2M TV

2M TV is a Moroccan television network and one of the country's principal national broadcast brands. It was created by Société d'études et de réalisations audiovisuelles (SOREAD) and began official programming on 4 March 1989. The service was conceived as a second national television outlet intended to introduce greater competition, programming diversity, and commercial dynamism into Moroccan broadcasting. At launch, it was unusual in the local market because it operated as a private, commercial, subscription-based channel, with encrypted programming supplemented by limited unencrypted periods. The channel's early business model proved difficult to sustain. Piracy and signal decryption created unfair competition, while the service also had to operate within a complex cultural and regulatory environment. During the first half of the 1990s, 2M moved away from its original concept as an internationally oriented thematic pay channel and developed into a general-interest Moroccan broadcaster. This repositioning placed greater emphasis on locally relevant news, entertainment, debate, drama, music, films, sports, and other programming designed for a broad domestic audience. In 1996, ONA, the principal shareholder of SOREAD, withdrew from the management of the financially troubled channel. Under the public-service concession framework, the Moroccan state became the majority shareholder, with contemporary descriptions placing its participation at approximately 68% to 70%. The channel subsequently ended encryption and began fully unencrypted broadcasting on 10 January 1997. Public support, including assistance associated with the promotion of national audiovisual media, together with renewed advertising activity, helped stabilize the operating company. 2M later expanded its schedule and distribution. It began around-the-clock broadcasting in early October 2000 and subsequently extended satellite distribution, including a reported move onto Intelsat in January 2001. In Morocco, the channel is distributed terrestrially through national digital coverage and is also available by satellite through platforms and distribution arrangements associated with Globecast, Nilesat, Arabsat, and Hotbird. A related Radio 2M service has provided music, news, and information in Arabic and French. The network broadcasts in Arabic, French, and Berber and combines locally produced programming with imported content. Its schedule includes news, films, sports, music, talk and debate formats, children's programming, and serialized drama. Turkish dramas dubbed into Arabic have been particularly successful, with cited audience shares reaching as high as 75% for some titles in January 2018. Earlier programming also included French-dubbed international series and films, as well as foreign shows adapted through Moroccan Arabic or French dubbing. 2M has cultivated an image as a modern, socially engaged broadcaster. It has been associated with discussions of controversial subjects and with efforts to broaden public debate, leading some observers to view it as a symbol of expanded freedom of expression in Morocco. At the same time, the network operates under state control, and reporting about the channel has included allegations that government influence affects editorial decisions. By 2025, 2M was described as a wholly owned subsidiary of SNRT, placing the brand within Morocco's state broadcasting structure while preserving its position as a major general-interest television service. In January 2018, cited audience data placed 2M well ahead of Al Aoula in overall share, underscoring its importance in the Moroccan television market.

2M was established by SOREAD and officially launched on 4 March 1989 as Morocco's first private commercial pay-television channel. Its original proposition was a subscription service with encrypted programming and limited clear periods. The launch generated substantial interest because it introduced a new commercial model and a second major television outlet into Morocco's broadcasting environment. The initial model encountered serious obstacles. Signal piracy undermined subscription revenues, and the channel's internationally oriented thematic concept did not prove sufficiently suited to the domestic market. By 1994, 2M had been reshaped into a general-interest channel with a stronger local identity. Its programming increasingly addressed Moroccan viewers through news, entertainment, debate, films, music, sports, and locally relevant cultural content. Financial pressures led ONA, the main shareholder of SOREAD, to withdraw from management on 19 June 1996. The Moroccan state then became the majority shareholder, with contemporary accounts citing a stake of approximately 68% to 70%. This change occurred within the framework of the channel's public-service concession. On 10 January 1997, 2M began broadcasting without encryption. The transition was supported by public audiovisual-media funding mechanisms and the revival of advertising activity, allowing the network to move from a troubled pay service toward a widely accessible national broadcaster. The service continued to expand its technical and scheduling reach. It adopted 24-hour broadcasting in early October 2000 and later extended satellite distribution, including a reported launch on Intelsat on 15 January 2001. The channel is also distributed through terrestrial digital transmission in Morocco and through satellite arrangements associated with Globecast, Nilesat, Arabsat, and Hotbird. Radio 2M developed as a companion audio service carrying music, news, and information in Arabic and French. 2M's editorial and programming identity has combined multilingual access with a broad general-interest remit. It uses Arabic, French, and Berber and has carried news, debate, films, sports, music, locally produced shows, imported series, and children's content. The network's willingness to discuss contentious topics contributed to its reputation as a relatively open and modern broadcaster, although its status as a government-controlled station has also generated claims that official influence can affect editorial choices. Imported drama became a major audience driver, particularly Turkish series dubbed into Arabic. The service has also broadcast French-dubbed international programs, Hollywood films imported through French distribution channels, and foreign series dubbed into Moroccan Arabic or French. Its children's block, known as 2M Kids, has included international animated and family-oriented programming. By January 2018, cited audience measurements placed 2M substantially ahead of Al Aoula in overall viewing share. By 2025, the channel was described as wholly owned by SNRT, confirming its integration into Morocco's state broadcasting group. Despite this ownership evolution, 2M remains a distinct national television brand with a large domestic audience, satellite availability beyond Morocco, and a programming mix that joins public-service reach with commercial television conventions.

