Medi1 TV

Medi1 TV (formerly Medi 1 Sat) is a Moroccan free-to-air TV channel, launched in 2006. The channel broadcasts bilingually in Arabic and French, nationally via terrestrial television and internationally via satellite.

Medi1 TV
CountryMorocco
Broadcast areaAfrica, Europe and Middle East
HeadquartersTangier Free Zone, Tangier, Morocco
Programming
Language(s)Arabic
French
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
History
Launched1 December 2006 (2006-12-01)
Former namesMedi 1 Sat
Links
Websitehttps://www.medi1tv.com
Availability
Terrestrial
DTT (Morocco)Channel 7 (SD)
Streaming media
medi1tv.comWatch live

History

Medi1 TV was first launched on 1 December 2006 under the name Medi 1 Sat, broadcasting exclusively on satellite, and was co-jointly owned by public Moroccan and French investors.[1] The channel's launch schedule consisted mainly of news programming focusing on Morocco and Maghreb-related affairs.

In 2009, the channel became entirely Moroccan-owned following the acquisition of the previously French-owned shares by Atlas Benjelloun.[2] Abbas Azzouzi was appointed by the Board of Directors as the new CEO in 2010, succeeding its founder Pierre Casalta, who had previously directed its sister network Medi1 Radio.[3][1]

On 30 October 2010, Medi 1 Sat was rebranded Medi 1 TV, and a new generalist schedule was introduced covering entertainment, debates, youth, news & current affairs, sport, and documentaries, in addition to entering the terrestrial Moroccan TV market. Plans were for the channel to cover 74% of national territory by the end of November.[4]

In 2014, Medi1 TV obtained a new operating license after two Emirati media firms, Nekst Investments and Steeds Medias, acquired shares within its capital. A new cahier de charges had to be submitted to the Moroccan audiovisual regulator HACA (French: Haute autorité de la communication audiovisuelle).[5][1]

On 1 February 2016, Medi1 TV re-devoted its schedule to rolling news and current affairs. It also split into two separate channels the same year, with one devoted to Africa-related programming.[3] In June 2016, Hassan Khiyar, also serving as director of Medi1 Radio, was appointed as the TV network's new CEO. This came as the Board of Directors sought to "change the management model and governance of MEDI1TV with a repositioning strategic as a continuous and permanent news channel, published in partnership with Radio Méditerranée Internationale [Medi1 Radio] as part of a unique project with a national, regional and international vocation."[6] Medi1 TV launched a new look and logo in February 2017.

In 2019, Medi1 TV launched an exclusively Arabic-language channel ("Medi1TV Arabic") as part of its network lineup.[7]

In 2021, the Moroccan public broadcaster SNRT announced a forthcoming plan to acquire Medi1 TV, as well as Medi1 Radio and 2M, with a plan to reorganize the channels within a public holding group by 2024.[8] The CDG, via its subsidiary CDG Invest, moved to acquire the entirety of Medi1 TV following a MAD 105 million (US$11.9 million) buyout, with plans to transfer ownership to SNRT once it meets legal requirements.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Medi 1 TV - Media Ownership Monitor". LeDesk.ma & Reporters Without Borders. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  2. Marot, Christelle (23 September 2009). "Medi 1 Sat bascule dans l'audiovisuel public marocain". Econostrum (in French). Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. "Medi 1 TV se relance dans l'information en continu". Telquel.ma (in French). 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. Marot, Christelle (26 October 2010). "Medi 1 SAT devient Medi 1 TV". Econostrum (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  5. Alaoui, Mohamed Chakir (27 May 2014). "Medi1 TV devient une chaîne privée". Le360.ma (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. "Médi 1 radio et Médi 1 TV vont converger vers un projet unique". Médias24 (in French). 27 June 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. "MEDI1TV Arabic s'ajoute aux chaînes de MEDITV Maghreb". LE MATIN.ma. Maghreb Arabe Presse. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. "La SNRT prend le contrôle de 2M et de Médi1TV, naissance d'un pôle audiovisuel public". Medias24 (in French). 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  9. Goff, Shaquile (2021-06-17). "CDG Invest Takes Ownership of Medi1 TV with MAD 105 Million Buyout". Morocco World News. Denver. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
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