Kəpəz TV
A privately owned Azerbaijani regional television channel serving northwestern Azerbaijan.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Kəpəz TV, commonly rendered in English as Kapaz TV, is a privately owned regional terrestrial television channel based in Ganja, Azerbaijan. It serves northwestern Azerbaijan, particularly the Ganja-Dashkasan and Gazakh-Tovuz economic regions. The channel takes its name from Mount Kapaz, a prominent mountain associated with the region, and has positioned itself as a local broadcaster with programming focused on news, public affairs, culture, entertainment, education, and community life. The channel was established in Ganja on 14 July 1993, during the early development of private broadcasting in post-Soviet Azerbaijan. Its broadcasts began on 6 May 1994, making it the first privately owned regional television channel in Azerbaijan according to the referenced account. From its Ganja base, Kəpəz TV developed a schedule intended for audiences outside the country's principal national media centers, combining locally produced programs with acquired films, documentaries, cartoons, and other general-interest material. A significant programming development took place in February 2007, when the channel began dubbing content into Azerbaijani. A dubbing studio was established in Baku, and by May of that year the broadcaster had reportedly dubbed approximately 80 feature and documentary films and cartoons. The initiative responded to a legal and regulatory requirement that local programming be presented in Azerbaijani, a requirement scheduled to take effect the following year. This activity expanded the channel's role beyond regional news production and gave it a larger Azerbaijani-language entertainment and film catalogue. Kəpəz TV experienced several organizational and technical changes during the 2000s and 2010s. In June 2008, allegations emerged that ownership had been taken from Rufat Asgarov under pressure from government representatives. The allegation was denied by the incoming owner, Fuad Jabbarov, who said that Asgarov had sold the channel voluntarily; Asgarov's father also denied that the transfer had been forced. The ownership dispute remains part of the channel's public history, although the available reference material does not establish an official finding resolving the competing accounts. The broadcaster launched its website on 4 June 2009. In September 2012 it moved into a new headquarters building described as the largest television building in northwestern Azerbaijan. Its media presence broadened further when the related Kapaz FM radio service began operating on 5 February 2013, followed by the release of an Android application in November 2013. In May 2014, Kəpəz TV joined five other regional television stations in forming the Region TV network. The network's broadcast center operated from the same base as Kəpəz TV, and during this period the channel expanded its schedule from 18 hours per day to 24 hours. On 19 September 2016, it adopted the ARB branding and became ARB Kapaz as part of ARB Media Group. After leaving the group, the station restored the Kəpəz TV name on 4 March 2019. The channel has produced more than one hundred historical feature documentaries and has received multiple awards for that work, although the available material does not identify the individual awards or dates. Its listed programs include news, morning television, cultural and literary programming, children's content, education-related shows, human-interest features, and patriotic or regional programming. On 11 October 2022, the Audiovisual Council granted Kəpəz TV a license to broadcast by satellite, extending its authorized distribution beyond its traditional regional terrestrial role.
