Al Sharqiya is a private Iraqi TV channel, founded in March 2004 just as the country's media scene was opening up after Saddam Hussein's government fell. Regular broadcasts began on 4 May 2004. The channel is often called Iraq's first private satellite channel, though sources don't fully agree on that label. Businessman Saad al-Bazzaz set the channel up, and Al Sharqiya belongs to Azzaman Group, the same group behind the Iraqi daily Azzaman.
News takes up most of the schedule. Coverage runs across Iraqi politics, the economy, security and social issues, plus regional and international headlines. Al Hassad is the anchor show, a news roundup running about 90 minutes with analysts and politicians weighing in. Qeel W Qal is an investigative program digging into the causes behind the country's bigger problems. Ahl Almadina and Kalam Alnaas stay on everyday issues and open discussion. Beyond news, the lineup covers family, health, technology, culture and women, with shows like Thahirat Aljumea and Kahramana. Early on, according to BBC Media Action, the channel ran a home-rebuilding program for people whose houses were destroyed, aired one of Iraq's first talent-search shows, and mixed in political satire.
On editorial line, the channel presents itself as an independent Iraqi media project, not tied to any political, ethnic or religious group. Some outside studies and press reports link the channel to an opposition viewpoint. The Baghdad office was shut in 2006 to 2007 after accusations of stirring sectarian division, and broadcasts carried on from Dubai. For news, it helps to cross-check with a couple of other outlets.
The core audience is Iraqis who follow news and daily-life issues. Satellite and internet distribution also reach Iraqis around the Middle East and in the diaspora. Family, culture and entertainment programs bring in viewers who don't just sit down for the bulletin.
The official website puts an AlSharqiya Live page, a TV schedule page and a news section in one place. The group also runs Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube accounts. In 2024, Al Sharqiya Group announced an SVOD service with Accedo, Brightcove and JUMP, a sign the channel is moving from satellite toward streaming. The announcement says nothing about pricing or what the service will carry. Nothing in the material mentions resolution either, and smooth streaming depends on connection and region, so the quickest check is opening the live page for a few minutes. Whether a given video or live stream plays can also vary by country because of rights.
On convenience, the name has been around since 2004. A 2007 survey cited by USAGM found about 77% of Iraqi respondents watching weekly and 51.1% daily. Those numbers are old and say little about today's audience, but they show the channel is no newcomer for Iraqi viewers. For anyone watching from abroad, the live page and the schedule sit on one website, so finding a show by time stays simple. Programming is in Arabic and built around Iraqi affairs.
Worth bookmarking the channel page for next time, and passing the link along to anyone who follows Iraqi news.
