Television in Iraq
Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Iraqi state media collapsed. In June 2004, a Communications and Media Commission was set up to approve and grant licenses for all the country's media.[1] By 2011, Iraq was the headquarters of 49 free-to-air satellite channels, one of the highest numbers in the region.[1]
Until 2003, satellite dishes were banned in Iraq, and there was a limited number of national terrestrial stations.[1] After 2003, the sale of satellite dishes surged, and free-to-air channels entered the market.[1]
There are 16 terrestrial channels, of which one is funded by the US government through the U.S. Agency for Global Media (Alhurra-Iraq), and three are owned by the state broadcaster Iraqi Media Network.[1] In March 2011, Al Jazeera was granted rights to resume operations after being banned in 2004.[1] Plans were established to set up a free-media zone based in Baghdad, the Baghdad Media City, by the end of 2014.[1]
History
1956-2003
Television first arrived in Iraq on 2 May 1956, at first only in the Baghdad area with a station named Baghdad Television (BTV) on channel 8, switching to channel 9 on November 1959 after an increasing of its power. On 18 November 1967 the second TV station opened in Kirkuk,[2] on 2 March 1968 a new transmitter had been opened in Mosul and on 6 November 1968 in Basrah.[3] On 30 July 1972 Baghdad Television opened its second TV station on channel 7, and in 1974 two new stations opened in Amarah (capital city of the Maysan Governorate) and Samawah (capital city of the Muthanna Governorate), the latter one opening in March.[4] In July 1976 colour television was introduced using the French SECAM system.[5][6] By 1976 the entire country could receive broadcasts from the central station in Baghdad after the installation of a microwave relay system.
Baghdad Television was the primary TV station[7] in Iraq while Saddam Hussein was in power. Until the 2003 invasion of Iraq, much of its programming was patriotic music videos, government news and propaganda. It ceased broadcasting during the 2003 invasion when the transmitter network became inoperable due to bombing raids.
A second TV channel was established in 30 July 1972 broadcasting on channel 7 in the Baghdad area.[4] The channel was renamed Youth Channel (Qanaat Al-Shabaab) on 17 July 1993 and broadcast subtitled Western movies and music videos before the 2003 invasion. Foreign programmes were censored to remove strong language, sex and violence so programming would be suitable for all ages. Other channels available included Baghdad Cultural TV, Al-Shabaab 2 and Iraq Satellite Channel.
Because BTV was free to air, it also received a substantial amount of attention from viewers outside Iraq, particularly during the 2003 invasion of the country.
2003-present
Many TV stations have appeared since the fall of Saddam. Under the direction of Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III as the Administrator, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) began issuing radio and television licenses in June 2003 to meet the great demand for broadcasting licenses. The licenses were issued by the CPA Senior Adviser for Telecommunications. To plan for the expected great demand, this CPA office worked with Iraqi radio-frequency spectrum engineers and managers to develop a national FM-radio and TV channel allotment plan for all of the major Iraqi cities and towns. The national plan was developed using technical criteria and the Region 1 (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) allotment plan that was developed years before by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations treaty organization. The Iraqi allotment plan consisted of hundreds of FM radio and TV stations allotted to the cities and towns. The channels in the allotment plan were then open to anyone to apply for a license for a particular channel.
The CPA developed a few basic rules and regulations in June and July 2003 to provide a limited regulatory control of the broadcasters. For example, broadcasts inciting riots were prohibited. The overall CPA objective was to issue many licenses to provide for a plethora of diverse voices, information, music, and news to satisfy the desires and tastes of the Iraqi citizens. The CPA also recognized that broadcasting was a combination of business, advertising, journalism, engineering, and entertainment, and a robust and thriving broadcasting industry could provide a large number of excellent and highly desirable professional jobs that would reduce national unemployment. The CPA also recognized that commercial broadcasting could provide wealth-building opportunities to successful broadcasters.
The Iraqi Media Network (IMN), a public broadcasting network similar to the Public Broadcasting System in the United States, was issued radio and TV licenses by the CPA.
