Orient News

Orient News, also known in Arabic as Orient Television, was a Syrian-focused media group founded by Syrian businessman and journalist Mohammad Ghassan Aboud. Although the project was based outside Syria for much of its existence, it was designed primarily for Syrian viewers and the wider Arabic-speaking audience. Its programming combined news and current affairs with political, cultural, social, sports, family, entertainment and children's content. The group became associated with the Syrian opposition during the Syrian conflict and developed a broad media operation rather than remaining only a television station. The project emerged from planning disclosed by Aboud in late 2007 and entered a test-broadcast phase in 2008. Formal television programming began on 2 February 2009. Its rationale was that Syrian audiences lacked a dedicated satellite service using Syrian cultural references and language patterns, while many privately operated Arab channels used dialects and editorial approaches that were less closely aligned with Syrian society. Orient TV initially operated from Damascus and employed Syrian staff, but security pressure rapidly disrupted its domestic presence. Syrian security forces raided the station's offices in 2009 or 2010, halted broadcasting and pressured employees. The operation subsequently shifted abroad, first including Dubai and later Istanbul. Orient expanded into a network of related activities. Orient Net functioned as a digital publication focused on Syrian political, economic and social affairs, while Orient Radio provided audio programming. Orient Vision, also described as the Orient Vision Studies Center, produced research and analysis about Syria, including field studies, surveys, seminars and discussions concerning identity, community relations and changes in Syrian life. Live Point operated as a production and media-services organization, supplying Arabic and foreign broadcasters with reporting, live windows, studio services, documentary and drama production, dubbing, subtitling and distribution. These activities gave the group capabilities in journalism, television production, research and content services. The television channel reached audiences through satellite distribution on Nilesat and Arabsat and through online streaming. Its stated broadcast footprint included Syria, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Its output included Syrian and international news, political discussion, cultural and social programs, series, comedy, reality programming and feature films. Orient Net also carried reporting and commentary on the Syrian conflict and maintained sections for culture, arts, columns, forums and television programs. The group's operations faced repeated political and security constraints. Its offices in Syria were raided, it later lost its UAE base after Emirati authorities ordered Aboud to close the operation or face the confiscation of assets, and Orient Net was hacked by ISIS in 2015 with threats directed at the owner and employees. On 21 November 2023, Aboud announced the permanent closure of Orient News and all associated platforms, including television, news and program production, social media, radio and the Istanbul office. The shutdown ended a fifteen-year media project that had served as one of the better-known Syrian opposition-oriented broadcasters.

Orient News developed from a media initiative launched by Syrian businessman and journalist Mohammad Ghassan Aboud. Aboud, who had built a business career in the United Arab Emirates after leaving Syria, announced plans for a dedicated Syrian-oriented satellite channel toward the end of 2007. The project was intended to address what its founders viewed as a gap in Arabic television: Syrian audiences lacked a private channel specifically designed around Syrian language, culture and social concerns. Test transmissions began in 2008, and the channel formally entered service on 2 February 2009. Its schedule was deliberately broad. Alongside Syrian and international news, Orient carried political, cultural and social programs, sports coverage, television series, comedy, reality formats, children's programming and feature films. This mixture allowed it to operate both as a current-affairs broadcaster and as a general-interest television service. The station's domestic operation was short-lived. Orient TV opened in Damascus with a substantial Syrian workforce, but Syrian authorities soon questioned the station's authorization. Security forces raided its offices in 2009 or 2010, interrupted broadcasting and pressured staff. The group responded by moving operations outside Syria, including to Dubai and later Istanbul. From abroad, it continued broadcasting by satellite through Nilesat and Arabsat and by means of online distribution. Its reported audience and broadcast reach extended beyond Syria to Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The organization expanded into a multi-platform media group. Orient Net became an online newspaper and information service focused on Syrian political, economic and social developments. It also hosted columns, forums, cultural and arts coverage, and material connected with Orient television programs. Orient Radio added an audio platform. Orient Vision, or the Orient Vision Studies Center, was designed to produce research concerning Syria, including field investigations, surveys, seminars and discussions about identity, social change and relations among communities. Live Point provided production and broadcast services to Arabic and international channels, including news reports, studio programs, live windows, television shows, films, drama, dubbing, subtitling and distribution. The network's editorial identity became closely linked to the Syrian opposition and to coverage of the Syrian conflict. That position brought both visibility and vulnerability. In February 2015, Orient Net was hacked by ISIS, which issued threats aimed at Aboud and employees. In 2017, the organization was expelled from its UAE premises after Emirati authorities ordered Aboud to close the operation and reportedly threatened asset confiscation if he refused. The group's principal operating base was later identified with Istanbul, where its final office employed more than 80 people. On 21 November 2023, Aboud announced the definitive closure of Orient News. The announcement covered the television service, news and program departments, social-media presence, radio and all other production connected with the Istanbul office. Orient News therefore ended as a defunct media brand after approximately fifteen years of operation. Its history reflects the challenges faced by Syrian media organizations operating across borders during a period of conflict, censorship, displacement and political polarization.

