ARB Günəş

ARB Günəş is an Azerbaijani children's television channel owned and operated by ARB Media Group. The channel primarily broadcasts animated series, children's films, and educational programming, with Azerbaijani-language dubbing and presentation forming an important part of its service. Its terrestrial distribution is concentrated in northern Azerbaijan, while satellite and cable availability gives it broader national reach. The channel originated as Günəş TV. The National Television and Radio Council granted the service a six-year broadcasting licence in 2011, and transmissions began in April 2015. It was presented as Azerbaijan's first dedicated children's television channel. The service initially broadcast for sixteen hours each day and expanded to a full twenty-four-hour schedule on 1 June 2015. Its launch followed the replacement of Qutb TV, a former regional channel headquartered in Quba that had operated since 1995. Günəş TV initially broadcast from Quba and was associated with the Region TV network. From the beginning, the channel combined internationally known animated properties with Azerbaijani-language versions intended for local children and families. Its programme catalogue has included titles such as Tom and Jerry, SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, The Smurfs, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, The Lion Guard, Shaun the Sheep, Super Wings, Robocar Poli, KikoRiki, Molang, Bernard, and 44 Cats. The schedule has also included educational and family-oriented material, alongside animated films and series from a range of international producers. The service was rebranded as ARB Günəş on 19 September 2016, as part of a wider adoption of the ARB identity by channels associated with the group. The new name linked the children's service to the broader ARB television portfolio while retaining the Azerbaijani word Günəş, meaning “sun.” The channel is based in Khachmaz, where it operates alongside ARB Shimal. Its terrestrial signal remains regional, primarily serving northern parts of Azerbaijan, but it has also been distributed by satellite, including through Azerspace-1, and by cable systems. A significant development came in September 2018, when ARB Günəş opened its own dubbing studio. The studio enabled the channel to translate and voice a substantial number of cartoons and animated films into Azerbaijani, strengthening its role as a localized children's media service rather than simply a retransmitter of imported programming. The channel has also maintained international connections, including a September 2021 agreement with the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation under which two films were broadcast. ARB Günəş briefly suspended regular operations in March 2019, displaying limited commercial material while describing the interruption as having “gone to sleep.” The interruption lasted from 4 to 9 March. In July 2024, Azerbaijan's Audiovisual Council accused the channel of transmitting television series without the necessary rights and called for a temporary cessation of transmissions. The council's action was scheduled for three hours on 11 July 2024. Despite these interruptions and regulatory scrutiny, ARB Günəş remains positioned as a regional Azerbaijani children's channel with national satellite and cable availability.

ARB Günəş developed from a regional Azerbaijani television project known as Günəş TV. The National Television and Radio Council granted the service a six-year broadcasting licence in 2011. The channel began transmissions in April 2015 and was described as Azerbaijan's first children's television channel. Its launch filled a space in the national television market for a dedicated service aimed primarily at children, using animated entertainment and educational material in Azerbaijani. The new channel replaced Qutb TV, a former regional station headquartered in Quba that had operated since 1995. Günəş TV initially broadcast for sixteen hours each day. On 1 June 2015, it expanded to a twenty-four-hour schedule. Its terrestrial distribution was limited to northern areas of Azerbaijan, reflecting its regional broadcasting authorization, but the channel also used satellite distribution through Azerspace-1 from the launch period. Cable carriage further enabled viewers outside the terrestrial coverage area to access the service. The service originally broadcast from Quba and formed part of the Region TV network. In 2016, it became part of the wider ARB branding system. On 19 September 2016, Günəş TV was renamed ARB Günəş, while related channels also adopted ARB-branded names. The rebrand connected the children's channel with ARB Media Group without changing its central focus on children's programming. The service is now headquartered in Khachmaz, where it operates from the same base as ARB Shimal. The channel's output has centered on animated series and films from international studios and distributors. Its catalogue has included established franchises such as Tom and Jerry, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Smurfs, PAW Patrol, Kung Fu Panda, The Lion Guard, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and Shaun the Sheep, as well as European, Russian, Asian, and other international children's productions. The channel has also carried educational and family-oriented programmes, creating a schedule that combines entertainment with material intended for younger viewers. Localization became more prominent in September 2018, when ARB Günəş opened its own dubbing studio. The studio translated and voiced dozens of cartoons and animated films into Azerbaijani. This expanded the channel's capacity to provide locally understandable content and helped distinguish it from services that merely retransmit foreign-language programming. Azerbaijani titles and voiceovers became a recurring feature of the channel's presentation and programme catalogue. ARB Günəş experienced a short interruption in March 2019. Regular broadcasting stopped from 4 March until 9 March, with the channel showing a limited amount of commercial material and stating that it had temporarily “gone to sleep.” The reasons for the interruption were not publicly established in the available reference material. In September 2021, the channel entered into an agreement with the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation, under which two films were shown on ARB Günəş. The channel has also faced regulatory scrutiny. In July 2024, Azerbaijan's Audiovisual Council alleged that ARB Günəş had broadcast television series without the necessary rights. The council called for a three-hour suspension of transmissions on 11 July 2024. The allegation and regulatory action form part of the documented public history of the channel, although the available material does not provide a fuller account of the rights dispute or its subsequent resolution. ARB Günəş otherwise remains an active Azerbaijani children's channel, headquartered in Khachmaz and available through regional terrestrial broadcasting, satellite, and cable distribution.

