Télé Sahel is the national broadcaster of the West African state of Niger. Founded in 1964 as an educational channel under the name Télé-Niger, it became a national general channel, broadcasting in color, on April 6, 1979. Owned and operated by the government Office of Radio and Television of Niger, which also operates Radio Voix du Sahel and the Tal TV satellite station, Télé Sahel provides news and other programs in French and several local languages. Its stations transmit to all urban centres. Its current Director General is Moussa Saley since 2005.[1][2]
The state ORTN network depends financially on the government, partly through an addition to electricity bills and partly through direct subsidy. The High Council for Communication also maintains a fund which supports private broadcasters, although its payments are criticised as political and irregular.[3]
Télé Sahel was also used to broadcast the announcement of the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état.[4]