Television Channels in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, television broadcasting was founded with Azerbaijan Television. 

Azerbaijan Television started operating on February 14, 1956. Pilot programs were broadcasted till Februry, 1956. On the first day of broadcasting Necibe Melikova appeared on the screen and started her speech with the following words: “Baku shows!” “Bakhtiyar” feature film was demonstrated on that day. 

Baku studio was broadcasted with 2 hour program initially twice, later thrice in a week. On the first stage, radio, newspaper, and theatre employees were invited to work, as there were not any television specialists. 

In 1956, Baku television studio and Radio information office were operating separately. In October 1957, television organization was separated from the Ministry of Culture and joined the Radio information office and was called State Radio and Television Broadcasting Committee under the Ministry Soviet of Republic. 

In 1970, the television received the status of State Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee. Since that date, the broadcasting of daily programs has reached 10 hours, and in 1980, became 18 hours. The television began 24-hour broadcasting in January, 2005. As the construction of television tower was not completed in 1956, the transmitter of Baku studio was installed on an ordinary 44 m high oil well. In 1957, the television tower, which was 180m high, was put into operation. The new television tower the foundation of which was laid in 1981, was put into operation on July 7, 1996. In 1991, the committee became a company. Since February 2004, AzTV programs have been broadcasted to the European countries. 

In 2005, the company became “Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting” Closed Joint-stock Company. In 2007, for the technical compliance of broadcasting to Europe, Azerbaijan Television was awarded “European Quality” medal.

The first broadcasters of the television in 1956 were the following: Tamara Gozelova, Gultekin Cabbarli, Nizami Mammadov. Afterwards, a generation of broadcasters was formed: Roza Tagiyeva, Rafik Husseinov, Ofelya Senani, Sherqiyye Husseinova, Sabir Aleskerov, Hicran Husseinov, Gulshen Akperova, Aygul Garadagli, Nargiz Calilova, Ulker Quliyeva, Ruhengiz Dadashova, etc.

In the early years, “Portraits of Azerbaijan composers”, “Literature and art”, “Classics of Azerbaijan literature”, “Outstanding masters of scene”, “In the theatre and concert halls of Baku”, “Laureates of Lenin award”, “School and life”, “Member of people’s patrol”, “Our guests”, “In front of the festival” and other programs were broadcasted.

Azerbaijan television has been broadcasting news programs since 1960. The program was first called “News of the day. In 1967, a news program called “Screen of the Day” was broadcasted. In the 1980, the editorial office of sports programs was founded in Aztv. The generation of commentators preparing reportages from football games was formed in Aztv. 

The founder of Aztv Sports is “Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting” Closed Joint-stock Society. “Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting” Closed Joint-stock Society was established with the March 23, 2005 № 213 Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic. The Regulations of “Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting” Closed Joint-stock Society was approved with the June 18, 2005 resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic. 

“Sports Azerbaijan”  Television had pilot broadcasting from January 1 till February 1, 2009, and on February 1, 2009, an official opening ceremony was held, the channel began broadcasting. The channel is aired in the 7th television channel in Baku, in the 6th in Lerik and Sheki, in the 21st  in Gandja, in the 9th in Shirvan, in the 2nd in Astara, in the 5th in Qazakh and Agstafa, in the 10th in Lenkeran, in the 7th in Mingechevir, in the 8th in Quba, in the 11th in Shamakhi regions.  The total length of daily television programs is 24 hours (100%). The total volume of weekly broadcasting is 168 hours (100%). 

Television of Culture is a channel operating under the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-stock Company (AzTV). The channel is completely dedicated to the Azerbaijan culture. It began broadcasting on February 14, 2011.

“Azad Azerbaijan” television has been operating since December 25, 2002. The programs are aired in the 35th channel. The objective of the company is to interpret the socio-political issues of the republic and the world, to organize musical, entertainment, historic telecasts, to demonstrate movies. The company is broadcasted for 24 hours in the Absheron peninsula, Baku and Sumgait cities, Shamakhi and Elet regions. The total volume of weekly broadcasting is 168 hours (100%).

10% of the total air time consists of telecasts prepared in the country, 62% of telecasts prepared abroad, 25% of private production programs, and 3% of advertisements. In compliance with the October 28, 2005 decision of National Television and Radio Council, the term of the special consent (license) granted for television broadcasting of “Azad Azerbaijan” Television and Radio Company was lengthened for additional 6 years. 

Web-page: http://www.azadazerbaijan.com 

The channel began operating on October 5, 2009. ATV Internationa is broadcasted for 24 hours via satellite. The main work of the channel is the block of news. The news is aired in 4 languages: the Russian, English, Persian and Armenian. Besides the news, feature films, video clips, documented movies are also broadcasted in the channel.

