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Television in Sudan has a low penetration of around 17%, as many households cannot afford the cost of a satellite dish, and terrestrial television is the dominant platform. There are no private terrestrial television stations, and the government operates Sudanese Radio and Television Corporation.[1]
Sudan officially began television transmission in 1963.[2] In the early years, it only reached a short distance from Khartoum.[2]
Sudan has 18 terrestrial channels, just one of which, Blue Nile TV, is not wholly state-owned. Sudan TV is the main terrestrial channel. There are eight free-to-air direct-to-home channels headquartered in Sudan, of which five are privately owned, two are government owned and one has mixed ownership. Pay-TV penetration is negligible in the country.[1]
Sudan TV stations are restricted by a military censor to ensure that the news do not contradict official views and perceived cultural values.[2][3] Satellite dishes are common in affluent areas and pan-Arab television stations are popular.[2] In addition to domestic and satellite TV services, there was a subscription cable network, which directly rebroadcast uncensored foreign news and other programs.[2]
The government shut down the Al-Jazeera bureau late in 2003 and arrested the bureau chief for alleged false programming and poor analysis of atrocities in Darfur.[2] The bureau chief went to prison, but Al-Jazeera subsequently reopened the office.[2]