AJ+ (Al Jazeera Plus) is a social media publisher owned by Al Jazeera Media Network which focuses on news and current affairs. AJ+ content exists in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. It is available on its website as well as platforms YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Prior to February 2018, it also published written content on Medium.
Work on the channel started in December 2012, shortly after Al Jazeera established an office in San Francisco. The first YouTube channel went live on December 17, 2013. The channel then had a soft launch on June 13, 2014. A full launch followed on September 15, 2014.
History
Al Jazeera Media Network originally planned to launch an internet-only TV channel in 2010 as part of its social media strategy but later became preoccupied with the Arab Spring. Plans for an internet-only channel were re-launched upon the launch of Al Jazeera America when Al Jazeera Media Network had to geo-block most video from Al Jazeera English, including the channel's live stream, to satisfy concerns from cable and satellite providers in the United States.