Al Jazeera America hires CNN reporter Ali Velshi
Al Jazeera America has made its first on-air hire and tapped CNN reporter Ali Velshi to host a business show for the start-up cable network.
Velshi, born in Kenya and raised in Canada, has been with CNN for a dozen years, anchoring “Your Money” and serving as the cable news network’s chief business correpondent.
Al Jazeera America said Velshi’s half-hour will be a broad look at the U.S. economy both on business and consumers. Initially, the show will be weekly but will eventually become a daily program.
Al Jazeera America has not set a launch date but has said it plans to be up and running before the end of 2013. Its parent Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based media company, acquired the cable network Current TV in January and is overhauling the channel. Al Jazeera America is opening bureaus all around the country and has plans to compete on the domestic news front with CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.
ALSO:
Al Jazeera will face hurdles with Current TV
Al Jazeera strikes deal for Al Gore’s Current TV
Follow Joe Flint on Twitter @JBFlint.
MORE
INTERACTIVE: TVs highest paid stars
ON LOCATION: People and places behind what’s onscreen
PHOTOS: Hollywood back lot moments
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
Get the Envelope newsletter for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes stories from the Envelope podcast and columnist Glenn Whipp’s must-read analysis.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