1. 2023Orient News ceases to exist

   Aboud announced the permanent shutdown of the television, digital, radio, social-media and production operations on 21 November.

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2. 2017UAE base closed

   The channel was expelled from its UAE premises after authorities demanded that the operation close.

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3. 2015Orient Net hacked

   The group's digital publication was hacked by ISIS and its owner and employees received direct threats.

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4. 2010Damascus offices raided and operations relocated

   Syrian security forces raided the station and interrupted its domestic operation, prompting the broadcaster to continue from outside Syria.

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5. 2009Official television broadcasting begins

   Orient TV started regular programming on 2 February, offering news, current affairs, cultural material and entertainment.

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6. 2008Orient Media Network begins development and test broadcasts

   The media project was established and Orient TV began test transmissions, initially using a station logo and music programming.

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7. 2007Plans for a Syrian-oriented television channel disclosed

   Ghassan Aboud disclosed plans for a satellite channel intended to serve Syrian viewers and broader Arab audiences.

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A Syrian-oriented Arabic media network combining satellite television, digital journalism, radio, research and production services, with an editorial focus on Syrian affairs and a perspective associated with the Syrian opposition.

• Orient News TVSatellite television2009

  The group's principal television service, launched in 2009, addressed Syrian viewers and the wider Arab world. It combined Syrian and international news with political discussion, cultural and social programs, sports, children's content, series, comedy, reality programming and films. After pressure on its Damascus operation, the channel broadcast from outside Syria through satellite and online distribution.

• Orient NetDigital news publication

  Orient Net was an online newspaper associated with the media group and focused on Syrian political, economic and social affairs. Its sections included news, columns, forums, culture, arts and material related to Orient television programs. The publication presented itself as editorially independent from political trends and international or regional alliances, although the wider group was identified with the Syrian opposition.

• Orient RadioRadio broadcasting

  Orient Radio was the group's audio platform, developed alongside the television and digital operations. It formed part of the wider multi-platform service covering Syrian and regional news and programming.

• Orient Vision Studies CenterResearch and analysis

  The studies center conducted research related to Syria, including field studies, surveys, questionnaires and analysis of social and political change. It also organized workshops, specialist seminars and open forums on Syrian identity, community relations and current developments.

• Live PointMedia production services

  Live Point supplied Arabic and foreign broadcasters with reporting, studio and live-window services, as well as television and film production. Its broader capabilities included drama and show production, dubbing, subtitling and distribution, with operations associated with Dubai, Jordan and Istanbul.

• 2023Definitive closure of all platformsStrategy

  After years of operating across multiple jurisdictions and maintaining television, digital, radio and production activities, the owner announced the end of the project.

  What changed. Orient News closed its television, news, program-production, social-media, radio and Istanbul-office operations on 21 November.

  Aftermath. The media group ceased to exist as an operating brand.

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• 2010Move broadcasting outside SyriaStrategy

  Security forces raided the Damascus offices, stopped broadcasts and placed pressure on employees.

  What changed. Orient shifted its broadcasting and production activities to foreign bases, including Dubai and subsequently Istanbul.

  Aftermath. The channel continued through satellite and online distribution while maintaining a Syrian editorial focus from abroad.

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• 2008Build a dedicated Syrian-oriented media networkStrategy

  The project was conceived around the view that Syrian viewers lacked a private satellite service tailored to their language, culture and social concerns.

  What changed. Aboud developed a television-led network that was later expanded with digital publishing, radio, research and production services.

  Aftermath. The strategy produced a multi-platform operation serving Syrian and wider Arab audiences, although the group later had to operate from outside Syria.

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• 2015ISIS cyberattack on Orient NetControversy

  Orient Net was hacked by ISIS on 11 February 2015. The attack reportedly included direct threats against Ghassan Aboud and employees of the organization.

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• 2023Orient News announces permanent closure of its media operations

  Owner Ghassan Aboud announced that Orient News would cease operating on 21 November 2023. The decision covered the television channel, news and program departments, radio, social-media accounts and other Istanbul-based activities.

  OtherLeadership change
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• 2017Orient News loses its UAE operating base

  The channel was expelled from its UAE premises. Emirati authorities reportedly demanded that Aboud close the operation, warning that failure to do so could result in the confiscation of money and property.

  RegulationOther
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• 2010Syrian security forces raid Orient TV offices

  Syrian internal security forces raided the station's Damascus operation, stopped its broadcasts and applied pressure to employees. The group subsequently moved its broadcasting activities outside Syria.

  RegulationOther
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1. Orient News