Al aoula
Al Aoula, previously named TVM, is the first Moroccan TV channel. It was launched in 1962, by the state-owned Société Nationale de la Radiodiffusion et de Télévision [SNRT], under the name Radiodiffusion Télévision Marocaine [RTM]. Ten years after its launch, it has undergone the shift to colour broadcasting and has since then attempted to diversify its programming offer. As of today, news casts, however, occupy the most broadcasting time – according to this outlet about 900 hours/year - and offers programs in French and Arabic, with one news cast in the Amazigh dialect. The outlet also states that cumulatively, it’s daily news hours draw about four million viewers.
It was in 2007 that the formerly named TVM became Al Aoula and undertook a major rebranding. Its history as the only Moroccan TV channel for decades is intimately tied to that of the nation, as is its content that varied accordingly with the ebbs and flows of Moroccan political life. As a matter of fact, it has been acknowledged that for over a decade, in the 1970’s, TVM was a de facto propaganda platform for the Hassan II’s authoritarian rule. On many an occasion the state channel proved to be under direct control of the regime and official outlet for the official message. For instance, as he was the target of two coup attempts, the King used this wide audience platform to spread the message of what occurs to those that threaten him by broadcasting the execution of those responsible. He later on had all military traitors involved in said coups to be completely deleted from the channels archive.
As the years passed, in the 1980s, the need for a fresher and more enticing national channel became more acute. Changes in leadership in the Ministry of Communication associated with the help of news professionals brought onboard the channel, have led to a more structured yet less propaganda-like outlet. With a short stint under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Interior - and its ever feared Minister Basri - the mid-1980’s were a time where all efforts were seemingly put into place to turn this channel around and create content that is relevant and less held back by official language. New recruits, increased budgets accompanied by an apparent will to move away from the regime's dictates. The experience was short-lived. The facade changed yet the content remained the mirror of a stagnant and paralysed regime.
Today, its CEO is Mr. Faiçal Laraichi - who is also CEO of the SOREAD company, a public/private partnership company - a position he was appointed to by royal decree in 1999, the year king Mohamed VI inherited the throne. The channel’s general director is Mr. Mohamed Ayad, appointed in 2007 - also by the king -, who prior to his appointment held the position of General Secretary at the Ministry of Communication.
Audience Share
8.67%
Ownership Type
Public
Geographic Coverage
national
Content Type
free
Media Companies / Groups
Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision [SNRT]
Ownership Structure
Al Aoula is owned by the state company SNRT
Voting Rights
MD
General Information
Founding Year
1961
Founder
Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et Télévision [SNRT]
Affiliated Interests Founder
The SNRT, previously known as Radio-Maroc, is a state-owned media company, in charge of four national radio stations, five regional ones as well as ten TV channels.
Ceo
Faycal Laraichi
Affiliated Interests Ceo
Faycal Laarichi is also the President of the state-owned Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision [SNRT]. He is since June 2017, the new president of the National Moroccan Olympic Committee.
Editor-In-Chief
Missing Data
Affiliated Interests Editor-In-Chief
Missing Data
Contact
1, Rue el Brihi
B.P. 1042
Rabat, Morocco
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
N/A
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
N/A
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Data
Market Share
Missing Data
Further Information
Meta Data
Audience share was obtained from the CIAUMED (May-June 2017).
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