TV channels Afghanistan

Afghan television rests on two pillars: the public broadcaster and the private networks of Kabul, with a distinct layer of channels serving the diaspora on top. The main languages of the airwaves are Dari and Pashto.

News in Dari and Pashto

The day's picture is shaped by several newsrooms. Ariana News is the news arm of the Ariana Television Network, covering events at home and abroad. A newsroom of its own belongs to 1TV, the private channel launched in Kabul in February 2010 by entrepreneur Fahim Hashimy as the flagship of groupOne Media. Arezo TV is a 24-hour network where politics and social affairs stand next to culture, cinema and music.

The Public Broadcaster: RTA

RTA - Radio Television Afghanistan - is the country's public broadcaster: the national channel with news bulletins in Dari and Pashto, current-affairs magazines and religious programming. The sporting side is covered by RTA Sport, the channel for cricket, football and other competitions of Afghan teams.

Kabul's Private Networks

Ariana TV, officially the Ariana Television Network, was launched on 17 August 2005 by Afghan-American entrepreneur Ehsanollah Bayat; it broadcasts in Dari and Pashto with regional programming in Uzbeki and Turkmen. Alongside it work Khurshid TV, with news, entertainment and cultural programs, and Tamadon TV - the satellite channel linking the country to its diaspora.

The Pashtun Channels

Television in Pashto forms a layer of its own. Lemar TV ("sunbeam") is the entertainment channel with music, dramas and comedies. Shamshad TV has broadcast from Kabul since 2006, combining news, dramas, music and religious programs. Zhwandoon TV ("life") is Kabul's generalist for the Pashto-speaking audience at home and abroad.

Religious TV and the Diaspora

Noor TV ("light") builds its schedule around Islamic education: Quran recitation with translation, commentary and lessons in jurisprudence. Payame Afghan TV ("message of the Afghan") broadcasts from Europe for Afghans worldwide - news, talk shows, music and religious programs in Dari and Pashto. The music line for the diaspora is completed by Tuti TV.