially its access to interviews and videos from al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

For the English-language service, the network has hired top-ranked journalists from around the world, including Briton David Frost and former American military spokesman John Rushing.

It plans to broadcast a 24-hour schedule, with 12 hours of live news accompanied by 12 hours of interview programs, features and analysis daily.

Its English-language website will be relaunched on the same day as the broadcast service takes to the air.

A different perspective

The network promises to cover the news from a different perspective and to bring more news from the developing world to the West. It has already opened a network of bureaus in Africa, a region notoriously poorly covered by Western networks.

"We will extend the Al-Jazeera spirit into the English-speaking world," said Nigel Parsons, director of Al-Jazeera International.

The station plans to compete with CNN International and BBC World, the two chief English-language satellite news channels.

In 2004 the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission approved al-Jazeera, but announced it would require cable and satellite distributors to monitor its programs and alter or delete "abusive comments."

The measure was meant to keep the broadcast in line with Canada's hate laws, but it has discouraged cable and satellite firms from taking on the service.