Khabar Agency
A major Kazakh media organization operating television, radio, news, entertainment, sports, cultural, and international satellite channels.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Khabar Agency is a major Kazakh media organization founded in 1995. It began as the National Television News Agency and adopted the name Khabar, a Kazakh word meaning “news.” The organization developed into one of Kazakhstan’s largest broadcasting networks, with programming distributed through television, radio, and satellite services. Its principal output has included daily news, current affairs, entertainment, sports, cultural programming, documentaries, and film content. Khabar’s services have operated primarily in Kazakh and Russian, with some English-language programming. The organization’s principal television service, Khabar TV, developed from trial broadcasts in 1994 into regular nationwide broadcasting in 1995. Khabar also operates or has operated specialist services, including Khabar Radio, the 24-hour news channel now known as Khabar 24, the film and entertainment service El Arna, and the international satellite channel Jibek Joly TV. The international satellite service began in 2002 under the name CaspioNet. It was subsequently branded Kazakh TV, then Qazaq TV, and finally Jibek Joly TV in 2022. Its potential reach across Europe and Asia gives Khabar a role in presenting Kazakh news and cultural content to audiences outside the country. Khabar’s institutional position has been closely connected with Kazakhstan’s political and media environment. Dariga Nazarbayeva, daughter of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, founded and controlled the organization during its early period. She formally left the chairmanship in 2004 while pursuing parliamentary politics, although contemporary reporting continued to associate her and her family with the agency. In 2006, the government announced plans to bring the company under complete state control, and Maulen Ashimbaev became chairman in May of that year. The supplied reference material records that the state held 50% plus one share at that time. Because Khabar has been a prominent national broadcaster, its election coverage has attracted political criticism. Observers and critics have alleged that its reporting gave disproportionate attention to pro-presidential parties, including Otan and Asar. The 2004 election coverage was cited as an example, with approximately half of the reported coverage devoted to Asar. These criticisms form part of broader debates about media independence and state influence in Kazakhstan. Khabar has also pursued an international and professional-development role. It annually hosts the Eurasian Media Forum, an event intended to bring journalists and political figures together and encourage discussion of Eurasian affairs. Since 1 January 2016, the organization has been an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union. On 29 March 2022, Berik Uali, a former presidential press secretary, was appointed chairman of the board of Khabar News Agency JSC. The organization’s channel portfolio has changed over time. El Arna, initially launched in 2000 as Khabar 2, was renamed in 2002 and later closed in 2014 because of financial difficulties. It returned in 2017 as a cable and satellite film channel focused on domestic films, television series, documentaries, and short films. The supplied reference states that El Arna closed on 1 May 2025 and subsequently merged with Khabar TV. Khabar remains an active Kazakh broadcasting brand, although detailed current corporate ownership and the relationship between the supplied website and the canonical Wikipedia subject require verification.
History
Khabar Agency was established in Kazakhstan in 1995, initially operating as the National Television News Agency. The name Khabar, meaning “news” in Kazakh, became the organization’s public identity as it expanded into a national broadcasting network. Its television service conducted trial broadcasts in 1994 and began regular programming in 1995. Khabar TV became a nationwide channel carrying news, entertainment, sports, and other general-interest programming, replacing the Alatau service previously associated with Kazakhstan’s state radio and television corporation. Radio broadcasting formed another early part of the organization’s portfolio. Khabar Radio has broadcast general programming in Kazakh and Russian since 1995. The agency later developed specialist and secondary television services. Khabar 2 was launched in 2000, renamed El Arna in 2002, and subsequently relaunched in different forms. Financial difficulties led to its closure in 2014, although El Arna returned in March 2017 as a cable and satellite film channel. Its later programming emphasized local films, television series, documentaries, and short films. According to the supplied reference material, El Arna closed on 1 May 2025 and merged with Khabar TV. Khabar’s international broadcasting activity expanded with the launch of CaspioNet on 25 October 2002. The service was later renamed Kazakh TV in 2012, Qazaq TV in 2020, and Jibek Joly TV in September 2022. The satellite channel has been positioned to reach audiences across Europe and Asia and has carried Kazakh, Russian, and English-language programming. Khabar 24, previously known as 24KZ, began in 2014 after taking over frequencies formerly used by El Arna’s predecessor, while the education and culture service Bilim jäne Mädenïet merged with Kazakh TV in October 2016. The organization’s ownership and governance have been politically sensitive. Dariga Nazarbayeva founded and controlled Khabar during its formative years. She formally stepped down as chairwoman in 2004 while seeking parliamentary office. Contemporary accounts nevertheless continued to associate her and her husband, Rakhat Aliyev, with the company and with other media assets. Both the extent and structure of that relationship were disputed. In April 2006, Kazakhstan’s information and culture minister announced an intention to place the joint-stock company under full state control. On 5 May 2006, Maulen Ashimbaev was named chairman, and the state was reported to hold 50% plus one share. Khabar’s political role has also generated criticism. As one of Kazakhstan’s most prominent media outlets, it has been scrutinized during elections. Critics argued that its coverage favored pro-presidential forces, including Otan, later known as Amanat, and Asar, the short-lived party associated with Dariga Nazarbayeva. Coverage of the 2004 elections was cited as particularly unbalanced, with roughly half of Khabar’s election reporting devoted to Asar. These allegations reflect wider concerns about the independence of Kazakhstan’s broadcast media rather than a single adjudicated event. Beyond broadcasting, Khabar has hosted the Eurasian Media Forum each year. The forum seeks to convene journalists and political figures, encourage professional development, and improve international understanding of Eurasian issues. The agency became an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January 2016. On 29 March 2022, Berik Uali, a former presidential press secretary, was appointed chairman of the board. Khabar is therefore both a media business and an institution embedded in Kazakhstan’s national communications and political environment. Its current corporate structure, present leadership beyond the 2022 appointment, and relationship to the supplied website should be independently verified.
