General Authority for Radio and Television

33°30′44.4″N 36°16′32.2″E / 33.512333°N 36.275611°E / 33.512333; 36.275611

General Authority for Radio and Television
Native name
الهيئة العامة للإذاعة والتلفزيون (Arabic)
FormerlyOrganisation de la Radio et la Télévision Arabe Syrienne (ORTAS)
Radio and Television (RTV Syria)
Syrian Radio & Television (SRT)
IndustryBroadcasting
Media
Founded
  • 3 February 1947; 79 years ago (1947-02-03) (Radio)
  • 23 July 1960; 66 years ago (1960-07-23) (Television)
  • 1960; 66 years ago (1960) (Actual company)
HeadquartersUmayyad Square, Damascus, Syria
Area served
Worldwide
Key peopleAlaa Barsilo (Director)
Products
Brands
ServicesBroadcast, radio, television, Internet, and printing
OwnerGovernment of Syria
Websitertv.gov.sy

The General Authority for Radio and Television (GART) (Arabic: الهيئة العامة للإذاعة والتلفزيون, romanized: al-Hayʾah al-ʿĀmmah li-l-Idhāʿah wa-al-Tilifizyūn) is the state-owned public broadcaster in Syria, reporting to the Ministry of Information.

It was previously known as the General Organization of Radio and TV (Arabic: الهيئة العامة للإذاعة والتلفزيون), also known in French as Organisation de la Radio et la Télévision Arabe Syrienne (in short ORTAS). Earlier names were Radio and Television (RTV Syria) and Syrian Radio & Television (SRT). For much of its existence, the organization was the Assad regime's propaganda tool until it was taken over by opposition groups in December 2024 amidst the fall of Damascus.

Several television channels and radio stations are being run by this organization, including Al-Souriya TV, Syrian News Channel and Radio Damascus. GART is an active member of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), associate member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and formerly a member of International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT).

History

The legal basis is a legislative decree from 2010, which, however, was largely not implemented. Sūmar Wassūf became head of the commission in December 2018.

Since the fall of the Assad regime, the radio and television channel has undergone reconstruction, and its programs have been suspended since December 2024, with a projected resumption in 2026.

Fifth logo used from March to October 2025

Services

The General Authority for Radio and Television is the governmental body responsible for radio and television broadcasting in Syria. It is divided into two parts:

Radio

Radio broadcasting began in the First Syrian Republic upon its independence on 17 April 1946 on shortwave. As early as 1942, Radio Damas, a counterpart to Radio Levant in Beirut, Lebanon existed in the French League of Nations mandate.

Nationwide broadcasting

Formerly broadcasting

Regional broadcasting

The shortwave international broadcaster Radio Damascus has existed from 1947 until 2013. According to the frequency announcements in the program, both FM (VHF) and AM (medium wave) are broadcast.

Television

The television station is based in Damascus, Syria since July 1960. The channel airs programmes in Arabic and English. Its first channel, Channel 1, was broadcasting in black and white until 1978. A second channel was added in 1985 (discontinued in 2012 due to the civil war) and in 1996, the satellite service Syria TV began broadcasting. On 5 September 2012, Syrian Television channel broadcasts were broken off on Arabsat and Nilesat, including Syria TV. Syria TV and Syrian Drama TV broadcasts were stopped on Hot Bird on 22 October 2012.

The digital television switchover (DVB-T) in Syria has been restarted since mid-2018, in the provinces of Damascus, Daraa, As Suwayda, Rif Dimashq, Tartus, Latakia, Quneitra and Hama, however there is still no date for an analog switch off.

Currently broadcasting

Suspended since December 2024

Former channels include Syrian Medical TV and Talaqie TV which both ceased broadcasting in 2016 and terrestrial channels Channel 2 and Channel 1, which ceased broadcasting in 2012.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Syrian News Channel (al-Ikhbariya) officially launches new visual identity via satellite - Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)". 6 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  2. ↑ European Neighborhood Journalism Network (n.d.). "Syria-media profile". European Neighborhood Journalism Network. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "General Organization of Radio and TV - Syria". en.ortas.online. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ↑ "EBU Associate Members". ebu.ch. EBU. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Mariam Ghorbannejad (February 12, 2011). "Broadcast media: Open to new players?". Forward Syria. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1977. p. 1109. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  7. ↑ European Neighborhood Journalism Network (n.d.). "Syria-media profile". European Neighborhood Journalism Network. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Hotbird Suspends Broadcasting Syrian Satellite Channels.. Journalists' Union condemns Step". SANA. October 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "In Lieu of Worshipping". Syria Today. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "آخر تحديثات" ضبط تردد سوريا دراما لمتابعة المسلسلات الحديثة 2021". www.klma.org. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  11. ↑ S, T. (January 3, 2014). "Ugarit TV, Karameh Radio Begin Broadcasting in Latakia, Sweida". Retrieved 18 November 2022.