Al-Baghdadia TV

Al-Baghdadia TV is an Iraqi-owned Arabic-language satellite television channel headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The station presents itself as an independent broadcaster and has been associated with an Iraqi nationalist editorial outlook. Reference material describes the channel as being funded directly and exclusively by its chief executive, although the available material does not establish a broader ownership structure, corporate financial profile, or current operating status. The channel's programming combines news, public affairs, social discussion, and general entertainment. Its most distinctive program is the live morning show "Al-Baghdadia Wa El Nas," a call-in and audience-participation format that gives Iraqis an opportunity to express opinions and send messages to government institutions. The program has been described as supporting democratic participation. The station's chief executive has argued that democracy in Iraq should be created by Iraqis themselves rather than imposed by force. This position, together with the station's criticism of the United States' presence in Iraq, has shaped its public identity and contributed to its reputation as a strongly Iraqi, nationalist broadcaster. Al-Baghdadia became internationally visible through its association with reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi. Al-Zaidi joined the station in 2005 and reported on the effects of the Iraq conflict, including the experiences of widows, orphans, and children. He was kidnapped while working on assignment in Baghdad in November 2007 and released several days later. On 14 December 2008, during a press conference in Baghdad, he threw his shoes at United States President George W. Bush and denounced him. The incident made both the reporter and his employer subjects of worldwide attention. After al-Zaidi was imprisoned, the station demanded his release and arranged legal representation through Iraqi lawyer Dheyaa al-Saadi. The broadcaster's handling of the episode also drew criticism from international commentary, which argued that it should have disciplined or distanced itself from the reporter. The station's history is also marked by the killings of several employees and contributors during the Iraqi insurgency. Cameraman Luaay Salam Radeef was murdered in January 2006. Correspondent So'oud Muzahim al-Shoumari, also identified in reporting as So'oud Mukahim Al-Shoumari or So'oud Mukahim al-Hadithi, was abducted, tortured, and killed in Baghdad in 2006. Line producer and poet Jawad Al-Daami was shot and killed in Baghdad in September 2007. These deaths placed Al-Baghdadia among Iraqi media organizations whose staff faced severe risks while reporting during the conflict. In 2012, Al-Baghdadia Media Group launched a second channel, B2, also referred to as Al Baghdadia 2. Unlike the flagship station's stronger news and public-affairs identity, B2 was described as an entertainment service carrying series, drama, films, and other general entertainment. The launch broadened the group's television portfolio and positioned B2 as an entertainment-oriented Iraqi channel distributed by satellite. Available references identify carriage on platforms including Nilesat and Hot Bird, but do not provide reliable current distribution information or confirm the present status of either service.

Al-Baghdadia TV emerged as an Iraqi-owned Arabic-language satellite broadcaster operating from Cairo. Its identity developed around Iraqi news, public affairs, and social discussion rather than around a narrowly defined entertainment format. The station has been characterized as independent and nationalist, and reference material states that its funding came directly and solely from its chief executive. The available sources do not establish a founding year, incorporation details, or a complete ownership history. The broadcaster's principal editorial concern has been the political and social condition of Iraq. It has frequently been critical of the United States presence in the country. Former Director General Hussein Shaaban described the U.S. occupation as humiliating to Iraq, while the station's chief executive argued that Iraqi democracy should be built by Iraqis rather than imposed through external force. The station's live morning program, Al-Baghdadia Wa El Nas, became an important expression of this approach. The show allows members of the public to offer opinions and communicate messages to government authorities, giving the channel a participatory and civic-oriented dimension. Al-Baghdadia's work took place amid extreme danger for Iraqi journalists. On 16 January 2006, cameraman Luaay Salam Radeef was murdered. In April 2006, correspondent So'oud Muzahim al-Shoumari was found dead in Baghdad's southern Doura district. Other reporting identifies the correspondent as So'oud Mukahim Al-Shoumari or So'oud Mukahim al-Hadithi and states that he had been abducted, tortured, and shot. On 24 September 2007, Jawad Al-Daami, a well-known poet and line producer responsible for cultural and social programming, was shot in the head and killed in Baghdad's Al-Qadissiya neighborhood. These cases illustrate the risks faced by the station's personnel during the insurgency and form a central part of its institutional history. Reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi joined Al-Baghdadia in September 2005. His reporting focused on the effects of occupation and conflict on vulnerable Iraqis, including widows, orphans, and children. He was kidnapped in Baghdad on 16 November 2007 while on assignment for the station and released three days later without reported harm or ransom payment. On 14 December 2008, he gained international notoriety after throwing two shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush during a Baghdad press conference and shouting a denunciation of the president. Al-Zaidi's brother Dhirgham, who sometimes worked as his cameraman, described his reporting as opposed to the occupation and noted that he sometimes signed off from occupied Baghdad. The station responded to al-Zaidi's imprisonment by demanding his release and arranging for Dheyaa al-Saadi, president of the Union of Lawyers in Iraq, to defend him. International commentary criticized the broadcaster for publicly supporting the reporter rather than apologizing or disciplining him. The episode nevertheless reinforced Al-Baghdadia's image as a channel willing to give prominent space to anti-occupation and nationalist viewpoints. In 2012, Al-Baghdadia Media Group expanded its portfolio by launching B2, also called Al Baghdadia 2. The second channel concentrated on series, drama, films, and entertainment, providing a contrast to the flagship service's news, public-affairs, and social programming. Reference material describes B2 as an entertainment channel in Iraq and records satellite distribution through Nilesat. The flagship channel was also described as available through Hot Bird and Nilesat, although the supplied sources do not verify present frequencies, carriage, audience size, or whether all cited services remain active. The current corporate structure, leadership status, and operating condition of the channels therefore require further verification.

