Kuwait Television

Last updated
Kuwait TV
KuwaitTV.svg
Country Kuwait
Broadcast area Middle East, Europe, North America, Australia, South America
Programming
Picture format 1080p HD (only)
Ownership
Owner Ministry Of Information (Kuwait)
History
Launched15 November 1961;62 years ago (1961-11-15)
Links
Website Official Website

Kuwait Television is Kuwait's official state-run television station, and part of the Kuwaiti Ministry of information.

Contents

Kuwait Television has 9 channels, a satellite channel, and a streaming platform:

History

Early History

The history of Kuwaiti television started in an unknown date in late 1959 or early 1960. Merchant Murad Behbehani, an agent working for RCA, set up a 100-watt transmitter with a limited schedule consisting of cartoons and feature films. His only goal was to encourage sales of television sets. [1]

Kuwait Television began broadcasting on 15 November 1961, taking over the control of Bahbahani's television station, [1] from the eastern district of Kuwait City. [2] It was the first TV station in the Arabian Peninsula, founded and created by Murad Behbehani, initially broadcasting in black and white for four hours a day.

It started color television using the PAL system in March 1974, [3] for the first ever round of the Arabian Gulf Cup, from Bahrain. Early broadcasters included Salem Al-Fahd, Reza Faili and Jassim Al-Shehab. [4] In 1978, KTV moved to new, technologically advanced premises. Studios varied between 30 and 800 square meters, the largest of which was used for Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic adaptation of Sesame Street. [1]

Modern History

In May 2024, Kuwait Television launched 51 Kuwait, a streaming platform with all KTV shows as well as live access to all Kuwait TV channels. The name 51 was used to honour the first ever radio broadcast from Kuwait which was in May 1951. [5] In July 28, Kuwait TV launched the Al Akhbar Channel, which handles all international news coverage. [6]

Channels

Kuwait Television Channel 1 (KTV 1)

KTV1 launched on April 7, 1992, with 24-hour broadcasting. [7] By 1997, the channel was broadcasting Kuwaiti-produced programmes around the world. [8] KTV1 is a state run channel. Its programming cycle changes approximately every three months, and shows special content during the month of Ramadan. Daily programs on the channel include Good Morning Kuwait, Baitak, and Good Evening Kuwait. Also included in the broadcasts are a variety of cultural and religious programs, and coverage of state events. [7]

Kuwait Television Channel 2 (KTV2)

KTV2 is the only one of the state run channels to broadcast in English. The channel started broadcasting in 1978 as the Second Program. [1] It shows English programs and Arabic programs that have been dubbed in English, showing family centered local programming. The channel's stated mission is to promote Kuwait's media abroad, to show foreign viewers something of Kuwaiti culture and news, and to foster relationships between the State, the Kuwaiti public, and English speakers in Kuwait. [9]

Kuwait Television Al Akhbar Channel

Al Akhbar is the state run international news coverage channel.

Kuwait Television Sport Channel (KTV Sport) and Kuwait Television Sport 2 Channel (KTV Sport 2)

KTV Sport began broadcasting on November 1, 1993. [10] Initially chaired by Mohammed Al Zamel, this channel was considered at the time to be the leading sports channel in the Arabic Gulf region. [11] It was originally a local sports channel, but in 2002, KTV Sport replaced their ground transmission with satellite transmission, enabling them to broadcast international sporting events as well. [11] The channel also has a Plus variant.

Kuwait Television AlAraby Channel

AlAraby was launched on February 25, 2009, under the direction of the former Minister of Information, Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah. [12] Its programming includes literary, cultural, scientific, and artistic based shows, and it also covers important cultural events. The Al Araby channel coordinates with KTV1 when covering national events.

Kuwait Television Ithra' Channel

The Ithra' Channel is dedicated to religious programmes that educate viewers about Islam, Islamic principles, and Islam's spiritual value. It coordinates with the Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, as well as with the Awqaf Public Foundation to produce information that supports mainstream Islam, rather than extremist ideologies. [13] The channel also covers religious events in Kuwait.

Other channels

Some other channels are:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alhurra</span> US TV broadcasting to the Arab world

Alhurra is a U.S. government-owned Arabic-language satellite TV channel that broadcasts news and current affairs programming to audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. Alhurra is funded by the U.S. government and is barred from broadcasting within the United States itself under the 1948 Smith-Mundt Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France 24</span> French public service international news television network

France 24 is a French publicly-funded international news television network based in Paris. Its channels, broadcast in French, English, Arabic and Spanish, are aimed at the overseas market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MBC Group</span> Middle-Eastern media conglomerate

MBC Group, formerly known as Middle East Broadcasting Center, is a Saudi media conglomerate based in the Middle East and North Africa region. Launched in London in 1991, the company moved its headquarters to Dubai in 2002 and to Riyadh in 2022.

