MEDIA

Introduction:

After nearly a quarter of a century of suppression at the hands of successive regimes, the Afghan media is considered one of the most vital of the areas currently under reconstruction.

The new administration is improving media development in Afghanistan to promote the free exchange of information and ideas vital to the democratic process and development of civil society. It is building the capacity of local, state and independent broadcast media through technical support, equipment upgrade, hands-on training in balanced and accurate reporting and development of an Afghan media policy and regularity framework. Media includes:

• Broadcasting

• Print Media

• Electronic Media

• Publication

• Internet

BROADCASTING:

With the principles of free speech enshrined in the new Afghan constitution, the task of rebuilding the broadcasting sector is central to the new government's stated aim of an independent and pluralistic media.

Overview:

Afghanistan’s first radio station was established in 1925 during the reign of King Amanullah Khan. Known initially as Radio Kabul, it later went national and was renamed Radio Afghanistan. Closed from 1929 to 1937, it was re-established by the Marconi Company, with outdoor loudspeakers installed in many towns in order to spread the message of the Koran, foster unity and promote education. By the mid 1960s the radio was providing entertainment programming, including music, but all programming was strictly controlled. Broadcasting was carried out through the medium of the national languages of Pashto and Dari, except during the Soviet times when minority languages were also used. The national television station Television Afghanistan began broadcasting in 1977.
Under Taliban rule Afghanistan's media was seriously restricted. Radio Afghanistan was renamed Radio Voice of Shari'ah (Islamic law) to reflect the Islamic fundamentalist values of the Taliban, and Television Afghanistan was closed down as a source of moral corruption. Radio Afghanistan returned to the airwaves on 13 November 2001 after the Taliban deserted the capital. A week later Television Afghanistan resumed broadcasting with a news bulletin read by a woman.

Radio Stations:

Radio Afghanistan currently broadcasts 18 hours per day, seven hours of which is on MW and SW and reaches 50 per cent of the country. The rest is broadcast on FM in Kabul. Outside Kabul there are some 18 provincial radio stations, but since there is no satellite link between them and the capital, these rely largely on tapes sent by Radio Afghanistan.
In a country with a 70-80% illiteracy rate, educational programming is a crucially important aspect of Radio Afghanistan's work, and this is currently being developed with a particular focus on the empowerment of women. In the meantime agencies such as UNESCO and the BBC World Service Trust are working with Radio Afghanistan to upgrade its equipment and retrain its staff.
Two other FM radio stations are operational in Kabul, however, both are run by organizations based outside of the country

Radio Afghanistan Mazar e Sharif:

Radio Afghanistan Mazar e Sharif was the first to transmit news during the Taliban regime, even though most of the cable had been stolen to sell to Pakistan. It is on air for four to six hours every day, reporting on politics, law, education and culture and also broadcasting entertainment serials.

Radio Rabi’a Balkhi

Radio Rabi’a Balkhi is a privately owned community radio station that transmits from two to three hours a day. It is supported by IMPACS, a Canadian civil society NGO, with equipment from the ‘radio in a suitcase’ project.

Arman FM 98.1:

In late 2002 the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $228,922 and the logistics necessary to Moby Capital Brothers to jump start Kabul's first private, independent FM radio station, Arman FM. Moby Capital matched USAID's funds and was able to begin broadcasting on 16 April 2003. Arman FM 98.1 offers entertainment programmes in Dari and Pashtu. Both male and female DJs give news reports and play Afghan, Indian and Pakistani music. Some initial negative responses to women on the airwaves and the use of colloquial language has been overcome and the station now has a large following.

Kabul Radio:

Radio Kabul transmits to Kabul Province (two stations), and also has its own programme-recording studio.

Radio Afghanistan:

The national radio, which broadcasts 18 hours per day, seven hours of which is on MW and SW and reaches 50 per cent of the country. The rest is broadcast on FM in Kabul.