The CPA continued its work as the national broadcasting licensing and regulatory authority until June 2004 when the Iraq Communications and Media Commission (CMC) was established as the national regulatory agency that would issue licenses and regulate broadcasting and telecommunications.
In August 2014, LANA TV a new general entertainment channel started broadcasting regional series dubbed in Iraqi dialect. This is the first time that a TV Channel is broadcasting high quality Iraqi dubbing. LANA TV has hired Iraq's top theatre actors and actress such as Ustad Sami Qeftan to train the dubbing artists.
The overall result is that there are hundreds of radio and television stations operating in Iraq.
List of channels
North Region (Iraqi Kurdistan)
| Channel | Category | Owner/Political Party | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Newlinehd | United MixMedia | ||
| 4 Chra | United MixMedia | ||
| ACE Kids | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| ACE Music | Music | United MixMedia | |
| ACE Movies | Cinema, Film | United MixMedia | |
| All Doc HD | Documentary | United MixMedia | |
| All Sport HD | Sport | United MixMedia | |
| Al Hurria TV | |||
| Amozhgary | Religious | United MixMedia | |
| Ankawa HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Art Tv | United MixMedia | ||
| Asman HD | United MixMedia | ||
| ASO Sport Tv | Sport | United MixMedia | |
| Astera HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Astera Show | |||
| Astera Movies | Cinema, Film | ||
| AUC1 Kurdistan TV | Business | ||
| AUC2 Kurdistan TV | Business | ||
| Azadi Tv | United MixMedia | ||
| Babylon HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Bangawaz | Religious | United MixMedia | |
| Biaban Family HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Biaban Movies HD | Cinema, Film | United MixMedia | |
| Biaban Music HD | Music | United MixMedia | |
| Biaban Sport HD | Sport | United MixMedia | |
| Bablyon TV | English Music | United MixMedia | |
| Badinan TV | |||
| Business Media Channel (BMC) | Business | United MixMedia | |
| Chara HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Cihan HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Dahen Tv | United MixMedia | ||
| Delal TV | United MixMedia | ||
| Democracy HD | General | United MixMedia | |
| DUHOK | United MixMedia | ||
| Effect HD | United MixMedia | ||
| ESTA | United MixMedia | ||
| Falcon Eye HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Falcon Family HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Gali Kurdistan | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia | |
| Gali Kurdistan Slemani | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia | |
| Gali Kurdistan Sport | Sport | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| Gali Kurdistan Hawler | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia | |
| GEM KURD | General | ||
| Hawler TV | |||
| Hettaw TV | |||
| iBaby HD | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| iMovies HD | Cinema, Film | United MixMedia | |
| Jamawari Kurdistan HD | Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party | United MixMedia | |
| Jojo Mama | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| JSN HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Judi | United MixMedia | ||
| Kurdistan K24 | News, Documentary | Kurdistan Democratic Party Masrour Barzani |
United MixMedia |
| Kanal4 | |||
| KIRKUK | General | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| KOMALL HD | Religious | United MixMedia | |
| Korek TV | Music | ||
| Kurd Shop | Shopping | ||
| Kurd Sport TV | Sport | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | |
| Kurdistan Sport HD | Sport | United MixMedia | |
| Kurd1 Channel | |||
| Kurdish News Network (KNN) | News | Gorran Movement | United MixMedia |
| Kurdistan Parliament TV | Government | Kurdistan Regional Government | |
| Kurdistan TV | General | Kurdistan Democratic Party | United MixMedia |
| Kurdmax | United MixMedia | ||
| Kurdmax Show | United MixMedia | ||
