Medi 1 TV

Medi 1 TV
CountryMorocco
Broadcast areaAfrica, Europe and Middle East
HeadquartersTangier, Morocco
Programming
LanguagesArabic
French
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerSNRT
History
Launched1 December 2006 (2006-12-01)
Former namesMedi 1 Sat (2006–2010)
Links
Websitemedi1tv.com
Availability
Terrestrial
DTT (Morocco)Channel 7 (SD)
Streaming media
medi1tv.comWatch live
LiveMedia.MAMedi1tv Maghreb

Medi 1 TV (Arabic: مدي 1 تي في‎; 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.[5][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.[6]

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][7]

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.[5] 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

References

  1. ^ jihane-rahhou (13 May 2023). "Morocco's SNRT to Acquire 86% Stakes in Medi 1 Radio". Morocco World News. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Medi 1 TV dévoile sa stratégie africaine". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Medi 1 TV - Media Ownership Monitor". LeDesk.ma & Reporters Without Borders. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. ^ Marot, Christelle (23 September 2009). "Medi 1 Sat bascule dans l'audiovisuel public marocain". Econostrum (in French). Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Medi 1 TV se relance dans l'information en continu". Telquel.ma (in French). 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. ^ Marot, Christelle (26 October 2010). "Medi 1 SAT devient Medi 1 TV". Econostrum (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. ^ Alaoui, Mohamed Chakir (27 May 2014). "Medi1 TV devient une chaîne privée". Le360.ma (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Médi 1 radio et Médi 1 TV vont converger vers un projet unique". Médias24 (in French). 27 June 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. ^ "MEDI1TV Arabic s'ajoute aux chaînes de MEDITV Maghreb". LE MATIN.ma. Maghreb Arabe Presse. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  10. ^ "La SNRT prend le contrôle de 2M et de Médi1TV, naissance d'un pôle audiovisuel public". Medias24 (in French). 25 May 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  11. ^ Goff, Shaquile (17 June 2021). "CDG Invest Takes Ownership of Medi1 TV with MAD 105 Million Buyout". Morocco World News. Denver. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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