Qatar Broadcasting and Television Corporation

The mass media in Qatar has been witnessing an unprecedented shift which resulted in reinforcing its role in building the society.

In line with the freedom of expression, the directive of lifting censorship of the media and abolishing the Ministry of Information, whose departments were transformed into independent bodies was one of the most important steps taken by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani the Emir after taking power on 27 June 1995.

In May 1997 Qatar General Broadcasting and Television Corporation was set up. The law establishing it states that the Corporation is a body corporate and under the direct authority of the Council of Ministers with an independent budget adjunct to the general budget of the State. The Corporation aims at upholding the mission of audio and audio-visual information in line with the latest scientific developments of the time. 

Qatar Broadcasting Services (QBS)

Qatar Broadcasting Services (QBS), officially went on air for the first time on 25 June 1968, broadcasts in Arabic, English, Urdu, French, and the Holy Qur' aan programs.

In 2000, QBS has modernized its studios,  sound storage and radio control system by going digital and by using CDs and computers. It also introduced a modern digital microwave system to connect studios to transmission.

Developing the network of correspondents abroad and bringing the news bulletin to a new level were of the most prominent additions to QBS.

Being keen on exchanging experience and establishing firm cooperation with other Arab Broadcasting services, QBS put into practice an exchange program with other Arab countries via the Arab Satellite network (ARABSAT) in 2000-2001. 

Qatar Television (QTV)

QTV started its first phase of transmission in 1970 in black and white. Colored transmission started in 1974. 

Chanel 2 broadcasts its programs in English; it is also used for covering live sports events and important national celebrations.  

In 1998 Qatar TV Satellite Channel went on air. It operates more than 18 hours a day.

Besides news, the channel delivers cultural and general entertainment programs making use of state-of-the-art equipment and highly skilled personnel.

In the last few years, QTV has witnessed a number of achievements such as:

  • Installing the graphic device
  • Drawing up a comprehensive plan to upgrade the engineering departments
  • Upgrading the news studios
  • Supplying a new outdoors transmission vehicle

Qatar News Agency (QNA)

QNA was established on 25 May 1975; it covers the Gulf region and the Arab World as well as many other countries.

Starting with a transmission of half an hour a day, now QNA transmits for a continuous daily period of 18 hours from 7:00 a.m until after midnight, and transmission is extended to go round the clock if the need arises. It transmits its various services in Arabic, English, Spanish and Portuguese through its worldwide network.

QNA presents its information services through its main daily news bulletin which includes international news in addition to local news and events.  The editorial policy of QNA is based on accuracy and objectivity.

The daily news bulletin is basically aggregated from a network of reporters in the major Arab and international capitals.

In addition to updating the technical aspects of QNA, specialized news bulletins, such as economic, cultural and sports bulletins, have been brought into existence.

Sout al Khaleej Radio

Sout al khaleej was established by a directive issued by the director of Qatar Broadcasting and Television Corporation His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Thamir Al Thani. Sout al Khaleej went on air on 2 February 2002. 

It broadcasts on FM -100.8 KHZ and by ArabSat satellite on the digital frequency 11662.  

The mission of Sout al Khaleej  is to counterbalance the influence of Western Cultures through airing literary and lyric programs, mainly Gulf and Arabic ones. 
 
Besides covering concerts and evenings of poetry, Sout al Khaleej  not only contributes to organizing festivals but also participates in them.

Sout al Khaleej  encourages the talented in different areas of arts,  such as music and poetry, by broadcasting their works and thus  giving them the opportunity to come up with the best they can do. 

Sout al Khaleej has got the best Qatari anchorpersons who have undergone suitable training to make the best of the up-to date work-of-the-art studios customized solely for Sout al Khaleej , the first of the kind in the Middle East to be using digital technology. 

While working currently on its site www.soutalkhaleej.fm, Sout al Khaleej  seeks to build up its own electronic library to enrich its audience with information about songs, poems, and other genres of literature.

Qatar enjoys press freedom and there is an impressive selection of media produced in the country. The best known is the Arabic language news television station Al Jazeera, which is broadcast all over the world, and which is the most watched news station in the Arab world.

The government of Qatar also has television channels such as Qatar Television, Qatar Satellite Channel, and the Second Channel, which broadcast in Arabic, English, French and other languages.

There are five independent daily newspapers published in Qatar. There are in Arabic: Al Sharq, Al Raya, and al Watan; and two are in English: Gulf Times and The Peninsula.

The following are some of the radio stations in Qatar: QBS, MBC, BBC Arabic, Monte Carlo, Abu Dhabi, Sowt Al KHaleej (100.8 FM), and Radio Sawa (92.6 FM).