Al Jazeera America Is Shutting Down On April 30.

Less than three years after its inception, the Al Jazeera America cable news network will sign off for the last time on April 30. 

Some observers have questioned whether the demise of the US-based offshoot of the Qatari royal family's Al Jazeera Media Network could be tied to the declining oil prices, which have taken a toll on Qatar's economy. But a spokeswoman from Al Jazeera told Reuters that the decision stemmed from challenges relating to the US media market, which has struggled to find ways to recoup lost advertising in the new digital economy."The Al Jazeera America Board made this decision based on the fact that the Al Jazeera America business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace," the spokeswoman wrote in an email to Reuters.The network had hoped the $500 million deal to buy Current TV in 2013 would come with the contracts the American network had with cable providers intact, allowing immediate entrance into mainstream American cable news. However, soon after Al Jazeera America acquired Current TV, Time Warner Cable Inc and AT&T declined to carry the network.Time Warner eventually carried the network, but DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T, sued Al Jazeera America over its agreement and settled out of court.