Yanked by yanks: Comcast backs away from Arab net.(Comcast Communications not to distribute Al...

Al-Jazeera Intl. has all but conceded defeat in its effort to gain U.S. distribution in time for its worldwide launch Wednesday.

Execs at the nascent English-language offshoot of the Arab broadcaster said Comcast Communications pulled the plug on talks Monday on a deal the net considered essential to gaining a beachhead in the U.S.

The Associated Press last week reported Comcast had pulled out of talks but, in fact, negotiations continue, with Comcast offering to roll out the channel regionally. Comcast is the dominant operator in the Detroit area, which has