• 2024

  Regulatory suspension ordered

  [1]ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org

  The Audiovisual Council called for a three-hour transmission suspension following allegations concerning unauthorized television series.

• 2021

  Korean programming agreement

  [1]ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org

  The channel signed an agreement with the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation and broadcast two films under the arrangement.

• 2018

  In-house dubbing studio opens

  [1]ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org

  ARB Günəş established a studio for Azerbaijani dubbing of cartoons and animated films.

• 2016

  Rebrand to ARB Günəş

  [1]ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org

  Günəş TV adopted the ARB Günəş name as part of the rebranding of the associated channel network.

• 2015

  Günəş TV launches

  [1]ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org

  The children's channel began transmissions in April 2015, initially with a sixteen-hour daily schedule, and expanded to twenty-four-hour broadcasting in June.

• 2011

  Broadcasting licence granted

  [1]ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org

  The National Television and Radio Council granted Günəş TV a six-year licence to broadcast.

A localized Azerbaijani children's television service combining animated entertainment, educational programming, and Azerbaijani-language dubbing. Its terrestrial footprint is strongest in northern Azerbaijan, while satellite and cable distribution extend its availability nationally.

• Children's television channel · 2015

  ARB Günəş television channel

  The core ARB Günəş service is a children's television channel carrying animated series, animated films, educational material, and family-oriented programming. The schedule includes Azerbaijani-language versions of international productions as well as programming presented for local audiences. Terrestrial broadcasting is concentrated in northern Azerbaijan, while satellite and cable distribution provide wider national access.

• Localization and dubbing · 2018

  Azerbaijani dubbing service

  Opened in 2018, ARB Günəş's in-house dubbing studio translates and voices cartoons and animated films into Azerbaijani. The facility supports the channel's localization strategy and has enabled dozens of imported children's titles to be adapted for Azerbaijani-speaking viewers.

• 2024

  Alleged unauthorized broadcasting

  The Audiovisual Council accused ARB Günəş of broadcasting television series without proper rights and called for a three-hour suspension of transmissions on 11 July 2024.

  Source

Read more

• 2018

  Expansion into in-house content localizationStrategy

  Background

  The channel relied substantially on international animated programming and needed Azerbaijani-language versions for its local audience.

  Action taken

  ARB Günəş opened an internal dubbing studio and began translating and voicing cartoons and animated films.

  Aftermath

  The channel increased its capacity to provide localized Azerbaijani programming and subsequently translated dozens of titles.

  Source

• 2016

  Adoption of the ARB Günəş brandStrategy

  Background

  The channel was part of a group of related services undergoing a common ARB identity change.

  Action taken

  Günəş TV was renamed ARB Günəş on 19 September 2016.

  Aftermath

  The children's service became more visibly integrated into the ARB Media Group portfolio while retaining its children's programming focus.

  Source

• 2015

  Launch of a dedicated children's channelProduct launch

  Background

  Azerbaijan's television market had a regional broadcasting infrastructure, including the former Qutb TV service, but lacked a dedicated children's channel according to the channel's documented launch description.

  Action taken

  Günəş TV began broadcasting in April 2015 and initially operated for sixteen hours daily before moving to a continuous twenty-four-hour schedule.

  Aftermath

  The service established the brand that later became ARB Günəş and expanded its availability through satellite and cable distribution.

  Source

1. 1ARB Günəşen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ARB Günəş official websitegunesh.arbtv.az