Qatar Television is celebrating the 53rd anniversary of the launch of its official broadcast which falls on Aug. 15, 1970, around two years after the launch of Qatar Radio broadcasting in 1968.
On that day, Arab viewers were on time with a new Arabic screen that would join the list of Arabic and international channels to convey an integrated and honest image of Qatar to its viewers. In addition to conveying the aspirations and ambitions of its citizens, their past, present, culture, and heritage of their ancestors.
This date represents a proud memory for every citizen and media person in Qatar. It is also a dear and precious occasion in the hearts of everyone who lives in Qatar, especially those who witnessed the launch of the Qatari screen and its broadcast to the Arab viewer for the first time, in a journey that is more than five decades now, of giving, loyalty, brilliance, and success.
The launch of Qatar TV came with the increasing importance of the media and its emergence as a means, message, and content, as well as its role in promoting societies by connecting them with sound, image, and word to various events, and developments in all parts around the globe.
Since that day, 52 years ago, Qatar TV has become a permanent guest in every home across the country through its news bulletins and political, economic, religious, cultural, sports, scientific and medical programs, in addition to Arab and foreign series and films that made Qatar TV a leading and distinguished channel on the region’s screens.
Through its various programs and events, Qatar TV has contributed to promoting loyalty and belonging principles, as well as preserving Arab and Islamic identity and the social and cultural values of Qatari society. Qatar TV also formed a station for media and journalism students who wish to enter the arenas of video broadcasting and provide them with experiences and training that increase their professional competencies. In addition, Qatar TV represented an active media arena to encourage national cadres and produce dramatic and artistic works and various media programs.
The beginning of Qatar TV was in 1970 when Qatar State TV was established. Qatar TV began its broadcast in black and white, while the first color broadcast was in 1974.
In 1982, Qatar TV launched channel 37 in English broadcast, through which American and Indian series were broadcasted as well as documentary and comedy programs.
Qatar TV channel 37 used to broadcast sports matches and significant events on air and stopped broadcasting on July 27, 2014. In 1981, Studio 4 for the television business was opened on Qatar Tv which was closed after 20 years and became part of the beIN Sports building.
In 1998, the satellite transmission for Qatar TV channel 1 started through Arabsat, Nilesat, and Hotbird satellites.
Qatar TV, like other national media, has received the full sponsorship of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and all officials in charge of the Qatar Media Corporation, to carry out its mission efficiently, and to continue its path and develop its programs and services provided to viewers.
Qatar TV went through many phases of development. The first development was in 2001, when the shape of the television changed in terms of the logo, program pattern, breaks and advertisements, to keep pace with the satellite broadcast. It started producing historical dramas annually during the month of Ramadan, such as the series Omar. In mid-2011, the establishment of a new studio for programs near the TV building was announced, and the first program to broadcast from it before its official opening was the Al Liwan competition program in 2011 during the month of Ramadan, after which work was stopped until it was fully equipped and officially opened and was handed over to the television support and development committee.
The second development for Qatar TV was in 2011, as a comprehensive new development of Qatar TV was announced under the auspices of the television support and development committee, chaired by Talal Al Attiyah. Accordingly, a new building for Qatar TV was constructed adjacent to the program studio that was built at the time, and it was equipped with the latest international broadcasting equipment. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency