Sudan TV

Sudan TV is Sudan's national television network and one of the country's principal broadcast television services. It is owned and operated by the Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation, a state-owned broadcasting organization. The network primarily broadcasts in Arabic and serves a national public-information role, combining news and official coverage with religious, cultural, educational and entertainment programming. The service began broadcasting in the Khartoum area in December 1962 and entered regular operation in 1963. Its earliest terrestrial signal reached the three municipalities that make up greater Khartoum: Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri. In its first years, the network transmitted for at least 38 hours, reflecting the limited but expanding schedule of an early national television service. In 1964, General Mohamed Talat Fareed established the station as a national broadcaster and arranged technical assistance from a West German broadcaster. That agreement supplied technical expertise and equipment, including cameras and recording devices, helping Sudan TV develop beyond its initial regional footprint. During the 1970s, Sudan TV extended its transmission reach after the General Company for Wireless and Wired Telecommunications constructed a satellite station. The network began colour transmission in 1976, an important technical transition that brought it closer to the standards of established international television systems. For much of its history, it operated as a terrestrial public broadcaster, later adding satellite availability and broadcasting on two channels. Analogue transmission ended in 2020 as Sudan moved toward digital broadcasting. Its schedule has included national and international news, prayers, Qur'an recitation, children's programming, talent competitions, drama, sports and documentaries. As a state broadcaster, the service has also functioned as an instrument of official communication. Reference material describes the presence of a military censor who works with the network to ensure that programming reflects government policy, making editorial independence and state influence central characteristics of its institutional identity. Sudan TV was severely disrupted by the Sudanese civil war that began in 2023. On 15 April 2023, the network stopped broadcasting after its facilities were attacked and occupied by the Rapid Support Forces. The station's premises later became the focus of fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. In March 2024, the Sudanese Armed Forces retook the facilities after heavy fighting. Sudan's Ministry of Information subsequently reported extensive fire damage to radio buildings, destruction of television studios, and the complete loss of newly acquired external-broadcasting equipment through theft or fire. The ministry also reported that all of the station's vehicles had been stolen. Because its principal facilities were damaged, Sudan TV temporarily moved its studios and headquarters to Port Sudan. The network's current operational condition, restoration schedule, detailed ownership arrangements and ongoing programming mix are not sufficiently documented in the supplied reference material. It is therefore best understood as a state-controlled national broadcaster whose historical role combines television service, government communication and national cultural programming.

Sudan TV originated as a regional television service in the Khartoum area. It began broadcasting in December 1962 and operated regularly from 1963. The initial service reached Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri, the three municipalities of greater Khartoum, and transmitted at least 38 hours during its early years. In 1964, General Mohamed Talat Fareed formalized the station's role as a national broadcaster and signed an agreement with a West German broadcaster for technical assistance. The arrangement provided expertise and equipment, including cameras and recording machines, supporting the development of Sudan's television infrastructure. The network expanded during the 1970s. A satellite station built by the General Company for Wireless and Wired Telecommunications helped increase transmission coverage beyond the original Khartoum-area footprint. Sudan TV began broadcasting in colour in 1976, marking a major technical upgrade. The service later became available by satellite and operated on two channels, while continuing to function as a national terrestrial broadcaster. Analogue broadcasting ended in 2020. Sudan TV's programming has traditionally combined the functions of a general television service and a state communication platform. Its output has included news, prayers, Qur'an recitation, children's programmes, talent contests, drama, sports and documentaries. The network has been described as operating under military censorship intended to ensure that programmes conform to government policy. This editorial structure reflects its ownership by the Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation and its position within Sudan's state broadcasting system. The network's most severe interruption came during the Sudanese civil war that began in 2023. On 15 April 2023, Sudan TV stopped broadcasting after the Rapid Support Forces attacked and occupied its facilities. The premises remained contested until the Sudanese Armed Forces retook them in March 2024 following heavy fighting. According to Sudan's Ministry of Information, the conflict left the broadcaster's infrastructure devastated. Radio buildings suffered extensive fire damage, television studios were destroyed, newly acquired external-broadcasting equipment was lost through theft or fire, and all station vehicles were stolen. The damage forced Sudan TV to move its studios and headquarters temporarily to Port Sudan. The supplied material does not establish whether the original facilities have been fully rebuilt, whether the network has returned to its former transmission capacity, or what its present schedule and technical reach are. Its documented history nevertheless shows a progression from a limited Khartoum-area television service to a national Arabic-language broadcaster, followed by technical modernization, satellite expansion and a major wartime operational disruption.

1. 2024Facilities damaged and operations relocated

   After the facilities are retaken in March, the Ministry of Information reports severe destruction and the network temporarily relocates its studios and headquarters to Port Sudan.

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2. 2023Broadcasting interrupted by civil-war fighting

   Sudan TV stops broadcasting on 15 April after its facilities are attacked and occupied by the Rapid Support Forces.

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3. 2020Analogue broadcasting ends

   The network completes the end of analogue broadcasting.

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4. 1976Colour broadcasting introduced

   Sudan TV starts transmitting in colour.

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5. 1970Transmission expansion begins

   During the 1970s, a satellite station built by the General Company for Wireless and Wired Telecommunications helps extend the network's transmission range.

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6. 1964Station formalized as a national broadcaster

   General Mohamed Talat Fareed establishes the station as a national broadcaster and arranges West German technical support and equipment.

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7. 1963Regular service established

   The station enters regular operation, with its signal reaching Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri.

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8. 1962Initial broadcasting begins

   Sudan TV begins broadcasting in the Khartoum region in December.

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A state-owned national public broadcaster focused on Arabic-language news, official information, religious content and general-interest programming for audiences in Sudan.

• Sudan TV Arabic television serviceNational television network1962

  The network's core service is Arabic-language television broadcasting for audiences in Sudan. It combines public information, news, religious material, cultural programming and general entertainment, and has historically been distributed through terrestrial transmission and satellite availability.

• Sudan TV two-channel serviceTelevision channels

  Reference material describes Sudan TV as broadcasting on two channels. The supplied sources do not provide distinct names, schedules or editorial differences for those channels.

• Sudan TV satellite distributionSatellite broadcasting

  Satellite distribution extends the network's reach beyond its original terrestrial coverage. The service became available through satellite after transmission infrastructure expanded, although the supplied sources do not specify current satellite parameters.

• 2024Temporary relocation to Port SudanStrategy

  The network's principal facilities were severely damaged during fighting in the Sudanese civil war.

  What changed. Sudan TV temporarily moved its studios and headquarters to Port Sudan.

  Aftermath. The relocation provided an alternative operating base, but the supplied material does not establish the extent or duration of restored broadcasting.

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• 2020End of analogue broadcastingStrategy

  Sudan's television infrastructure was moving away from analogue transmission.

  What changed. Sudan TV completed the end of analogue broadcasting.

  Aftermath. The network entered the digital-broadcasting era, but the supplied sources do not describe the detailed implementation or coverage consequences.

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• 1976Transition to colour transmissionGeneration change

  The network had expanded its transmission infrastructure during the 1970s and was developing from an early regional service into a national broadcaster.

  What changed. Sudan TV began transmitting in colour.

  Aftermath. The change modernized the network's television output, although the supplied material does not document audience or financial effects.

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• 2024Sudan TV facilities retaken after heavy fighting

  The Sudanese Armed Forces evicted the Rapid Support Forces from the broadcaster's facilities in March 2024 after the site had been occupied during the conflict.

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• 2024Ministry reports extensive damage to Sudan TV infrastructure

  Sudan's Ministry of Information said that fighting caused extensive fire damage to radio buildings, destroyed television studios, and resulted in the loss of new external-broadcasting equipment and all station vehicles.

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• 2024Sudan TV temporarily relocates to Port Sudan

  Following the destruction and disruption of its principal facilities, the network temporarily moved its studios and headquarters to Port Sudan.

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• 2023Sudan TV stops broadcasting after attack during the civil war

  Sudan TV abruptly ceased transmission on 15 April 2023 after its facilities were attacked and occupied by the Rapid Support Forces at the beginning of Sudan's civil war.

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1. Sudan TV
2. Sudan TV official website