| Kurdmax Pepule | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| Kurdsat | General | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| Kurdsat News | News | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| LAWAN HD | United MixMedia | ||
| MaxTV | Music | United MixMedia | |
| MINARA | United MixMedia | ||
| Net TV | General | Aramo Media | United MixMedia |
| New Art | |||
| Newline TV | United MixMedia | ||
| Newline 2 | United MixMedia | ||
| Niga Family HD | United MixMedia | ||
| Niga Kids | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| Niga Movies | Cinema, Film | United MixMedia | |
| NIROJ TV | |||
| Nishtimani MN HD | United MixMedia | ||
| NRT News | News | New Generation Movement Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir |
United MixMedia |
| NRT2 | General | New Generation Movement Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir |
United MixMedia |
| ntv Drama | United MixMedia | ||
| Payam Tv | Religious | Kurdistan Islamic Group | |
| Pelistank TV | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| Parwarda | Education | United MixMedia | |
| Qalat Tv | United MixMedia | ||
| Rangin TV | |||
| Rasan | United MixMedia | ||
| Rebari | |||
| Rega | Political | Communist Party of Kurdistan | |
| Reklam 4u | Marketing | ||
| Rega | United MixMedia | ||
| Reng Documentary | Documentary | United MixMedia | |
| Reng Kids | Kids | United MixMedia | |
| Rudaw | News, Documentary | Kurdistan Democratic Party Nechirvan Barzani |
United MixMedia |
| Silemani Tv | United MixMedia | ||
| Speda TV | Religious | Kurdistan Islamic Union | United MixMedia |
| Srusht | Religious | ||
| Tueshw HD | United MixMedia | ||
| U TV | Religious | Kurdistan Islamic Union | United MixMedia |
| U2 Channel | Religious | Kurdistan Islamic Union | United MixMedia |
| U TV Sulaimani | Religious | Kurdistan Islamic Union | United MixMedia |
| UMM | United MixMedia | United MixMedia | |
| Vîn TV | Music | Sarkat Junad Rekani & Kawa Junad Rekani | |
| WAAR TV | Music | Palo Co. | United MixMedia |
| WAAR TV Sport | Sport | ||
| Xak TV | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia | |
| Xak Kids | Kids | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| Xak Movies | Cinema, Film | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| Xak Music | Music | Patriotic Union of Kurdistan | United MixMedia |
| Zagros TV | General | Kurdistan Democratic Party | United MixMedia |
| Zaro tv | Government, Kids | Kurdistan Regional Government | |
| Zarok TV (Based in Turkey) | Kids |
South Region (Rest of Iraq)
| Channel | Category | Owner/Political Party | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Anwar TV 2 | |||
| Al Hurra Iraq | United States | ||
| Radio Sawa | United States | ||
| Aletejah TV | |||
| Al Iraqiya | Republic of Iraq | ||
| Al Sharqiya | Saad al-Bazzaz | ||
| Al Sumaria | |||
| Nawa TV | |||
| Al-Baghdadia TV | Awn Hussain Al Khashlok | ||
| Al Forat | Ammar al-Hakim | ||
| Ashur TV | Assyrian Democratic Movement | ||
| Biladi | |||
| Baghdad TV | |||
| Afaq TV | Nuri al-Maliki | ||
| Al Rasheed TV | Saad Asem Al-Janabi | ||
| Ahlulbayt TV | |||
| Al Masar | |||
| Al Fayha | |||
| Ishtar TV | Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council | ||
| LANA TV | |||
| Asia Network Television | |||
| Karbala TV | |||
| Alahad TV | Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq | ||
| Hadi TV | Hadi Foundation |
See also
References
- "Arab Media Outlook 2011-2015" (PDF). 2012. pp. 179–180. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- A. Al-Rawi. "Media Practice in Iraq". Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- "Television Factbook 1970-1971" (PDF). p. 1044. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- "Television Factbook 1977" (PDF). 1977. p. 1110. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- The Asian Messenger
- Douglas A. Boyd (October 1982). "Radio and Television in Iraq: The Electronic Media in a Transitionary Arab World Country". Middle Eastern Studies. 18 (4): 400–410. doi:10.1080/00263208208700522. JSTOR 4282908.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Television in Asia | |
|---|---|
| Sovereign states |
|
| States with limited recognition |
|
| Dependencies and other territories | |
| |
