Moroccan news channel
Television channel
Medi1 TV (formerly Medi 1 Sat) is a Moroccan free-to-air TV channel, launched in 2006. The channel broadcasts bilingually in Arabic and French, nationally via terrestrial television and internationally via satellite.
History
Medi1 TV was first launched on 1 December 2006 under the name Medi 1 Sat, broadcasting exclusively on satellite, and was co-jointly owned by public Moroccan and French investors.[1] The channel's launch schedule consisted mainly of news programming focusing on Morocco and Maghreb-related affairs.
In 2009, the channel became entirely Moroccan-owned following the acquisition of the previously French-owned shares by Atlas Benjelloun.[2] Abbas Azzouzi was appointed by the Board of Directors as the new CEO in 2010, succeeding its founder Pierre Casalta, who had previously directed its sister network Medi1 Radio.[3][1]
On 30 October 2010, Medi 1 Sat was rebranded Medi 1 TV, and a new generalist schedule was introduced covering entertainment, debates, youth, news & current affairs, sport, and documentaries, in addition to entering the terrestrial Moroccan TV market. Plans were for the channel to cover 74% of national territory by the end of November.[4]
In 2014, Medi1 TV obtained a new broadcasting license after two Emirati media firms—Nekst Investments and Steeds Medias—acquired shares within its capital.[5][1]
On 1 February 2016, Medi1 TV re-devoted its schedule to rolling news and current affairs. It also split into two separate channels the same year, with one devoted to Africa-related programming.[3] In June 2016, Hassan Khiyar, also serving as director of Medi1 Radio, was appointed as the TV network's new CEO. This came as the Board of Directors sought to "change the management model and governance of MEDI1TV with a repositioning strategic as a continuous and permanent news channel, published in partnership with Radio Méditerranée Internationale [Medi1 Radio] as part of a unique project with a national, regional and international vocation."[6] Medi1 TV launched a new look and logo in February 2017.
In 2019, Medi1 TV launched an exclusively Arabic-language channel ("Medi1TV Arabic") as part of its network lineup.[7]
Othman Benjelloun , via its subsidiary MediCapital Bank , moved to acquire the entirety of Medi1 TV following a MAD 105 million (US$11.9 million) Consequently, Subsequently, Medi1 TV is now solely owned by businessman Othman Benjelloun.[8] [9]