The media of Libya consists of a broad range of newspapers, TV channels, radio stations, and websites mostly set up during or after the Libyan Civil War, which removed previously tight restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of speech. By the summer of 2012, there were over 200 registered newspapers, over 20 TV channels, and 200 radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Kuwait-related articles</span>

This page list topics related to Kuwait.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Television of Mauritania</span> Mauritanian national state public television broadcaster

The Television of Mauritania is Mauritania's national state-owned public service television broadcaster. Currently, the broadcaster is a member of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTV2</span> Kuwaiti English-language television channel

Kuwait television channel 2 (KTV2) is Kuwait's governmental television channel dedicated for the English-speaking public. The channel broadcasts English-speaking shows, local programmes, news, English-subtitled local serials, English-speaking international serials, and English-speaking or English-subtitled movies. Kuwait television started its broadcast on November 15, 1961; as the official television of the ministry of information of the state of Kuwait. There are so far five channels: channel 1, used for Arabic programming; channel 2 (KTV2); channel 3, for purely sports programming; channel 4 (KTV4), for pre-recorded and re-runs of movies and serials from other channels; and channel 5 (KTV-Plus), Kuwait's official governmental satellite broadcast, currently merged with KTV1. The Kuwait Ministry of Information has an online feed of three of its channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali National Television</span>

Somali National Television (SNTV) (Somali: Telefishinka Qaranka Soomaaliyeed, abbreviated TQS) is the national television station of Somalia.

Public diplomacy in the Islamic Republic of Iran refers to the public relations efforts to disseminate information about the Islamic Republic of Iran. Such efforts seek to communicate with foreign publics in order to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. Instruments of public diplomacy in the Islamic Republic of Iran include cultural exchanges, film and print media, and sports diplomacy.

Vision TV Network is a television channel distribution service provided by Vision247 Ltd in the United Kingdom. The service carries around 35 channels in English and other languages, streamed from the internet and accessed via Freeview channel 264, EE TV boxes, mobile apps or the web.

Television in Saudi Arabia was introduced in 1965, but is now dominated by just five major companies: Middle East Broadcasting Center, SM Enterprise TV, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Rotana and Saudi TV. Together, they control 80% of the pan-Arab broadcasting market. Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite and pay-TV. Saudi investors are behind the major networks MBC, which is based in Dubai, and Emirates based OSN. The Saudi government estimated that in 2000 the average Saudi spent 50% to 100% more time watching television than his or her European or US counterpart. On average, 2.7 hours are spent daily watching TV in Saudi Arabia.

The state broadcaster Kuwait Television operates the domestic channels, including KTV1, KTV2, Al Akhbar, and KTV Sport.

The General Organization of Radio and TV, also known in French as Organisation de la Radio et la Télévision Arabe Syrienne, is the state and public broadcaster in Syria and reports to the Ministry of Information. Earlier names were Radio and Television and Syrian Radio & Television (SRT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mass media in Qatar</span>

The mass media in Qatar relays information and data in Qatar by means of television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines and the internet. Qatar has established itself as a leading regional figure in mass media over the past decade. Al Jazeera, a global news network which was established in 1996, has become the foundation of the media sector. The country uses media to brand itself and raise its international profile.

The 'Ajam of Kuwait, also known as Persian Kuwaitis, are Kuwaiti citizens of Iranian descent. The majority of Shia Kuwaiti citizens are of Iranian descent, although there are Ajam Kuwaitis who are Sunni.

Al Jazeera Arabic is a Qatari state-owned Arabic-language news television network. It is based in Doha and operated by the Al Jazeera Media Network, which also operates Al Jazeera English. It is the largest news network in the Middle East and North Africa region. It was founded in 1996 by the then Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is a cabinet department of the executive branch of the government of Kuwait dedicated to spreading tolerant Islamic culture. Specifically, it seeks to spread awareness and expand the influence of Islamic faith, Islamic history, and Islamic sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Najla AlKanderi</span> Kuwaiti television presenter

Najla Ibrahim AlKanderi is a Kuwaiti television presenter and Radio presenter. She is best known for hosting several late-night TV shows in Kuwait including Bel Kuwaiti on the AlMajles TV and Layali Al Kuwait on the Kuwait Television.

The Ministry of Information is one of the governmental bodies in the State of Kuwait. It was established on 7 January 1979. The ministry is currently held by Abdulrahman Badah Al Mutairi.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "An analytical study of television and society in three Arab states: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain". Ohio State University via UMI. 1989. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  2. "Kuwait Television". Ministry of Information Kuwait. Retrieved 29 March 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. Kuwait, Post Report. U.S. Department of State. 1984.
  4. كونا : حدث في مثل هذا اليوم في الكويت - التاريخ - 15/11/2008
  5. "Platform 51: The information ministry's streaming gateway". Kuwait Times. March 17, 2024.
  6. "News channel 'Al-Akhbar' to be launched on July 28". Kuwait Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. 1 2 "KTV1". Ministry of Information Kuwait. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  8. Wheeler, Deborah (2000). "New Media, Globalization and Kuwaiti National Identity". Middle East Journal. 3. 54 (The Information Revolution): 434. JSTOR   4329510.
  9. "KTV2". Ministry of Information Kuwait. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  10. "KUNA : Kuwait TV celebrates 52nd anniversary - Media - 14/11/2013".
  11. 1 2 "KTV Sport". Ministry of Information Kuwait. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  12. "Al Araby Channel". Ministry of Information Kuwait. Archived from the original on 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  13. "Ethra's Channel". Ministry of Information Kuwait. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.