Addounia TV
A former private Syrian television channel that operated from Damascus from 2007 until its shutdown in 2015.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Addounia TV was a private Syrian television channel based in Damascus. It began broadcasting on 23 March 2007 under an Arabic name commonly rendered as Al-Dunya, meaning “The World.” The station operated as a general-interest broadcaster, combining scheduled news bulletins with Syrian drama, entertainment, lifestyle, sports, cinema, health, youth and discussion programming. Its schedule included five daily news editions as well as programs such as Sabah al Khair, 7 Days, Syrian Drama, All Sports, Ain ala al Hadas, Drama Zoom, Sahtak bel Dounia and Shabab Tube. The channel also carried a principal evening news bulletin and newsroom-oriented reporting formats. Although formally a private broadcaster, Addounia was characterized by some Western governments and media organizations as semi-official or closely aligned with the Syrian government. That perception became central to the channel’s identity during the Syrian civil war. Its news coverage and political output were treated by critics as supportive of the Syrian authorities, while the channel presented itself as a Syrian media outlet defending its editorial and broadcasting rights. The station’s relationship with the Syrian state became especially visible when President Bashar al-Assad gave Addounia an interview on 29 August 2012 concerning domestic and regional developments. The channel’s distribution was significantly affected by the conflict and by international sanctions. On 23 September 2011, the Council of the European Union added Addounia TV to its sanctions list, citing the channel’s alleged role in inciting violence against Syria’s civilian population. The station was subsequently interrupted on the Hot Bird satellite system on 20 October 2011. In June 2012, the Arab League requested that satellite operators Arabsat and Nilesat stop carrying Syrian media channels, including Addounia. Addounia’s transmission on Arabsat and Nilesat was reported as interrupted in September 2012. The channel rejected the measures, arguing that they conflicted with media freedom and international protections for expression. Operational disruptions also affected the channel’s services. On 5 February 2012, Addounia temporarily suspended its SMS breaking-news service after it said the service had been hacked by opposition forces. A journalist working for the channel, Suheil al-Ali, died on 4 January 2013 after being wounded four days earlier when opposition fighters opened fire on him in the Damascus countryside while he was returning home from work. On 16 May 2013, the United States Department of State added Addounia Television to its sanctions regime. After more than 18 months of suspension, Addounia’s broadcast reportedly returned to Nilesat on 25 March 2014. The channel later ceased operations, with the available reference material identifying its shutdown as occurring in 2015. During its existence, Addounia employed a roster of news anchors, presenters and field correspondents, several of whom subsequently appeared on its sister channel Sama TV. The channel also received the Tetrapylon Palmyra Award for Best Satellite Channel in November 2010. Because ownership details, corporate structure and the precise date of final closure are not clearly documented in the available material, those fields remain unspecified.
History
Addounia TV was established as a private Syrian satellite broadcaster and began operations from Damascus on 23 March 2007. Its Arabic name, قناة الدنيا الفضائية, is commonly translated as Al-Dunya Satellite Channel or “The World.” The station formed part of Syria’s privately operated television sector and was a sister channel of Sama TV. The channel adopted a broad general-interest schedule. It transmitted several daily news bulletins, including editions at approximately 2:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Damascus time. Alongside news, Addounia presented morning television, drama, sports, cinema, lifestyle, health, youth and current-affairs formats. Its listed programs included Sabah al Khair, 7 Days, Syrian Drama, Shi Chic, All Sports, Ain ala al Hadas, Weekend, Drama Zoom, Cinema in, Sa'a Houra, Main News Bulletin, From the Newsroom, Shabab Tube and Sahtak bel Dounia, the latter presented with Dr. Dana Al-Hamwi. During the Syrian civil war, the channel became closely associated with the political and media environment of the Syrian government. Some Western media and governments described it as semi-official or as a mouthpiece for the authorities. This characterization was linked to its political reporting and its coverage of the conflict. On 23 September 2011, the Council of the European Union sanctioned Addounia TV, stating that the broadcaster had incited violence against Syria’s civilian population. The channel’s Hot Bird transmission was interrupted the following month. Addounia publicly argued that the measures violated media freedom and international conventions protecting freedom of expression. The broadcaster faced further disruptions in 2012. It temporarily halted its SMS breaking-news service on 5 February after reporting that opposition forces had hacked the system. In June, the Arab League requested that Arabsat and Nilesat cease broadcasting Syrian media, including Addounia. Syrian state media described the decision as a misleading campaign against Syria. Addounia was among the Syrian channels whose transmissions on Arabsat and Nilesat were interrupted in September 2012. Despite these distribution problems, the channel remained an important platform for government-aligned coverage. President Bashar al-Assad gave an interview to Addounia on 29 August 2012, addressing local and regional developments. The conflict also affected Addounia personnel. Journalist Suheil al-Ali died on 4 January 2013 after sustaining wounds four days earlier when opposition fighters opened fire on him in the Damascus countryside while he was traveling home from work. On 16 May 2013, the U.S. Department of State added Addounia Television to its sanctions list. The channel’s Nilesat broadcast reportedly resumed on 25 March 2014, following a suspension of more than 18 months. Addounia received the Tetrapylon Palmyra Award for Best Satellite Channel in November 2010. Its on-air staff included news anchors Wafa Al-Douiri and Majed Hermuz, presenters such as Roaa Abbas, Evleen Haddad, Kinda Asfoura and Reem Maarouf, and correspondents including Ahmad al-Aaqel, Kinda al-Khidr, Ata Farhat, Diana Farfour, Kinana Allouche and Haidar Mustafa. Several former Addounia presenters later worked for Sama TV. The channel was shut down in 2015, although the precise date and the circumstances of the final closure are not established in the available reference material.