Ictimai Television is member of European Broadcasting Union, and public television of Azerbaijan. Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company has been established with the November 5, 2004 Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic concerning the application of Legislation of Azerbaijan Republic on the “Public Television and Radio Broadcasting”. The Decree holds that, the 2nd channel of Azerbaijan state television and the 1st channel of Azerbaijan state radio are given together with all property and equipments to the Broadcasting Council of the Public Television and Radio Broadcasting for the establishment of Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. The work of the Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company is regulated with the Legislation of Azerbaijan Republic on the “Public Television and Radio Broadcasting”.

Broadcasting Council of Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company has 9 members. The General Director of the Company is an official who connects the creative and business activities of the public broadcaster, who makes decisions on the issues which are within his authority in accordance with this Law, and who is responsible for organizing the work of the broadcasting in general.  The General Director is elected by the Broadcasting Council for 4 years term.

With the August 22, 2005 decision of the National Television and Radio Council, Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company was granted special consent (license) for television broadcasting. The opening ceremony of PTRBC was held on August 29, 2005. The channel is broadcasted throughout Azerbaijan Republic for 24 hours. 

ANS is the first private television channel in Azerbaijan. Later, the company enhanced its area of activity for printing and commercial products. ANS Group of Companies includes “ANS Television”, “ANS-PRESS Publication House”, “ANS Commerce”, and “ANS CM”. 

ANS was established as the first independent television company in Azerbaijan by 3 young journalists- Vahid and Seyfulla Mustafayev brothers and Mirshahin Agayev in 1990. Their first reportages as a television were the events in the front line. 

The recordings in the front line during Garabakh war and historical scenes recorded by Chingiz Mustafayev in the Khojali massacre made ANS channel very famous. 

“Xazar” Television was established in 2007. The television began operating in early October, 2007. The broadcasting area of “Xazar TV” covers all regions of Azerbaijan Republic. The total volume of weekly broadcasting is 168 hours. 30% of total air time consists of programs produced in the country, 30% the programs produced abroad, and 40% consists of programs of private production. The broadcasting languages of “Xazar TV” are the state language (90%) and  foreign languages (10%).With the September 14, 2007 decision of the National Television and Radio Council, “Xazar TV” Limited Liability Company is granted special consent (license) of 6 years for television broadcasting.

“Space” Independent Television and Radio Company has been established in January 10, 2007. Since October 12, 1997, it has been broadcasted via satellite in the 27th channel. Since January 1, 2002, it has been broadcasted for 24 hours. The broadcasting area covers all regions of Azerbaijan Republic. The total volume of weekly broadcasting is 18 hours per day. 95% of the programs consist of the telecasts produced in the country, 5% are the programs produced abroad.  The broadcasting languages of “Space TV” are the state language (90%) and  foreign languages (10%). 

With the February 07, 2007 decision of the National Television and Radio Council, the term of special consent (license) granted to “Space TV” Independent Television and Radio Company was lengthened for another 6 years for television broadcasting.

“Lider” Television was founded on December 28, 1999, since September 1, 2000, it has been broadcasted in the 25th channel via RRX. The main criterion of “Lider Media Holding” LLC is to prepare special, professional, and colourful programs. “Lider TV” is broadcasted in Azerbaijan and via SESAT-E 36 satellite transmitter in the European and Asian countries for 24 hours. “Lider” Television is broadcasted in its web-page as well.

The total volume of weekly broadcasting is 168 hours (100%). 36% of total air time consist of the telecasts produced in the country, 62% are the programs produced abroad, and 2% are advertisements. The broadcasting languages of “Lider TV” are state language (80%) and foreign language (20%). 

With the December 22, 200 decision of the National Television and Radio Council, the term of special consent (license) granted to “Lider Media Holding” Limited Liability Company was lengthened for another 6 years for television broadcasting.

Alternative Television (Alternative TV) – Is broadcasted in Gandja.

Aygun Television (Aygun TV) – is broadcasted in Zakatala region.

South Television (South TV) – is broadcasted in the Southern region (in the frequency of Lənkəran TV ).

World Television (World TV) – is broadcasted in Sumgait.

Xeyal Television (Xeyal TV) – is broadcasted in Quba.

Kepez Television (Kepez TV) – is broadcasted in Gandja.

Qutb Television (Qutb TV) – is broadcasted in Quba region.

Mingechevir Television (MTV) – is broadcasted in Mingechevir.

Simurq M Television (Simurq TV) – is broadcasted in Tovuz region.

Channel-S – is broadcasted in Sheki city.

El TV – is broadcasted in Yevlakh region.

RTV – is broadcasted in Khachmaz region.

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic State Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee

“Channel 35” Television 

GunAz TV- USA

AzCan TV- Canada

InterAz TV- Russia

The online televisions have no frequency. They are broadcasted via Internet.

Channel 13: http://www.kanal13.tv/

AN TV: http://www.antv.ws

Ferq TV: http://www.antv.ws