Afghanistan TV Channels:

Afghan television channels are a popular entertainment medium in Afghanistan, with 23 local broadcasting stations and 4 international. Satellite television and foreign channels are available to anyone who has access to a dish, including cable TV in Afghanistan. All the 24 channels are Islamic, including one Christian channel, and no Hindu channels. The following list presents Afghan TV channels in the alphabetical order:

International channels

• Ariana Television Network International, broadcasting from Dubai, UAE, and from the USA.
• Tolo TV International, broadcasting from Afghanistan, available in Central Europe and the USA & Canada

Ariana Afghanistan TV (AATV):

is a satellite television channel based in Irvine, California, USA, with branches in Hamburg, Germany and Kabul, Afghanistan. It is a privately owned channel broadcasted by GlobeCast Satellite Services. The owner, Nabil Miskinyar, was previously based in Orange, California, but moved to Irvine in 2009. The channel is regarded to be a frequent critic of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The channel is also overwhelmingly anti-Communist. It has American influences but also has many IslamicVoice of America. Programming broadcasts in Dari (Eastern Persian) and Pashto, the two national languages of Afghanistan, as well as English for Afghan viewers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.Its only main rival in terms of Afghan viewers is thought to be Ariana Television Network, not to be confused Ariana Afghanistan Television. programs. Conservatives and liberals both have their own programs on the channel. News is provided by

Afghan Television:

is a commercial television station, broadcasting from Kabul, Afghanistan since late 2004. The station is owned by Mr. Afghanzai, an Afghan entrepreneur and is currently broadcasting from only to the Greater Kabul region. In early 2006, the station was fined 50,000 AFN (Afghani) ($1,000) by the Afghan Supreme Court, after it had broadcast what the court called inappropriate images.The case was televised by Afghan TV and was covered extensively by other media outlets, however, the powerful clergy in the country succeeded in not only instating the fine on Afghan TV, but also severely restricting the ability of other television networks to broadcast entertainment.

Afghanistan National Television (or ANTV):

is a television channel broadcasting in Afghanistan, and was launched in 2002 after the Afghanistan war, and the end of Taliban rule. ANTV was the first TV channel in Afghanistan, which was made by Daud Khan president at the time. The original channel was launched in 1974, and it allowed singers to go and make music videos. In 1978, when the communist government rises in Afghanistan, they controlled what to say and what music was allowed. When the Mujahideen took power in 1992, they did not use the television station. When the Taliban rose into power, the Talib government in 1996 banned TV, so they went and destroyed the remaining cameras. The national TV archives were  

saved. Now, the TV has support from D.D. TV in Germany, and has fixed everything, and is now called as RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan).

ARZU TV:

is an Afghan satellite television network, based in Afghanistan. It was launched in 2009. The channel is available through Turksat 3A satellite. It also has a radio station available in Afghanistan.

Ariana Radio & Television Network (ATN):

is a private, non-partisan, television network based in Kabul that along with a radio station, Ariana 93.5 FM, and is part of the Ariana Television Network. The most watched and most popular program on ATN is the Indian drama, Banoo Main Teri Dulhann. On ATN, it is just called as Dulhan. ATN programming places particular emphasis on Islam, education, health, religious, music, movies, cinema, science, children, news, politics, women's and world issues. Viewers can also call live and talk to on-air presenters or request songs to be played on the network on a show called Viewers Choice, and called in Dari as Entekhabe Bihendaha. On the Afghan Television Award, Ariana TV came onto the 2nd place. This means that Ariana TV is being watched second-most in Afghanistan. The award-winner was Tolo TV. Ariana is owned by an Afghan American Ehsan Bayat, who also owns AWCC (Afghan Wireless Communication Company) the first communications company to start operating in Afghanistan, after the fall of the Islamic fundamentalists, the Taliban. Ariana Television Network's main international rival in terms of viewers is Ariana Afghanistan TV (AATV). However, the two channels have adopted more warm relations recently, especially since AATV is not based Kabul, but Irvine, California, USA. ATN's national rival is Tolo TV, which is also based out of Kabul. Their Ariana radio station, Ariana 93.5 FM, can be broadcasted throughout Afghanistan. Although not International like Ariana Television Network. 

Ayna Television:

(Ayna in Persian means mirror) is a commercial television station, broadcasting from Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan since late 2004. The station is owned by General Abdul Rashid Dostum and apart from broadcasting entertainment and news programs serves as a propaganda tool by Dostum and his Party, Jumbish-e-Melli Islami Afghanistan. Ayna was set up in order to satisfy the entertainment needs of people in northern Afghanistan where Uzbek and Turkmen are widely spoken alongside Afghanistan's two other official languages - Dari and Pashto. To date, it is the only television station in Afghanistan that has programs in four languages, Dari, Pashto, Uzbek and Turkmen.

It can be viewed from all the Northern provinces and the Greater Kabul region.

The signal of Ayna can be received throughout the northern province of Jowzjan as well as in the neighbouring provinces of Balkh, Faryab and Sar-e Pol. The main transmitter is in Sheberghan, the capital of Jowzjan. The station currently broadcasts six hours a day and employs 32 journalists, 25 technical staff and 12 administrators.

Sayed Fahim Zaffar, the person responsible for Ayna Television, said launching the channel cost about 1 million US dollars. The station's location is in a house belonging to General Dostum. The station plans in the future to construct a proper new building to house the television station under international broadcasting standards.

Lemar TV:

(meaning "Sun TV" in Pashto) is a television station based in Afghanistan, which was founded in 2006. The channel broadcasts news, shows, and entertainment programs to certain parts of the country. It may expand coverage in the future as communications in Afghanistan are rapidly growing.

Noor TV :

(Noor means "light" in the Arabic language) is a U.S. based Afghan satellite television network, operating from Fremont, California. The station is available on Galaxy 25 satellite dish throughout North America. It is the first Afghan satellite television station to be broadcast out of Northern California. Noor TV's programs are broadcast 24-hours and include: world news, children’s and youth programming, game, cooking, music and talk shows. The mission of Noor TV is to promote harmony in the oft-fractious Afghan communities in the United States and Canada. Four Afghan Americans brothers of Fremont, California (Yama Yousefzai, Haris Rahimi and Farzan Rahimi) founded and launched Noor TV on July 29, 2007 and first appeared on television screens on August 1, 2007. Noor TV has already become one of the most popular Afghan television stations to be broadcast out of the US and is planning on becoming a global satellite television station in early 2008, but is currently not available in Europe. Noor TV's excellent programming, content, and quality has become known all over the world, and its global debut is highly anticipated in Afghanistan and surrounding countries.

Noorin TV (Persian: تلویزیون نورین):

sometimes shortened as NTV, is a private non-governmental satellite television network that broadcasts from Kabul in Afghanistan. The service was launched in 2007. Noorin broadcasts news, cartoons, films, dramas, music, and many other types of programs. Their goal is to integrate western influence in Afghan television and create a modern benchmark for how television network stations are run in Afghanistan.The channel is available in Afghanistan and Europe through the Turksat 3A satellite. They also have a radio station, called Noorin FM, available throughout Afghanistan on 94.4FM.

  Payame Afghan TV:

Old  Payame Afghan TV:  

Payame Afghan TV was a US Afghan satellite television network based in Los Angeles, California. It featured news, music, and entertainment shows in primarily the Persian and Pashto language. It is a channel Personally owned and supported financially by Omar Khetab and his business career Hobbies in taxes, Canada and USA.

New Payame Afghan TV

In 2008, Payame Afghan TV was renewed and launched, with a new logo. It is now based in Canoga Park, California. When the new Payame Afghan TV was introduced, it became available in Europe, via Hotbird.

