Doha, Qatar – Al Jazeera Network launched its English language global news service on the Austar Pay TV platform in Australia from 15 November, 2009, expanding Al Jazeera English’s distribution reach to over 180 million households globally. Al Jazeera English is joining 40+ other channels available in the Austar channel 651 in the Starter Package which has a subscriber base currently of 750,000 throughout regional Australia. Phil Lawrie, director of Global Distribution, Al Jazeera said, “We are delighted to be celebrating the launch of Al Jazeera English on Austar and to be able to provide AJE to a sizeable new audience in this important market. Furthermore, we’re excited at the fact that this launch helps carry AJE to a global distribution reach of over 180 million households – a particularly notable statistic in that we have now added 100 million homes to AJE’s distribution in the three years since the channel’s launch.” John Porter, CEO of Austar said, “With the addition of Al Jazeera English to our Starter Package, now all Austar subscribers will be able to enjoy the widest possible range and choice of international news channels of any Pay TV platform in Australia.”