Ajyal

Ajyal, also known as Ajyal TV or TV5 Saudi Ajyal, was a Saudi Arabian free-to-air television channel aimed at children and young audiences. The name “Ajyal” means “generations” in Arabic and reflected the channel’s focus on programming for younger viewers and families. It was operated by the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and served primarily the Saudi market. The channel began test broadcasts in late June or early July 2009 and officially launched on Eid al-Fitr in 2009. Its programming combined entertainment and educational material, including animated series, live-action programs, in-house productions, interactive broadcasts, guidance-oriented segments, and religious programming. It also carried content connected with Saudi national holidays and cultural occasions. During Ramadan, the schedule generally included religious material alongside its regular children’s programming. Ajyal’s format placed significant emphasis on locally produced and presenter-led programming. Its main live strand, Asdiqa Ajyal, aired daily at approximately 5 p.m., except on Fridays and Saturdays, and combined information, advice, entertainment, audience interaction, and practical guidance for children. Other cited programs included Weekend, a live Saturday morning program, and Win with Rabih, a competition and challenge format involving two public teams. In 2014, Ajyal introduced a new visual identity. The redesign shifted the dominant brand color from red to orange and represented an effort to refresh the channel’s appearance and presentation. The channel continued to combine imported or acquired children’s content with locally made shows and public-service-oriented material. Ajyal ceased broadcasting in 2018 following a decision by the president of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority. The stated intention was to merge the channel into Saudi 1, but the proposed merger did not ultimately come to fruition. Ajyal is therefore best understood as a discontinued Saudi public-service children’s television brand rather than an active commercial media company.

Ajyal TV was established as a Saudi free-to-air children's television service under the Saudi Broadcasting Authority. Its Arabic name, Ajyal, translates approximately as “generations,” a title suited to a channel designed to serve children and families and to connect youth programming with Saudi cultural and public-service objectives. Test broadcasts began in very late June or very early July 2009. The channel then formally launched on Eid al-Fitr in 2009. From its beginning, Ajyal offered a mixture of educational and entertaining content for children of different ages. Its output included cartoons, live-action programs, interactive studio formats, and locally produced shows. The channel also scheduled programming for Saudi national holidays and religious occasions, with additional religious material typically appearing during Ramadan. A notable feature of Ajyal was its use of in-house programming and presenter-led formats. Asdiqa Ajyal served as the principal daily live program, generally airing at 5 p.m. except on Fridays and Saturdays. The show combined informational items, educational benefit, guidance, advice, entertainment, and direct communication with child viewers. This format positioned the channel as more than an outlet for acquired cartoons: it was also a platform for supervised interaction and locally relevant programming. Other programs associated with the channel included Weekend, a live Saturday morning show presented by Abdul Rahman Al-Zahrani, Ghadeer Al-Balushi, Joanna Talal, and Fawaz Al-Qabi. Win with Rabih used competitions and challenges between two teams drawn from the public and was presented by Fawaz Al-Qabi and Ghadeer Al-Balushi. These programs illustrate Ajyal’s emphasis on participation, games, presenters, and locally produced entertainment. In 2014, Ajyal underwent a visual rebrand. Its new identity used orange as the dominant color rather than the earlier red-centered presentation. The change refreshed the channel’s on-air appearance while retaining its children’s-service role. Ajyal’s broadcasting run ended in 2018. The president of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority decided that the channel should cease broadcasting with the intention of merging its service into Saudi 1. The planned integration did not ultimately take place, leaving Ajyal as a discontinued channel rather than a continuing sub-brand of Saudi 1. Publicly documented information about its audience size, financial performance, distribution arrangements, and senior management is limited.

1. 2018Broadcasting ends

   Ajyal ceased broadcasting following a Saudi Broadcasting Authority decision associated with a proposed, but ultimately unrealized, merger into Saudi 1.

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2. 2014Visual identity rebrand

   The channel adopted a refreshed visual identity whose dominant color was orange rather than red.

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3. 2009Test broadcasts begin

   Ajyal began test transmissions in late June or early July ahead of its formal launch.

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4. 2009Official launch

   Ajyal TV officially launched on Eid al-Fitr as a Saudi free-to-air children's channel.

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A Saudi public-service children's channel combining educational, entertaining, locally produced, interactive, cultural, and religious programming.

• Asdiqa AjyalLive children's television program

  Asdiqa Ajyal was the channel’s principal daily live broadcast, generally scheduled at 5 p.m. except on Fridays and Saturdays. It combined informational and educational segments with advice, guidance, entertainment, and direct interaction with child viewers. The program represented Ajyal’s emphasis on locally presented, participatory programming rather than a schedule built solely around imported animation.

• WeekendLive children's television program

  Weekend was a weekly live program shown on Saturdays at 10 a.m. It was presented by Abdul Rahman Al-Zahrani, Ghadeer Al-Balushi, Joanna Talal, and Fawaz Al-Qabi. The program formed part of Ajyal’s weekend-oriented schedule and used a presenter-led format aimed at younger viewers.

• Win with RabihChildren's competition program

  Win with Rabih was a competition and challenge program involving two teams drawn from the public. It was presented by Fawaz Al-Qabi and Ghadeer Al-Balushi and reflected Ajyal’s use of games and audience participation as part of its locally produced entertainment offering.

• Ajyal children's programmingTelevision channel programming2009

  The wider Ajyal schedule included cartoons, live-action shows, educational material, in-house productions, religious programs, and programming tied to Saudi national holidays and cultural occasions. The channel served children of different ages and combined entertainment with guidance and public-service content.

• 2014Ajyal visual identity rebrand

  Saudi Arabia

  Ajyal refreshed its on-air brand identity, replacing a red-dominant visual treatment with orange as the main color.

  Outcome. The rebrand updated the channel’s presentation during its operating period; no separate audience or commercial outcome is documented.

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• 2018End broadcasting and plan integration into Saudi 1Strategy

  The Saudi Broadcasting Authority decided to discontinue Ajyal’s broadcast service and intended to merge it into Saudi 1.

  What changed. Ajyal ceased broadcasting. The proposed merger was not ultimately completed.

  Aftermath. The channel became defunct, and the planned integration into Saudi 1 did not come to fruition.

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• 2014Refresh the channel identityOther

  Ajyal updated its visual presentation during its operating period.

  What changed. The channel introduced a new visual identity with orange as the dominant color instead of red.

  Aftermath. The refreshed identity became the channel’s updated on-air presentation.

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• 2018Ajyal TV ceases broadcasting amid proposed merger with Saudi 1

  Ajyal stopped broadcasting following a decision by the president of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority. The intended merger with Saudi 1 was not completed.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 2014Ajyal TV introduces a refreshed visual identity

  The channel underwent a rebranding that changed its dominant visual color from red to orange.

  CampaignOther
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• 2009Ajyal TV officially launches on Eid al-Fitr

  The Saudi children's channel officially began broadcasting on Eid al-Fitr after test transmissions had started in late June or early July.

  Product launch
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1. Ajyal TV