RTA:

(Radio Television of Afghanistan) is the Afghan government-owned television channel, broadcasting throughout the world. It is broadcasting all types of programs, such as music, lifestyle, health, news, sport, cartoons, and more. RTA television started during the period of President Mohammad Daud in 1353 (1974 CE). After the completion of feasibility study under the Grant Aid of the Government of Japan construction work of the studio and transmitter buildings started and finished by the year 1357 (1978 CE). Officially this centre was put into operation in 1361 (on August 1978). RTA became available in Europe and North America in 5 January 2008. The channel was broadcasting from 6AM to 12AM in Afghanistan (Afghan time), so when it was available in Europe, it was being broadcasted from 1:30AM to 7:30PM (GMT). So later in 2008, RTA became a 24-hours channel, and is now broadcasting daily at anytime and everywhere now, and making the broadcast times now easier and better in Europe and North America. RTA became famous worldwide when Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a live speech to the world minutes after dozens of insurgents attempted to assassinate him at an Afghan military parade. The assassination attempt was thwarted by the Afghan National Army.[1] The scene of the attempt was also broadcasted live to RTA viewers in Afghanistan and picked up by the international media.

Saba TV Network:

is a Afghan satellite television network featuring two television channels. They are Saba TV and Saba World. It is owned by Saba Media Organization. It is being broadcasted throughout Afghanistan. It was launched in Spring 2006, and started broadcasting in late 2007. Saba TV and Saba World is especially made for those who want to learn everything in the wild, and medical care. The channel is available to Cable TV and Satellite, on Yamal 202 at 49E. Saba TV also has different entertainment programs, such as TER YADOONA (The Past Memories), which is dedicated for Old is Gold Songs of Afghanistan, India and Iran. It is broadcasted 6 days a week at 16:00, Afghan Time. They also have beneficial programs for children, called AKO BAKO.

Shamshad TV: 

is a satellite television station in Afghanistan, which was launched in early 2006. The channel broadcasts 18 hours a day, providing educational, news, shows, dramas, and entertaining programs to both local areas of Afghanistan as well as other countries via satellite. Shamshad TV programs are mainly in Pashto language. Its name is taken from a mountain named Shamshad in Afghanistan, which is one of the highest mountains in Afghanistan. Shamshad TV is locally available in Kabul, Jalalabad, Kunduz, Herat and Kunar provinces as of July 13, 2009, and is going soon to Paktia and Kandahar provinces. In the future, it will cover all over Afghanistan as well. It is only available on AsiaSat 2 for satellite viewers. It transmits hourly news, current affairs programs, entertainment programs, politics programs, sports programs and criminal incidents programs. It has many live shows such as Dini Larkhowani (Religious Guidance), Nizaam Ao Meezaan (Government and Balance) etc. The main on screen workers includes Shah Zalmay Zalmay, Sarwar Khairay, Baheer Lalpurwal. The Shamshad TV logo is a decorative representation of the network's name written using Pashto. The founder, Fazal Karim Fazal, selected it but in 2007 Mohammad Nasim Fazal has changed this logo due to its similarity to (Pakistan's PTV). Further to the initial US$ 2 million grant from the President of Omar Mine Clearance Organization, Shamshad had aimed to become self-sufficient through advertising by 2008, but when this failed to occur, the President agreed to continue subsidizing it on a year-by-year basis (US$ 1 million in 2008, according to Nasim Fazal). Other major sources of income include advertising; broadcasting deals with other companies, and sale of footage. In 2008, advertising accounted for 50% of the station's revenue Shamshad TV Owner Fazal Karim Fazal is visionary person he is the only person in Afghanistan who in real basis supporting free media in Afghanistan whereas it is an important stuff that his struggle to free press is a great matter of pleasure.

Tolo TV (طلوع - "Sunrise"):