- 2015
Channel shuts down
[1]Available reference material identifies 2015 as the year in which Addounia TV ceased operations.
- 2014
Return to Nilesat
[1]The channel resumes Nilesat broadcasting on 25 March after more than 18 months off the platform.
- 2013
United States sanctions
[1]The U.S. Department of State adds Addounia Television to its sanctions list on 16 May.
- 2012
Regional satellite distribution is interrupted
[1]Following regional action against Syrian broadcasters, Addounia’s Arabsat and Nilesat distribution is interrupted.
- 2011
European Union sanctions
[1]The Council of the European Union adds Addounia TV to its sanctions list on 23 September.
- 2010
Tetrapylon Palmyra Award
[1]Addounia TV receives the award for Best Satellite Channel in November.
- 2007
Addounia TV begins broadcasting
[1]The private Syrian channel starts operations from Damascus on 23 March.
Products and positioning
Syrian general-interest television broadcaster with a strong news and current-affairs identity; frequently described by external observers as semi-official and aligned with the Syrian government.
Television programming · 2007
News and current affairs
Addounia’s core output included five scheduled daily news bulletins, a main evening news edition, newsroom reports and current-affairs programs such as Ain ala al Hadas. This programming gave the channel its principal public identity during the Syrian civil war.
Television programming · 2007
General entertainment
The channel supplemented political and news coverage with morning television, weekend programming, lifestyle formats, cinema coverage, sports and youth-oriented shows. Named examples included Sabah al Khair, 7 Days, Shi Chic, All Sports, Weekend, Cinema in and Shabab Tube.
Television programming · 2007
Syrian drama programming
Syrian drama was a recurring part of the schedule, supported by dedicated programming such as Syrian Drama and Drama Zoom. These shows placed locally produced serials and screen culture alongside the channel’s news and magazine output.
Health television
Sahtak bel Dounia
Sahtak bel Dounia was a health-oriented program presented with Dr. Dana Al-Hamwi. It formed part of Addounia’s effort to offer practical lifestyle and public-interest content beyond news and political coverage.
Controversies
2013
United States sanctions
The U.S. Department of State placed Addounia Television on its sanctions list amid the Syrian conflict and international criticism of the channel’s role in government-aligned broadcasting.
2011
European Union sanctions over alleged incitement
The European Union sanctioned Addounia TV, alleging that its broadcasts incited violence against Syria’s civilian population. The channel disputed the measure and framed it as an infringement of media freedom.
Brand decisions
2014
Resumption of Nilesat broadcastingStrategyBackground
Addounia had been absent from Nilesat for more than 18 months amid regional restrictions affecting Syrian broadcasters.
Action taken
The channel returned to Nilesat transmission on 25 March.
Aftermath
The channel later ceased operations in 2015.
2012
Temporary suspension of SMS breaking-news serviceOtherBackground
Addounia reported that its SMS breaking-news service had been hacked by opposition forces during the Syrian civil war.
Action taken
The channel temporarily suspended the service on 5 February.
Aftermath
The available material does not specify when the service was restored.
Recent events
- 2014
Addounia returns to Nilesat[1]
Other
The channel resumed broadcasting on Nilesat after a suspension lasting more than 18 months.
- 2013
Addounia journalist Suheil al-Ali dies after being wounded[1]
Other
Journalist Suheil al-Ali died after being wounded in an attack by opposition fighters while returning from work in the Damascus countryside.
- 2012
Breaking-news SMS service temporarily suspended after hacking[1]
Other
Addounia temporarily suspended its SMS breaking-news service after reporting that it had been hacked by opposition forces.
- 2012
Arab League requests suspension of Syrian satellite channels[1]
Regulation
The Arab League asked Arabsat and Nilesat to stop carrying Syrian media channels, including Addounia TV.
- 2012
Bashar al-Assad gives interview to Addounia TV[1]
Other
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared in an Addounia TV interview discussing domestic and regional developments.
- 2012
Addounia removed from Arabsat and Nilesat distribution[1]
Regulation
Broadcasts of Addounia and other Syrian television channels were interrupted on Arabsat and Nilesat.
- 2011
Addounia transmission interrupted on Hot Bird[1]
Regulation
The channel was interrupted on the Hot Bird satellite system after the European sanctions were imposed.
Sources2 sources
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