Iraq leads the Arab World with most terrestrial TV channels

A new report from the Arab Advisors Group has revealed Iraq has the highest number of terrestrial TV channels in the Arab World.

There are a total of 115 local government-owned, private and mixed terrestrial TV channels broadcast in 19 Arab countries by March 2014, according to the research.

Up until the booming era of free to air satellite TV, terrestrial TV was the main source of entertainment and information for people in the Arab World. Today, local terrestrial TV stations are still alive in the region, although the boom in the supply of free satellite TV channels in the Arab region seems to have stifled the terrestrial TV landscape.

With 115 terrestrial TV stations broadcasting in 19 Arab countries, Iraq, Egypt and Palestine lead in the number of terrestrial TV stations, hosting 51.4% of the total number of terrestrial channels. The majority of Palestine’s and Iraq’s terrestrial TV channels are privately owned while Egypt has the largest number of government owned terrestrial TV channels.

“By March 2014, Iraq, with 21 channels, leads the Arab countries in the total number of terrestrial TV channels, as well as privately-owned terrestrial TV channels.” Ms. Hiba Al Atiyat, Arab Advisors research analyst wrote in the report.

“Egypt had the highest number of state-owned terrestrial TV channels, with 20 channels, followed by the UAE with 11 state-owned channels.” Ms. Al Atiyat added.