Tolo TV was launched in October 2004, becoming one of the first commercial television stations to operate in Afghanistan and laying the foundations for an accessible media outlet offering local and international news, sports, a current affair, movies, comedy, serials, documentaries, music, children’s programming, lifestyle and entertainment shows. Tolo TV was first launched in Kabul but as at November 2007, has broadcasts in 14 cities in Afghanistan on free-to-air and throughout the region by satellite. Tolo TV is part of and controlled by the Moby Group of entities. Moby Group is an Afghan owned and operated organization. The most popular television station in Afghanistan with 54 percent market share. The next highest rated TV stations have only 14% (Ariana) and 7% (RTA, the state broadcaster). Tolo TV has a mix of local and international news, entertainment and drama. (JWT/Altai Survey, 2007) Broadcast terrestrially from 15 cities in Afghanistan (reaching over 60% of the population), TOLO TV has 100% coverage of Afghanistan and the surrounding countries via satellite. TOLO International can be accessed via satellite in the U.S. and Europe. TOLO broadcasts primarily in Persian. Afghanistan’s landmark drama series, Raaz Hai Een Khana, The Secrets of This House, took the Special Award at the Seoul Drama Awards in October 2008. Screened on Tolo and produced by Kaboora Productions, Raaz Hai Een Khana is the first drama series ever entirely written, acted, filmed, produced and broadcast by Afghans, for Afghans in Afghanistan. It was selected for a Special Prize amongst 152 entries from 33 countries around the world. Afghan Star, one of Afghanistan's most popular television series. Afghan Star is a similar format to American Idol, and is billed as Afghanistan's biggest talent search.

PRINT MEDIA:

There is still some sort of state control but a beginning has been made and one does see some publications being critical of government polices though the threshold of tolerance is still low. Some newspapers and periodicals are independent while some are mouthpieces of the political parties and are ethnically biased or motivated .The quality of Op-eds and editorials leave much to be desired and have the little literarily merit. Some important newspapers and periodicals are given below:

Overview:

Father of Journalism’ Mahmud Tarzi published the newspaper Seraj ul-Akhbar (‘Lamp of the News’) from 1911 to 1918. Its readers were the literate elite in Kabul and it featured both national and international news. The paper promoted the modernization of Afghan society and advocated reform. The first national newspapers to print domestic and foreign news were Anis (1927) and Islah (1929). Thereafter numerous specialized papers and journals were published by government ministries and provincial newspapers also flourished, forming an important propaganda vehicle for the reform programme of King Amanullah Khan (1919-1929).
Press freedom came under attack during the 1960s, when numerous privately-funded newspapers were closed after just one issue, on the pretext of various offences. Soviet-sponsored newspapers subsequently gained a following and were able to continue printing as they had strong support from pro-communist factions. Editorial freedom was restored during the 10-month rule of Prime Minister Shafiq in late 1972, but from the time of Prime Minister Daoud in 1973 control of the news was once more placed firmly in the hands of the government.
The relaxation of media censorship under the Interim Government has allowed newspapers and magazines to proliferate. At the time of writing it is estimated that over 170 newspapers and magazines are printed in Afghanistan (Hamid Karzai interview, May 2003). Today the main government newspapers are Anis, Hewad and Arman, each with an estimated circulation of between 5,000 and 8000, and the independent newspaper Erada, produced by the Afghan Media Resource Centre.

Amanat:

After the fall of the Taliban regime the new administration under the Bonn process had introduced liberal media policy and because of which a large number of newspaper and periodicals have come up. Amanat is an independent newspaper, which prints news from its national correspondents alongside editorials about international news.

Anis Daily:

Launched in 1927, this daily government newspaper is written 80 per cent in Dari and 20 per cent in Pashto and has about 5,000 readers. The Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs appoints the editor and hires all the staff.

Arman Weekly: 

This government newspaper is written 50% in Pashtu and 50% in Dari, with ads in English. It is a new publication launched since the beginning of the Interim Government. The Director remarks that previously they were under strict governmental control but now they are guided by the people’s policies. A recent article written to urge the government to reissue identity cards to returnees and those who had lost theirs during the wars was acted on in 15 days

.Erada (Intention) Daily: is a daily, independent publication whose stated role is to serve the country and its citizens.

Seerat Weekly: Seerat Weekly features news highlights of the week.

Hewad newspaper: Hewad newspaper: Hewad is the state-run mainly Pashto speaking daily newspaper. Launched in 1949, this daily government newspaper is written 80% in Pashto and 20% in Dari and currently has about 5,000 readers. The Ministry of Culture appoints the Ministry hires the editor and Youth Affairs and all staff.

Online Dari language newspaper:

Website: http://afghanistannews.net

News and current affairs site.

