Television in Sudan
Part of Culture of Sudan |
Languages |
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Cuisine |
Sport |
Television in Sudan has a low penetration of around 17%, as many households cannot afford the cost of a satellite dish, and terrestrial television is the dominant platform. There are no private terrestrial television stations, and the government operates Sudanese Radio and Television Corporation.[1]
History and present
Sudan officially began television transmission in 1963.[2] In the early years, it only reached a short distance from Khartoum.[2]
Sudan has 18 terrestrial channels, just one of which, Blue Nile TV, is not wholly state-owned.
Censorship
Sudan TV stations are restricted by a military censor to ensure that the news do not contradict official views and perceived cultural values.[2][3] Satellite dishes are common in affluent areas and pan-Arab television stations are popular.[2] In addition to domestic and satellite TV services, there was a subscription cable network, which directly rebroadcast uncensored foreign news and other programs.[2]
The government shut down the Al-Jazeera bureau late in 2003 and arrested the bureau chief for alleged false programming and poor analysis of atrocities in Darfur.[2] The bureau chief went to prison, but Al-Jazeera subsequently reopened the office.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Arab Media Outlook 2011-2015" (PDF). 2012. p. 207.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8444-0750-0. Though published in 2015, this work covers events in the whole of Sudan (including present-day South Sudan) until the 2011 secession of South Sudan.
- ^ "Sudan profile - Media". BBC News. 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2023-02-21.