- 2025
El Arna closes and merges with Khabar TV
[1]The supplied reference states that El Arna closed on 1 May and subsequently merged with Khabar TV.
- 2022
Jibek Joly TV rebrand
[1]The international satellite channel adopted the Jibek Joly TV name on 1 September.
- 2022
Berik Uali appointed board chairman
[1]Berik Uali was appointed chairman of the board of Khabar News Agency JSC on 29 March.
- 2017
El Arna returns as a film channel
[1]El Arna re-emerged on cable and satellite with a schedule centered on local films, series, documentaries, and short films.
- 2016
EBU associate membership begins
[1]Khabar became an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January.
- 2014
Khabar 24 begins and El Arna closes
[1]The news channel Khabar 24 began operations, while El Arna’s predecessor service closed amid financial difficulties.
- 2006
State-control plans announced
[1]The government announced an intention to obtain complete state control of the Khabar joint-stock company; Maulen Ashimbaev became chairman in May.
- 2004
Nazarbayeva leaves the chairmanship
[1]Founder Dariga Nazarbayeva formally stepped down as chairwoman while pursuing a parliamentary political career.
- 2002
CaspioNet satellite channel launched
[1]Khabar launched an international satellite service, later known through the Kazakh TV, Qazaq TV, and Jibek Joly TV brands.
- 2000
Khabar 2 launched
[1]A secondary television service was introduced under the Khabar 2 name.
Products and positioning
A major national Kazakh broadcaster combining public-facing news, entertainment, sports, cultural programming, radio, and international satellite distribution.
National television channel · 1995
Khabar TV
Khabar TV is the organization’s principal nationwide television service. It carries a broad schedule combining news, current affairs, entertainment, sports, and general-interest programming. The service developed from trial broadcasts in 1994 and regular broadcasting in 1995.
Radio broadcasting · 1995
Khabar Radio
Khabar Radio provides general radio programming primarily in Kazakh and Russian. It has been part of the agency’s broadcasting activities since 1995.
News television channel · 2014
Khabar 24
Khabar 24 is a dedicated news channel formerly known as 24KZ. It began in 2014 and took over frequencies previously associated with El Arna’s earlier service.
International satellite television · 2002
Jibek Joly TV
Jibek Joly TV is Khabar’s international satellite service. Launched as CaspioNet in 2002, it passed through the Kazakh TV and Qazaq TV names before adopting its current identity in 2022. Its programming has included Kazakh, Russian, and English-language content.
Film and entertainment television · 2000
El Arna
El Arna originated as Khabar 2 in 2000 and was renamed in 2002. After a closure in 2014 and a relaunch in 2017, it operated as a cable and satellite film channel featuring local films, television series, documentaries, and short films. The supplied reference states that it closed in 2025 and merged with Khabar TV.
Marketing campaigns
- Eurasian Media Forum
Kazakhstan · Eurasia
Khabar annually hosts the Eurasian Media Forum, bringing journalists and political figures together for professional exchange and discussion of Eurasian media and regional issues.
Outcome. The forum became a recurring media-industry and public-affairs event associated with Khabar.
Brand decisions
2025
El Arna merger with Khabar TVStrategyBackground
The supplied reference states that El Arna ceased broadcasting on 1 May 2025.
Action taken
El Arna was closed and subsequently merged with Khabar TV.
Aftermath
The film and entertainment service no longer operated as a separate channel according to the supplied reference.
2022
Rebranding of the international satellite channelGeneration changeBackground
The international service had already used several identities since its launch as CaspioNet in 2002.
Action taken
Qazaq TV was rebranded as Jibek Joly TV on 1 September 2022.
Aftermath
The service continued as Khabar’s internationally oriented satellite channel under the Jibek Joly TV name.
2014
Launch of Khabar 24Product launchBackground
Khabar expanded its news offering as a dedicated news channel while El Arna’s earlier service was shut down.
Action taken
The organization launched Khabar 24, formerly known as 24KZ, using frequencies previously associated with El Arna.
Aftermath
Khabar 24 became the agency’s specialist news service.
2006
Move toward greater state controlStrategyBackground
The government announced plans to obtain complete state control over Khabar amid broader calls for stronger government control of the media.
Action taken
Maulen Ashimbaev was appointed chairman, and the state was reported to hold 50% plus one share.
Aftermath
The supplied sources do not establish whether full state ownership was ultimately completed or describe the later ownership structure.
Recent events
- 2025
El Arna closes and merges with Khabar TV[1]
Other
The supplied reference states that El Arna ceased operations on 1 May 2025 and was subsequently merged with Khabar TV.
- 2022
Berik Uali appointed chairman of Khabar News Agency[1]
Leadership change
Berik Uali, previously a press secretary to the president of Kazakhstan, was appointed chairman of the board of Khabar News Agency JSC on 29 March 2022.
- 2022
Jibek Joly TV adopts its current name[1]
Product generation
The satellite service formerly known through several earlier names, including CaspioNet, Kazakh TV, and Qazaq TV, was rebranded Jibek Joly TV on 1 September 2022.
- 2016
Khabar becomes an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union[1]
Other
Khabar Agency entered associate membership of the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January 2016, strengthening its institutional connection with the wider European broadcasting community.
Sources1 sources
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