In a surprising move, Al Gore's struggling cable network Current TV has been sold to Middle East news network Al-Jazeera. INSIDE EDITION reports.
Former Vice President Al Gore is selling his struggling cable channel Current TV, and you won't believe who's buying it—Al Jazeera, the 24 hour news network headquarted in the Middle East.
The deal is sending shock waves across the USA because Al Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar, and has long been perceived as being anti-American.
Al-Jazeera became notorious in the U.S. after repeatedly airing video statements from Osama bin Laden.
The purchase price for Current TV was reportedly $500 million. Al Gore's share is $100 million.
Just hours after the deal was announced, Current TV host Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan announced on her Facebook page that she was leaving her show.
Time Warner Cable, the second largest cable company in the U.S. dumped Current TV with this message to viewers: "This channel is no longer available on Time Warner Cable."
The Huffington Post calls Time Warner Cable's actions "gutless."
Huffington Post Senior Media Reporter Michael Calderone told INSIDE EDITION, "It was a smart decision by Al Gore to sell because Current was really running out of options. Current just couldn't get its footing in the U.S. market."
Current is going to renamed Al Jazeera America. Other Current TV high-profile hosts include Joy Behar and former New York governor Eliot Spitzer. No word yet on their plans.
