On its International Day…the most prominent stations in the development process of Saudi television
On December 17, 1996, the United Nations General Assembly declared November 21 World Television Day, in recognition of television’s growing influence in decision-making by drawing public attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in increasing focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues.
Saudi Television Broadcasting
Official broadcasting has begun For Saudi Television On the ninth of Rabi’ al-Awwal of the year 1385 AH, corresponding to July 7, 1965 AD, during the reign of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – through the Saudi Channel, which was the first official channel in the Kingdom, to be a window through which the state could view its people and the world.
On that day, citizens gathered in homes waiting for the first signal Official television broadcast from the Riyadh and Jeddah stations in black and white, in a scene that is still stuck in the minds of the Saudis after more than half a century.
But the real launch of television in Saudi Arabia had begun 10 years before the official opening, as its first television broadcast at the level of the Middle East was in 1955 AD, by the American Mission Television station in Dhahran, which was broadcasting in English within the Dhahran region, and it stopped completely at the end of the year 1998.
Two years later, in 1957, Aramco TV was established, and its broadcasting extended from Dhahran to Hofuf, reaching some parts of the Gulf. This station, which was launched about three months after the establishment of Baghdad Television, broadcasts in both Arabic and English.
The beginnings of establishing Saudi television
The first serious attempt To establish Saudi television – according to a book by Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Shubaili documenting Saudi television – it was the beginning of 1963 when the Ministry of Information was established and Sheikh Jamil Al-Hujailan was appointed its minister, and there were three priorities in his mind: establishing Saudi television, reorganizing the status of the press, which had transformed from the press of individuals to the press of civil institutions, and establishing the capital Riyadh Radio.
During the reign of King Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – issued a The Crown Prince and Prime Minister at that time issued a statement in which he announced the Kingdom’s intention to introduce television broadcasting into the country within the moral framework of Saudi society, which is based on the Holy Qur’an and the purified Sunnah of the Prophet.
In the year 1383 AH, the Council of Ministers approved a project to establish television in Saudi Arabia in two stages, which consisted in building two temporary stations in Riyadh and Jeddah, and establishing an integrated television system on more advanced foundations.
The most important programs presented
The most prominent things that television provided in that At that time, imported, dubbed and translated programs were purchased by the television, in addition to some Arabic songs. Through Saudi television’s subscription to the German Transtel agency, it presented the famous sports games and competitions program (Telematch) translated into Arabic, and the program (From Every Drop of Sea) benefited from what was received by this German agency.
The focus was on religious and cultural programs, and the Holy Qur’an was the first thing that began broadcasting on Saudi television, as the recitation of the Holy Qur’an was one of the most prominent things shown in The beginning of broadcasting, which reflects the values on which the Saudi media was founded.
The transmission began on one channel, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Channel, which closes at eight o’clock in the evening, and the transmission hours at the beginning of television broadcasting were about ten hours a week, while in 1395 AH, corresponding to 1975 AD, the weekly broadcast hours reached about 50 hours.
The arrival of television broadcasting to the regions
In later years, television broadcasting was delivered to Mecca and Taif from the Jeddah station in the year 1387 AH, then Medina station in Shawwal 1387 AH, then Al-Qassim station in Shaban 1388 AH, then Dammam station on Ramadan 15, 1388 AH, then Al-Baha station on Muharram 17, 1389 AH, then Hail station on Safar 2, 1389 AH, then Asir station on Dhu al-Qa’dah 20, 1389 AH, then a station. Jizan and Najran on Muharram 28, 1390 AH, then Tabuk station on Safar 24, 1390 AH, then Al-Jawf station on Rajab 5, 1390 AH, then Arar and Rafha station on Dhu al-Hijjah 23, 1390 AH, and finally Turaif and Qurayyat station on Rabi’ al-Akhir 24, 1391 AH.
The broadcast of programs was stopped during performance. Prayers, while in general "1393 AH" The call to prayer began on television with the broadcast of a segment entitled "From the guidance of prophecy" Then the broadcast stopped to perform prayers, and television began broadcasting its programs in the morning, beginning with the summer vacation "1396 AH".
The launch of color broadcasting
The beginning of color broadcasting was launched from Jeddah and Mecca in Dhul-Hijjah in the year 1394 AH; Then, color broadcasting continued in several cities, starting with Medina on Muharram 12, 1395, then Taif and Al-Baha. As for the residents of the capital, Riyadh, on the first of Shawwal 1396 AH, they celebrated Eid al-Fitr, with the beginning of color television broadcasting in their city for the first time. Geographical coverage also gradually expanded to reach the Arab and international world through broadcasting programs and direct transmission of important events.
In the year 1392/1972 AD, Saudi television broadcast the Hajj rituals for the first time via satellite networks to the masses of Muslims in various parts of the earth, and the number of those who watched the rituals was estimated at about 700 million Muslims, according to statistics conducted about this transmission at the time.
Launching of the Saudi Second Channel
The television broadcast has remained on one channel since Its beginning until the launch of the Second Saudi Channel in the year 1403 AH, which is a channel created for residents of the Kingdom who speak English, or who consider English their second language. The channel broadcasts a number of diverse programmes, series and films, as well as news bulletins, while its broadcast was stopped in 2017 AD. And the international channel, Ajyal channel, and the economic channel, as well as the cultural channel, and the Holy Quran channel, which began broadcasting in 2009 AD, and is broadcast live around the clock from the Grand Mosque, and the Sunnah channel, which broadcasts from the Prophet’s Mosque, and displays prayers and religious programs throughout the day.
In the context of these efforts, the SBC channel was launched in 2018 AD to be a modern entertainment channel targeting Saudi youth and families with modern and diverse content, The year 2020 AD also witnessed the launch of the Memories Channel, which aims to revive ancient artistic and cultural works and present them to a new generation that was not able to watch them when they were first shown.
The Saudi Channel also continued its role as the official media interface, through which national events, official speeches, and cultural, religious and social programs that represent the identity of the Kingdom are presented.
Radio and Television Commission
The Kingdom announced on the 7th of Rajab 1433 AH corresponding to May 29th 2012 AD; Transforming Saudi TV and Radio into a public authority; Which bore the name "Radio and Television Corporation"The announcement came by a decision of the Council of Ministers in its session held as an independent body with a legal personality, linked organizationally to the Minister of Culture and Information, and with its main headquarters in the city of Riyadh. This decision opened the door to various options for television channels that are followed by various segments of Saudi society.
As a result, the official Saudi channels affiliated with the General Authority for Radio and Television moved, and within the development plan approved by the Ministry of Information; To work with HD technology, on all different frequencies and satellites, in order to give the image a clearer appearance with high-quality technology and accuracy.
The development extended to the digital field, as Saudi television expanded the use of digital platforms such as live broadcast over the Internet, and smart phone applications, including the first platform and SOD in English, to facilitate access to content at any time and from anywhere. Opportunities were also provided for Saudi talents to actually participate in the fields of presentation, preparation and production, in support of the state’s drive to localize the media industry. And enhancing its presence.
The first broadcaster and the first female broadcaster
Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Subaihi is considered the first Saudi broadcaster and media person to appear on television in the Kingdom, where he opened the broadcast on the Jeddah TV station, and he is considered one of the prominent media figures in both the audio and visual media in Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Subaihi was distinguished by the quality of his baritone voice, and he worked on a number of radio and television stations, where he was one of the most famous programs presented by the program "Sayings of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him"What listeners ask for"
Nawal Bakhsh, a Saudi journalist, Director of the Family and Children Department at Riyadh Radio, where she has worked since its establishment in 1384 AH. She was also the first Saudi girl to appear on Kingdom Television in the year 1386 AH.
She joined radio work on Riyadh Radio 1964-1384 and was the first Saudi broadcaster. A few years later, she moved to work on Channel One of Saudi Television and was the first woman to appear on television. She specialized in presenting women and children’s programs and her programs branched out to include the social, charitable and women’s fields.
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