Roj TV

Roj TV was an international Kurdish-language satellite television station that began broadcasting from Denmark on 1 March 2004. Its programming was directed principally at Kurdish audiences in Europe, Turkey and the Middle East, while also reaching viewers through satellite distribution and, for a period, live internet streaming. The station broadcast in several Kurdish varieties, including Kurmanji, Sorani and Hewrami, and also used Turkish, Zaza, Persian and Arabic. A limited English news bulletin and occasional subtitled films broadened its accessibility. The channel emerged from a sequence of Kurdish-oriented satellite broadcasters that had operated from Europe after Kurdish-language media faced extensive restrictions in Turkey. Its predecessors included MED TV, whose United Kingdom licence was revoked in 1999, and MEDYA TV, whose French licence was revoked in 2004 after French authorities concluded that it was connected to MED TV and the Kurdistan Workers' Party, commonly known as the PKK. Roj TV was presented as the successor channel and established its principal broadcasting operation in Denmark, with production and office facilities in Belgium and, at various times, Germany. Roj TV's schedule combined news, political discussion, cultural programmes, Kurdish music, occasional films, children's and educational content, and general entertainment. Its political coverage and cultural output made it an important media outlet for Kurdish communities, particularly in a period when Kurdish broadcasting in Turkey was becoming less restricted but remained politically sensitive. The station's existence also reflected a broader shift from European satellite broadcasting toward domestically licensed Kurdish-language services, including Turkey's TRT 6, launched in 2009. The channel was persistently controversial. Turkish authorities alleged that Roj TV functioned as a media arm or mouthpiece of the PKK, which Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union classify as a terrorist organization. Roj TV's management acknowledged contact with the PKK but described the station as an independent Kurdish broadcaster rather than an organization controlled by the group. Denmark's Radio and Television Board repeatedly considered complaints from Turkish authorities and did not uphold them under the rules within its regulatory jurisdiction. The dispute produced regulatory and legal action in several European countries. Germany banned Roj TV from operating offices and production facilities on its territory in 2008, although a German court temporarily suspended the ban in 2010. European Union litigation later distinguished between Germany's ability to restrict the station's domestic presence and its ability to block broadcasts originating from another member state. Belgian police raided locations associated with the channel in March 2010 as part of an investigation into alleged recruitment activities, temporarily disrupting programming. In August 2010, Danish prosecutors indicted the channel under anti-terrorism legislation for allegedly promoting PKK activities. On 10 January 2012, a Danish court convicted the owners and imposed a fine of DKK 5.2 million for promoting terrorism. Roj TV remained a politically significant broadcaster during the proceedings, but its operations did not continue as a durable standalone service. A later Kurdish-oriented channel, Stêrk TV, emerged after Roj TV's decline and reported on Kurdish political and cultural affairs.

Roj TV developed within the European Kurdish satellite-television network created during a period when Kurdish-language broadcasting was heavily restricted in Turkey. MED TV began transmitting from London but lost its British licence in 1999 after regulators found that its broadcasts were likely to encourage crime or disorder and had breached impartiality requirements. MEDYA TV subsequently operated from Belgium using a French satellite uplink. French authorities revoked its licence in February 2004 after determining that it was the successor to MED TV and had links to the PKK. Following the loss of MEDYA TV's licence, announcements stated that a new channel called Roj TV would begin broadcasting. Roj TV started transmissions from Denmark on 1 March 2004. The Danish base gave the station access to a European regulatory environment while allowing it to serve audiences that could not easily receive Kurdish-language television from within Turkey. The station also maintained facilities in Belgium and, at different times, production operations in Germany. Its output covered news, political debate, Kurdish music, cultural affairs, films, education, children's programmes and entertainment. The channel used Kurmanji, Sorani and Hewrami, as well as Turkish, Zaza, Persian and Arabic. This multilingual approach reflected the linguistic diversity of Kurdish communities and the broader population of the region. Satellite distribution initially included Hotbird and later Eurobird 9A and HellasSat 2; the service was also available through the internet before its online transmission ended. Roj TV's political importance increased as Kurdish-language media in Turkey moved gradually from prohibition toward limited official recognition. Turkey's TRT began carrying a restricted Kurdish programme in 2004 and launched the full-time TRT 6 channel in 2009. Turkish officials described TRT 6 in part as a response to what they regarded as PKK-linked broadcasting by Roj TV. Turkish governments repeatedly complained to Denmark and sought revocation of the station's licence. Denmark's broadcasting regulator did not uphold those complaints under the applicable broadcasting rules, and Danish officials presented the issue as involving press freedom and regulatory jurisdiction. The station nevertheless faced direct restrictions elsewhere. Germany banned Roj TV in June 2008 and dissolved its production company. The ban generated Kurdish protests and became the subject of litigation. European Union judicial proceedings ultimately held that Germany could restrict Roj TV's offices and production activity in Germany but could not prevent broadcasts entering Germany from another country solely on that basis. A German court temporarily lifted the ban in February 2010 while the broader legal questions were being considered. Belgian police raids in March 2010 temporarily interrupted the channel. Belgian prosecutors linked the searches to allegations that Kurdish youths were being recruited in a coordinated manner through networks associated with the station. In Denmark, the attorney general indicted Roj TV in August 2010 under provisions concerning the promotion of terrorist activity. The proceedings concluded in January 2012 when a Danish court convicted the owners and ordered a DKK 5.2 million fine. The judgment did not immediately eliminate the channel's ability to broadcast, and the station signed a new agreement with Intelsat later that month. Roj TV subsequently declined as a standalone broadcaster. Stêrk TV appeared soon afterward as another Kurdish television service covering Kurdish cultural and political developments. The available reference material does not establish a precise formal closure date for Roj TV, but the brand is treated as defunct rather than active.