History
Kəpəz TV was founded in Ganja on 14 July 1993, and began broadcasting on 6 May 1994. Its launch made it, according to the referenced account, the first privately owned regional television channel in Azerbaijan. The station was created to serve audiences in and around Ganja and the wider northwestern part of the country, rather than operating primarily as a national broadcaster from Baku. During its early development, the channel built a general-interest schedule containing regional news, cultural programming, entertainment, educational material, and acquired audiovisual content. In February 2007 it began dubbing material into Azerbaijani. The work was supported by a dubbing studio in Baku, and by May 2007 approximately 80 films, documentaries, and cartoons had reportedly been processed. This initiative was connected with the requirement that local programming be in Azerbaijani, which was due to take effect the following year. The station became the subject of an ownership controversy in June 2008. Allegations stated that Rufat Asgarov had been pressured by government representatives to surrender ownership. The reported new owner, Fuad Jabbarov, denied the claim and said that Asgarov had completed a voluntary sale. Asgarov's father likewise denied that the transfer had been forced. The available reference does not provide a definitive independent resolution of the competing accounts. Kəpəz TV launched its website on 4 June 2009. In September 2012 it moved into a new building in Ganja, described in the source as the largest television building in northwestern Azerbaijan. The organization also expanded into radio: its sister service, Kapaz FM, began operations on 5 February 2013. Later that year, in November, the television station introduced an Android application. A major networking phase followed in 2014. In May, Kəpəz TV became one of six regional stations forming the Region TV network. The network's broadcast center was located at the same base as Kəpəz TV. Around the same period, the channel expanded its daily transmission from 18 hours to a full 24-hour schedule. On 19 September 2016 the channel adopted the ARB identity and operated as ARB Kapaz within ARB Media Group. This affiliation changed the station's public branding but did not erase its regional identity. After leaving ARB Media Group, the broadcaster restored its previous name on 4 March 2019. Kəpəz TV has produced more than one hundred historical feature documentaries and has received multiple awards for this body of work, although the supplied source does not specify the awards. Its programming catalogue includes the news show Kapaz Khabar; the morning program Bu Sabah; literary, cultural, educational, children's, social, and entertainment programs; and shows centered on local identity and public life. Named examples include Adabi Abadiyyat, Ganjam, Dostlar, Hadisa, Kichik Ikhtirachilar, Man Anayam, Maktabdan Qalanlar, Sabahin Asgari, Silinmayan Izlar, Ughur Yolu, and Vatan Namina. On 11 October 2022, the Audiovisual Council granted Kəpəz TV a satellite television broadcasting license. This marked a regulatory expansion of its authorized distribution capabilities beyond its historical terrestrial regional footprint. The supplied references do not establish the channel's current audience size, revenue, employee count, or exact satellite carriage arrangements.
- 2022
Satellite license granted
[1]The Audiovisual Council granted Kəpəz TV a satellite broadcasting license on 11 October 2022.
- 2019
Original name restored
[1]The station returned to the Kəpəz TV name on 4 March 2019 after leaving ARB Media Group.
- 2016
Renamed ARB Kapaz
[1]The station adopted ARB branding on 19 September 2016.
- 2014
Region TV network established
[1]Kəpəz TV joined five other regional broadcasters to form Region TV and moved to 24-hour broadcasting.
- 2013
Kapaz FM and mobile application introduced
[1]Kapaz FM began broadcasting in February, and Kəpəz TV released an Android application in November.
- 2012
New headquarters opened
[1]The broadcaster moved to a new headquarters in September 2012.
- 2009
Website launched
[1]Kəpəz TV launched its website on 4 June 2009.
- 2008
Ownership controversy reported
[1]Conflicting accounts were reported concerning the transfer of the channel's ownership from Rufat Asgarov.
- 2007
Azerbaijani dubbing operation launched
[1]The channel began dubbing films, documentaries, and cartoons into Azerbaijani through a studio established in Baku.
- 1994
Broadcasting begins
[1]The station commenced broadcasts on 6 May 1994 as Azerbaijan's first privately owned regional television channel according to the referenced account.
Products and positioning
A regional Azerbaijani broadcaster combining local news and community programming with national-language entertainment, cultural content, and documentary production.
Television broadcasting · 1994
Regional terrestrial television service
Kəpəz TV's core offering is a regional television service based in Ganja and directed at northwestern Azerbaijan. Its schedule combines local news and public-affairs coverage with cultural, educational, entertainment, children's, and documentary programming. The channel historically served the Ganja-Dashkasan and Gazakh-Tovuz economic regions and expanded to a 24-hour schedule during its Region TV period.
Localization and content production · 2007
Azerbaijani dubbing service
Beginning in 2007, the broadcaster developed an Azerbaijani-language dubbing operation through a studio in Baku. The service localized feature films, documentaries, and cartoons for television distribution and supported compliance with Azerbaijani-language programming requirements.
Radio broadcasting · 2013
Kapaz FM
Kapaz FM is the related radio service associated with the Kəpəz media operation. It began operating in February 2013, extending the broadcaster's regional media presence beyond television.