1. 2025Reported as wholly owned by SNRT

   The channel is described as a wholly owned subsidiary of Morocco's state broadcaster, SNRT.

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2. 2018Leading reported Moroccan audience share

   January figures cited for the channel show a 35.4% overall share, compared with 9.2% for Al Aoula.

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3. 2001Satellite distribution expansion

   2M is reported to begin broadcasting on Intelsat on 15 January, extending its satellite reach.

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4. 2000Transition to 24-hour programming

   The channel begins continuous broadcasting and revises its schedule to support a full-day television service.

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5. 1997End of encrypted broadcasting

   2M begins open, unencrypted broadcasting on 10 January, broadening national access.

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6. 1996State becomes majority shareholder

   Following ONA's withdrawal from management, the Moroccan state assumes majority control of the financially troubled channel.

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7. 1994Repositioning as a general-interest Moroccan channel

   The service moves away from its original international thematic concept and develops a broader local general-interest identity.

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8. 1989Launch as a private pay-TV channel

   SOREAD officially launches 2M on 4 March as Morocco's first private and commercial subscription television channel.

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A broad-reach Moroccan general-interest broadcaster combining national news, locally produced entertainment, multilingual programming, and imported serial drama. The brand is positioned as a commercially originated service that became part of the public broadcasting system while retaining a distinct, modern, and socially engaged identity.

• 2M terrestrial televisionFree-to-air television network1989

  The core national television service, distributed free to air through Morocco's digital terrestrial network. It carries general-interest programming in Arabic, French, and Berber, including news, entertainment, films, sports, music, debate, and locally produced formats.

• 2M satellite serviceSatellite television2001

  A satellite-distributed version of the channel serving viewers outside or beyond the reach of the Moroccan terrestrial network. Distribution has been associated with Globecast, Nilesat, Arabsat, and Hotbird, with earlier expansion reported through Intelsat.

• 2M KidsChildren's programming

  A children's programming block featuring international animated and family-oriented shows, presented through French or Moroccan Arabic dubbing. Examples cited in reference material include Oggy and the Cockroaches, Bob the Builder, and other imported children's titles.

• Radio 2MRadio broadcasting

  A companion radio service associated with the 2M brand. It has presented music, news, and information from Morocco, particularly in Arabic and French.

• 2000Move to continuous broadcastingGeneration change

  After developing into a general-interest service, 2M sought to increase its daily programming presence.

  What changed. The channel began 24-hour broadcasting in early October and revised its schedule.

  Aftermath. The change supported 2M's evolution into a full-service national broadcaster.

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• 1997Conversion to unencrypted broadcastingStrategy

  The subscription and encrypted-broadcasting model had been weakened by piracy and financial difficulties.

  What changed. 2M began broadcasting unencrypted on 10 January.

  Aftermath. The channel became broadly accessible and strengthened its position in Morocco's national television landscape.

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• 1996Transfer to majority state ownershipStrategy

  ONA, SOREAD's principal shareholder, withdrew from management while the channel faced financial difficulties.

  What changed. The Moroccan state became the majority shareholder under the public-service concession arrangement.

  Aftermath. State support and renewed advertising activity helped the operating company recover and prepared the channel for open national broadcasting.

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• 1994Shift to a local general-interest formatStrategy

  The original international thematic pay-TV concept was affected by piracy, financial pressure, and the need to establish a clearer domestic identity.

  What changed. 2M broadened its remit and developed into a general-interest Moroccan channel with stronger emphasis on local audiences and content.

  Aftermath. The repositioning established the programming model that later supported the channel's mass-market national role.

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• 20182M reported as Morocco's most-viewed television channel

  Cited January audience figures gave 2M an overall share of 35.4%, compared with 9.2% for Al Aoula. Turkish serial dramas were reported to achieve shares of up to 75% for individual programs.

  OtherProduct generation
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• 20002M expands to 24-hour broadcasting

  The channel changed its schedule and moved to continuous, around-the-clock programming, strengthening its position as a full-service national broadcaster.

  Product generation
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• 19972M begins unencrypted broadcasting

  The network ended its encrypted subscription-era model and began broadcasting openly, expanding its accessibility to Moroccan viewers.

  Other
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• 19962M becomes part of Morocco's state broadcasting structure

  After ONA withdrew from management because of the channel's financial difficulties, the Moroccan state became the majority shareholder under the public-service concession framework.

  Leadership change
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1. 2M (TV channel)
2. 2M TV official website