Egypt
ERTU is a government association based in Cairo, operating under the supervision of a board of trustees which was established in 1971. Radio broadcasting commenced in Egypt in 1934 and TV broadcasting in 1960. ERTU’s newsroom and TV studios are now digitally equipped. In addition, it has also installed a new digital microwave network and DSNGS.
ERTU broadcasts its channels through more than 10 satellites including Nilesat, Hotbird, Intelsat, Echostar and Arabsat, reaching various countries around the world. To extend its coverage, ERTU has also installed several radio and TV transmitting centres all over the country.
ERTU operates two national channels called CH1 and CH2, six regional TV channels and eight thematic channels including Nile Life, Nile Drama, Nile Sports and three satellite channels ESC1, ESC2 and Nile TV.
ERTU operates the Sono Cairo Company, a subsidiary that is wholly owned by the Egyptian state broadcaster and is primarily involved in the production of studio and location dramas which are then broadcast by one of ERTU’s channels and/or sold to other Arabic channels within the region. ERTU is a major shareholder in the following companies: Cable Network Egypt (CNE), Nilesat and the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC).