Embracing new technologies while keeping the faith with values and traditions, national broadcaster SNRT is focused
on the future

An advertisement for the new sitcom produced by the national television network for the month-long Ramadan period

conomic growth and social development are speeding up in Morocco on the back of a decade’s worth of reforms. Now, thanks in part to a motivated youth eager to take on new technologies, and in part to the ability of the authorities to learn from the works of others, the country is side-stepping potential problems and basing development on working models to provide and apply its own solutions to improve living standards for all its citizens.

In today’s highly technological world, a nation’s image is perhaps best reflected in its broadcasting output. Since the first channel – Radiodiffusion Télévision Marocaine (RTM) – was created in 1962, Moroccan television and radio has striven to improve both in structure and in content, creating a modern, liberalized and open sector. RTM was the sole channel until 1989, at which point the ONA Group invested in television with the creation of 2M, the first private channel. The state bought 72 percent of the shares of 2M and continued to show commitment to incipient sector liberalization by lifting the state broadcasting monopoly in 2001.

The creation of a regulatory body (High Authority of Audio-visual Communication) followed, laying down rules and regulations, applying schedules, and granting licences. A new law established the principle of freedom of investment in the audio-visual sector and turned the public administration into a state-owned limited company, Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (SNRT), thus levelling the playing field between public and private sector participation.

Now, SNRT and 2M work together as a central, public entity along the lines of France Television, running six national and regional television channels and 15 public radio stations catering to a range of interests. Assadissa, for example, reflects the kingdom’s religious tolerance: essentially Islamic, but open; while Arrabia focuses on education. Al Maghribya reaches out to Moroccans in other countries, sending out images of modern-day Morocco world-wide. The newest addition is a sports channel showcasing national events.

This is by no means the end of the line. Facing international competition provided by satellite television, SNRT is focusing on providing language-based channels (Berber, French, Arabic) with higher quality and more nationally-focused programming. Work on quality and marketing is continuous to find out what viewers want: for instance, a music channel is in the planning stages. Technological advances include the introduction of digital television, currently under way, and the future possibility of broadcasting onto mobile telephones.