Medi 1 TV

Medi 1 TV (formerly Medi 1 Sat) is a news television network based in Tangier, Morocco. It was officially launched in 2006 as a satellite broadcaster before expanding its reach to terrestrial and digital platforms. It is part of Medi 1 News, which also operates the Medi 1 radio station, founded in 1980.[1]

The network provides a diverse range of programming with a primary focus on news, current affairs, and socio-political analysis. Its editorial line emphasizes bilingual broadcasting, delivering content in both Arabic and French. Through its dedicated services, including Medi 1 TV Maghreb and Medi 1 TV Afrique, it broadcasts to audiences in Morocco, the wider Maghreb region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and French-speaking communities abroad.[2]

History

Medi 1 TV was first launched on 1 December 2006 under the name Medi 1 Sat, as an expansion of the activities of the Medi 1 radio station into television broadcasting. The channel was co-jointly owned by Moroccan and French public investors.[3] Its initial programming schedule consisted mainly of news bulletins and current affairs shows, covering developments in Morocco and the wider Maghreb region.

In 2009, the channel became entirely Moroccan-owned following the acquisition of the previously French-owned shares by the Caisse de dépôt et de gestion (CDG).[4] 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]

On 30 October 2010, Medi 1 Sat was rebranded Medi 1 TV, becoming a generalist channel in addition to entering the terrestrial Moroccan TV market. Plans were for Medi 1 TV to cover 74% of national territory by the end of November.[5]

In 2014, the channel obtained a new broadcasting license after two Emirati media firms (named as Nekst Investments and Steeds Medias) acquired shares within its capital.[3][6]

On 1 February 2016, Medi 1 TV reverted its programming to rolling news and current affairs. It also split into two separate channels the same year, with one targeting Francophone African audiences.[7] In June 2016, Hassan Khiyar, the concurrent director of Medi1 Radio, was appointed to also serve as the CEO of Medi 1 TV. 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."[8]

In 2019, Medi 1 TV launched an exclusively Arabic-language channel as part of its network lineup.[9]

In 2021, the Moroccan public broadcaster SNRT announced it would acquire Medi 1 TV, as well as its sister channel Medi1 Radio and 2M, pending a reorganization of the channels within a public holding group by 2024.[10] The CDG, via its subsidiary CDG Invest, subsequently acquired Medi 1 TV for 105 million MAD (US$11.9 million), with plans to transfer ownership to SNRT once it meets legal requirements.[11]

See also

• Medi1 Radio
• Communications in Morocco

External links