Sabawoon Online:

Website: http://www.sabawoon.com/

the online version of Sabawoon magazine.

Kabul Times:

Kabul Times is the only daily newspaper of Afghanistan in the English language, with 41 years of publication behind it, which seeks to reflect the realities of Afghanistan at both national and international level. This four-page government newspaper covers all areas of Afghan life, focusing on the government and its efforts to rebuild the country. It carries one column of international news.

Kabul Weekly: Kabul Weekly is an independent publication not based on any governmental, ethnic or political group, which is supported by AÏNA and Afghan Media and Culture Center. The circulation in early 2002 was 8,000 readers.

AÏNA News clipping: AÏNA News clipping, a weekly news review, aims to make a selection of quality international and domestic articles available to Afghan media, NGOs and the government. The publication's ambition is to bring the broadest outlook on international and regional developments to key individuals involved in the country's reconstruction, at a moment when access to information is still a luxury. Articles are published in English, Dari and Pashtu and drawn from international, regional and local sources (including press from the provinces of Afghanistan). Sources are newspapers, newswire and the Internet. Distributed in Kabul and the main cities of Afghanistan, AÏNA News clipping aims to reflect international and Afghan events and opinions in all their diversity, giving a special place to debate and analysis. It is hoped that this publication will assist Afghan media to provide their audience with the widest possible panel of opinion and information, and help all citizens to make informed choices.

Online English Language Newspaper:

Afghan Daily:

Website: http://afghandaily.com/
this link supplies the latest news on Afghanistan

Afghanistan News Center:

Website: http://www.afghanistannewscenter.com/
Afghanistan News Center is a privately owned, independent website committed to providing updated news and information about Afghanistan. It began originally in 1998 under the URL www.afghanradio.com (Azadi Afghan Radio) serving those interested in Afghanistan’s current affairs. In 2002 it was changed to E-mail service and in 2006 the whole system was revamped to provide more consolidated information services including current affairs and archival records of over 10 years of news about Afghanistan. In its present shape, the ANC boasts of more than 50,000 articles. Its daily report is currently delivered to more than 10,000 subscribers.

Publishing:

The first book printed in Afghanistan is believed to have been an anti-Wahhabi tract published in 1871. Between 1871 and 1900 some 43 books were published. However, in subsequent decades the number of printing houses remained small, with just 1,300 titles printed between 1900 and 1978 (including 400 between 1951 and 1965), mainly by the government printing houses.
Very few books were published in Afghanistan after 1989 due to the escalating war between rival Mujahideen factions and the subsequent ascendancy of the Taliban. Throughout this period thousands of books from Kabul Central Library and Kabul University Library were burned for being ‘un-Islamic' (i.e. books in foreign languages and any books with pictures, particularly those with the former king's picture as a frontispiece). Much of what was left at Kabul Central Library was finished off when a rocket struck the building, killing a library worker and starting a fire. However, the Taliban did commission the printing of many new Islamic books in Quetta and Peshawar (Pakistan) for distribution in Afghan mosques and Islamic schools.
A rocket also hit the largest government-printing house, Ariana Press, during the wars, damaging the main building and destroying most of its printing machinery. Today only some very old printing presses, which had been housed in surrounding buildings, are still in operation there.
Most of the books printed since 2002 are political, religious or legal in nature, but a growing interest in literature has also created a demand for poetry books. As yet comparatively little fiction is published.
Since the formation of transitional government at the beginning of 2002, several new printers have sprung up in Kabul, equipped with Pakistani and Iranian printing machines. The quality of printing is satisfactory but poor quality paper is generally used to keep the costs down. However, most state-owned printing and publishing companies still require accessible investment capital, modern equipment and efficient management to produce and compete in the current markets. The new Investment Law adopted by the Afghan Government allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of Afghan enterprises and there is currently a move towards promoting privatization and corporatisation of these companies.

Internet

Online media is yet to have a significant impact in Afghanistan. Only 500,000 (1.5% of the population) had Internet access by the end of 2008,[21] though Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul.[15] Some online newspapers are now available. Most of the electronic news media are government-owned.