In the industry, it is known as refranchising, and the strategy is based on the idea that franchisees will tend to run a tighter ship than a company-owned operation.

WSJ: Fast-Food Chains Selling Outlets to Franchisees

Of course, those promoting the network's penetration of the United States -- among them Mr. Gore, who will get a board seat on the new network to be formally known as Al Jazeera America -- tend to pooh-pooh concerns about the Arabic-language mother ship's service to the jihadi cause.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Al Gore Profits from the Stealth Jihad