• 2012

  Danish conviction and Intelsat agreement

  [1]Roj TVen.wikipedia.org

  A Danish court convicted the station's owners of promoting terrorism and imposed a DKK 5.2 million fine. Roj TV later signed a broadcasting agreement with Intelsat.

• 2010

  Belgian raids and Danish indictment

  [1]Roj TVen.wikipedia.org

  Belgian police searched Roj TV-related locations, while Danish prosecutors indicted the channel under anti-terrorism legislation.

• 2008

  Germany prohibits domestic operations

  [1]Roj TVen.wikipedia.org

  Germany banned Roj TV from operating offices and production facilities in the country, citing alleged PKK connections.

• 2004

  Roj TV begins broadcasting

  [1]Roj TVen.wikipedia.org

  Roj TV commenced transmissions from Denmark on 1 March, following the revocation of MEDYA TV's French licence.

• 1999

  MED TV loses its British licence

  [1]Roj TVen.wikipedia.org

  The principal predecessor of Roj TV lost its United Kingdom broadcasting licence after regulatory findings concerning impartiality and the likelihood that broadcasts could encourage crime or disorder.

An international Kurdish-language broadcaster serving Kurdish communities across Europe and the Middle East, combining news, political discussion and cultural programming.

• International television channel · 2004

  Roj TV satellite service

  The core Roj TV offering was a Kurdish-oriented international satellite channel transmitted from Denmark to Europe and the Middle East. Its schedule combined news, political discussion, cultural affairs, Kurdish music, occasional films, educational and children's programming, and general entertainment. Distribution used multiple satellite platforms over time and was supplemented by internet livestreaming.

• News and current affairs · 2004

  Roj TV news and political programming

  News bulletins and political discussion programmes formed a central part of the channel's identity. Coverage was primarily delivered in Kurdish dialects, with additional Turkish and other regional-language programming. A short weekly English bulletin was also broadcast for international viewers.

• 2012

  Danish terrorism-promotion conviction

  A Danish court found Roj TV's owners guilty of promoting terrorism and ordered payment of a DKK 5.2 million fine. Prosecutors had argued that the station was financed and controlled by the PKK.

  Source

• 2010

  Belgian investigation and raids

  Belgian authorities raided several locations associated with Roj TV while investigating allegations that Kurdish youths were being recruited in an organized manner. The station's programming was temporarily disrupted.

  Source

• 2008

  German ban over alleged PKK links

  Germany banned Roj TV's domestic operations and dissolved its Wuppertal production company after classifying the channel as connected to the PKK. The restriction became the subject of legal challenges and later European judicial proceedings.

  Source

Read more

• 2012

  Secure a new satellite distribution agreementOther

  Background

  Roj TV faced legal pressure in Denmark and restrictions on its domestic operations in Germany.

  Action taken

  The station signed a broadcasting agreement with Intelsat on 26 January.

  Aftermath

  The agreement supported continued satellite distribution during the period immediately following the Danish court judgment.

  Source

• 2004

  Launch a Denmark-based successor channelStrategy

  Background

  The earlier MED TV and MEDYA TV services had lost their broadcasting licences in the United Kingdom and France.

  Action taken

  Roj TV began broadcasting from Denmark with a multilingual Kurdish-focused schedule.

  Aftermath

  The new station became a prominent European satellite outlet for Kurdish news and cultural programming, while also attracting sustained political and regulatory opposition.

  Source

1. 1Roj TVen.wikipedia.org