218TV

218TV was a Libyan free-to-air satellite television channel established in Amman, Jordan, on 6 August 2015. It was created by Libyan women's-rights activist Huda El-Sarari and Mujahid Bosifi, a former anti-Gaddafi activist who had lived in the Netherlands. Although its operational base was in Jordan, the channel was oriented primarily toward Libyan viewers and addressed political, social, cultural, and everyday issues relevant to Libya. The station's schedule combined regular news broadcasts with programs designed to broaden the range of Libyan television content. Its programming included US-L, a weekly program examining Libya–United States relations; Interview, a weekly interview format; Amazighi in Arabic, which focused on Berber culture in Libya; Subh (The Morning), a daily morning program; and Ashia (The Evening), a daily entertainment show. The channel also carried Game, a weekly sports program, alongside other listed formats such as Sponda and Up To Tech. This mix positioned 218TV as a general-interest broadcaster rather than a narrowly specialized news service. In late 2017, the organization expanded its media presence by launching the sister channel 218 News. The additional channel reflected an effort to separate or extend news-oriented output within the broader 218 media operation, while 218TV retained a mixed schedule of news, social programming, culture, entertainment, and sports. By 2019, 218TV was described as one of the most popular television channels in Libya. That profile was reinforced when Huda El-Sarari was recognized by Arabian Business magazine in 2019 for her influence in the Arab world. The channel operated in a difficult Libyan media and security environment. In March 2022, one of its reporters, Ali Al-Rifawi, was kidnapped by militias. He was released in July of the same year. The incident illustrated the risks faced by journalists and media organizations working in or covering Libya, although the available reference material does not establish a wider corporate response or legal outcome. 218TV ceased operations in 2022. The available material does not identify a precise closure date, a formal successor, a purchaser, or the financial circumstances behind the shutdown. Its documented legacy is that of a Libyan-oriented satellite broadcaster that used a Jordanian base to deliver a broad Arabic-language schedule and helped build a wider 218-branded media presence through the later launch of 218 News.

218TV was founded on 6 August 2015 in Amman, Jordan, as a Libyan-oriented free-to-air satellite channel. Its founders were Huda El-Sarari, a Libyan women's-rights activist, and Mujahid Bosifi, a former anti-Gaddafi activist who had lived in the Netherlands. The choice of Amman as the channel's base placed its production and organizational operations outside Libya while preserving a programming focus on Libyan public life and audiences. The station developed a general-interest schedule rather than limiting itself to continuous news. Its output included news broadcasts, interviews, social-affairs discussions, cultural programs, entertainment, and sports. Programs documented in the channel's schedule included US-L, which addressed relations between Libya and the United States; Interview, a weekly interview program; Amazighi in Arabic, focused on Berber culture in Libya; Subh (The Morning), a daily morning program; Ashia (The Evening), a daily entertainment show; and Game, a weekly sports program. Sponda and Up To Tech were also listed among its programs. In late 2017, a sister channel called 218 News was launched. The expansion added another outlet to the 218-branded media operation and indicated an effort to develop a distinct news-focused service alongside the original channel's broader format. By 2019, 218TV was described as Libya's most popular television channel in the available account. In that same year, founder Huda El-Sarari received recognition from Arabian Business magazine for her influence in the Arab world. The broadcaster worked amid significant security pressures affecting Libyan journalists and media institutions. In March 2022, 218TV reporter Ali Al-Rifawi was kidnapped by militias. He was released in July 2022. The incident is part of the channel's documented operating context, but the available source does not establish whether it led to changes in editorial policy, security arrangements, or management. 218TV ceased operations in 2022. Publicly available reference material supplied for this dossier does not identify the exact date of closure, the reason for the shutdown, a successor organization, or any acquisition or insolvency process. Accordingly, the channel is treated as defunct, while ownership, corporate structure, and financial details remain unconfirmed.

1. 2022Reporter kidnapping and release

   Reporter Ali Al-Rifawi was kidnapped by militias in March and released in July.

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2. 2022Operations ended

   218TV ceased operations during 2022.

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3. 2019Recognition of channel influence

   218TV was described as Libya's most popular channel, while founder Huda El-Sarari received recognition from Arabian Business for her influence in the Arab world.

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4. 2017218 News launched

   The 218 media operation expanded with the launch of sister channel 218 News in late 2017.

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5. 2015218TV founded

   Huda El-Sarari and Mujahid Bosifi founded the Libyan-oriented satellite channel in Amman, Jordan, on 6 August 2015.

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A Libyan general-interest satellite broadcaster combining news with social, cultural, entertainment, and sports programming for Arabic-speaking audiences.

• News broadcastsTelevision news2015

  Regular news output covering Libyan and wider regional affairs formed a core part of the station's schedule. The available reference identifies the broadcasts as a principal service but does not provide detailed editions, anchors, or broadcast times.

• Subh (The Morning)Morning television

  A daily morning program intended to provide an opening mix of current affairs, conversation, and general-interest television. Specific presenters and segment structure are not identified in the available source.

• Ashia (The Evening)Entertainment television

  A daily entertainment program included in 218TV's schedule. The reference identifies its broad format but does not provide detailed information about hosts, recurring segments, or production history.

• US-LInternational-affairs television

  A weekly program focused on relations between Libya and the United States, reflecting the channel's interest in foreign-policy and international-affairs subjects.

• InterviewInterview program

  A weekly interview format that formed part of the channel's discussion and current-affairs programming. The available material does not specify its guests or presenter.

• Amazighi in ArabicCultural television

  A weekly cultural program examining Berber culture in Libya through Arabic-language television. It represented the station's attention to Libya's cultural and linguistic communities.

• GameSports television

  A weekly sports show included among the channel's named programs. No further information about its sports coverage, hosts, or production period is available in the source.

• 218 NewsNews television channel2017

  A sister channel launched by the 218 media operation in late 2017. It was a separate news-oriented outlet associated with the 218TV brand family.

• 2022Cessation of broadcasting operationsOther

  After operating as a Libyan-oriented satellite channel from a base in Amman, 218TV ended its operations during 2022.

  What changed. The station ceased operations.

  Aftermath. The channel is treated as defunct. The available reference does not state the precise closure date, reason, successor, or financial outcome.

  Source
• 2017Expansion through a sister news channelStrategy

  The original channel combined news with social, cultural, entertainment, and sports programming, while the 218 media operation sought an additional news-focused outlet.

  What changed. A sister channel, 218 News, was launched in late 2017.

  Aftermath. The launch broadened the 218-branded media presence, although the available material does not document audience, revenue, or organizational results.

  Source

• 2022218TV reporter Ali Al-Rifawi kidnapped by militias

  Ali Al-Rifawi, a reporter working for 218TV, was kidnapped by militias in March 2022 and released in July 2022. The available reference does not provide further details about the perpetrators, motive, or legal proceedings.

  Other
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• 2022218TV ceased operations

  The Libyan television channel stopped operating during 2022. No verified closure date or publicly documented financial explanation is provided in the available reference material.

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1. 218TV
2. 218TV official website