Israeli cablenet HOT is close to signing a distribution agreement with Al Jazeera English. It follows the failure to extend the current contract with CNN that expires at the end of the month.
Al Jazeera’s Arabic network is already carried by HOT and its satellite rival Yes, which last year also added the English version of the news channel. Al Jazeera was unable to comment on the story.
Although the decision to drop CNN and add Al Jazeera English stems from the cost cutting campaign launched last year by HOT CEO David Kamenitz, it can also be seen as a reflection of the end of Israel’s love affair with CNN, since the international rollout of Fox News.
Turner channels Cartoon Network and TCM are also missing from the HOT line-up.