Documentary production
Historical documentary production
The channel has produced more than one hundred historical feature documentaries. The productions form an important part of its cultural and regional identity, and the broadcaster is reported to have received multiple awards for this work, though the individual awards are not identified in the supplied material.
Controversies
2008
Disputed transfer of ownership
In June 2008, allegations claimed that Rufat Asgarov had lost ownership of Kəpəz TV through pressure from government representatives. Fuad Jabbarov, identified as the new owner, said the channel had been sold voluntarily, and Asgarov's father also rejected the coercion allegation. The supplied reference does not identify a conclusive independent determination.
Brand decisions
2022
Secure satellite broadcasting authorizationOtherBackground
The broadcaster sought authorization for satellite television distribution in addition to its regional terrestrial role.
Action taken
The Audiovisual Council granted Kəpəz TV a satellite broadcasting license on 11 October 2022.
Aftermath
The license expanded the channel's authorized transmission options, although the supplied material does not specify its actual satellite carriage.
2019
Return to the Kəpəz TV brandStrategyBackground
The station departed from ARB Media Group after operating under the ARB Kapaz identity.
Action taken
It reverted to the Kəpəz TV name on 4 March 2019.
Aftermath
The broadcaster resumed its established regional brand identity.
2016
Adopt the ARB Kapaz identityStrategyBackground
Kəpəz TV became associated with ARB Media Group as part of a broader branded regional broadcasting structure.
Action taken
The channel changed its public name to ARB Kapaz on 19 September 2016.
Aftermath
After subsequently leaving ARB Media Group, the broadcaster restored the Kəpəz TV name in March 2019.
2014
Join the Region TV network and adopt round-the-clock broadcastingStrategyBackground
Regional broadcasters sought to cooperate through a shared network while expanding the reach and continuity of their schedules.
Action taken
Kəpəz TV joined the six-station Region TV network and increased its daily broadcast period from 18 hours to 24 hours.
Aftermath
The station operated from the network's broadcast center, which was based at the same location as Kəpəz TV.
2007
Expand Azerbaijani-language dubbingStrategyBackground
The channel needed to provide locally broadcast programming in Azerbaijani in anticipation of a requirement taking effect the following year.
Action taken
Kəpəz TV established a dubbing studio in Baku and began localizing films, documentaries, and cartoons.
Aftermath
By May 2007, approximately 80 items were reported to have been dubbed, increasing the amount of Azerbaijani-language content available on the channel.
Recent events
- 2022
Kəpəz TV receives satellite broadcasting license[1]
Regulation
The Audiovisual Council granted the broadcaster a license to transmit on satellite television.
- 2019
Channel returns to the Kəpəz TV name[1]
Other
Following its departure from ARB Media Group, the broadcaster reverted to the Kəpəz TV name.
- 2016
Kapaz TV adopts ARB branding[1]
Leadership change
The station was renamed ARB Kapaz after adopting the ARB brand and joining ARB Media Group.
- 2014
Regional stations form Region TV network[1]
M&A
Kəpəz TV joined five other regional Azerbaijani stations in creating the Region TV network and subsequently moved from an 18-hour to a 24-hour broadcast schedule.
- 2013
Kapaz FM begins operations[1]
Product launch
The broadcaster's related radio service, Kapaz FM, began operating.
- 2013
Kapaz TV releases Android application[1]
Product launch
The channel launched an Android application, extending its distribution into mobile access.
- 2012
Kapaz TV moves to a new headquarters[1]
Other
The station relocated to a new building in Ganja described as the largest television building in northwestern Azerbaijan.
- 2009
Kapaz TV launches official website[1]
Product launch
The broadcaster launched its website, creating an online access point for its regional television service.
- 2007
Kapaz TV begins Azerbaijani-language dubbing[1]
Other
The channel began dubbing films, documentaries, and cartoons into Azerbaijani after establishing a dubbing studio in Baku.
Sources2 sources
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