• 2012

  B2 launches

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  Al-Baghdadia Media Group launched B2, a second channel focused mainly on series, drama, films, and entertainment.

• 2008

  Al-Zaidi throws shoes at George W. Bush

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  At a Baghdad press conference on 14 December, Al-Baghdadia reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at the U.S. president, creating worldwide attention.

• 2007

  Muntadhar al-Zaidi is kidnapped and released

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  The reporter was abducted in Baghdad while on assignment and released on 19 November without reported harm or ransom payment.

• 2007

  Jawad Al-Daami is murdered

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  Line producer and poet Jawad Al-Daami was shot and killed in Baghdad on 24 September.

• 2006

  Luaay Salam Radeef is murdered

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  Cameraman Luaay Salam Radeef was killed on 16 January during the period of insurgency-related violence against Iraqi media workers.

• 2006

  Correspondent So'oud al-Shoumari is killed

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  Al-Baghdadia correspondent So'oud Muzahim al-Shoumari was reported abducted, tortured, and killed in Baghdad.

• 2005

  Muntadhar al-Zaidi joins the station

  [1]Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org

  Reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi joined Al-Baghdadia and later became internationally associated with the channel through his conflict reporting and political protest.

An independent Iraqi-oriented Arabic satellite broadcaster combining news, public discussion, social programming, and entertainment, with a nationalist perspective and an emphasis on Iraqi public voices.

• Arabic-language satellite television channel

  Al-Baghdadia TV

  The flagship service is a general Arabic-language satellite channel oriented toward Iraqi news, current affairs, social issues, public discussion, and general entertainment. Its public identity is strongly associated with Iraqi nationalism, criticism of the U.S. presence in Iraq, and programming that gives ordinary Iraqis a direct platform to comment on public affairs.

• Live morning public-affairs program

  Al-Baghdadia Wa El Nas

  A live morning show built around audience participation. Viewers can express their opinions and send messages to government bodies, making the program a civic and public-discussion format rather than a conventional studio news bulletin.

• Entertainment television channel · 2012

  B2 / Al Baghdadia 2

  The group's second channel, launched in 2012, was designed primarily for entertainment. Its described programming mix includes television series, drama, films, and related general-entertainment content, complementing the flagship station's stronger news and public-affairs role.

• 2012

  Launch of B2 entertainment channelProduct launch

  Background

  The group sought to expand beyond the flagship channel's news, public-affairs, and social programming.

  Action taken

  Al-Baghdadia Media Group launched B2, focusing mainly on series, drama, films, and entertainment programming.

  Aftermath

  The launch broadened the group's television portfolio and gave it a dedicated entertainment service in addition to its flagship Iraqi-oriented broadcaster.

  Source

• 2008

  Support for Muntadhar al-Zaidi after the Bush shoe-throwing incidentOther

  Background

  Al-Baghdadia reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi was imprisoned after throwing his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush during a Baghdad press conference.

  Action taken

  The station demanded al-Zaidi's release and appointed Iraqi lawyer Dheyaa al-Saadi to defend him. It continued to present the case publicly rather than announcing disciplinary action against the reporter.

  Aftermath

  The response reinforced the station's anti-occupation and nationalist image but attracted criticism from international commentary for not apologizing or disciplining al-Zaidi.

  Source

1. 1Al-Baghdadia TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Al-Baghdadia TV official websitealbaghdadiatv.com