Ronahî TV

Ronahî TV is a private Kurdish-language television channel headquartered in Qamishli, Syria. Established in 2012, it is described as the first Kurdish television channel founded by Kurds in Syria. Its programming centers on news, cultural subjects, and issues affecting Kurdish communities in Syria and elsewhere. The channel primarily broadcasts in Kurdish, while also providing content in Arabic and English. The channel operates through the collective work of approximately 250 volunteers. Its reporting presence includes teams in Kobani and Afrin, while its broadcasting infrastructure includes studios in Syria and in several European Union countries. This distributed structure reflects the channel’s role in reporting from areas affected by the Syrian civil war and in serving audiences beyond its principal base in northeastern Syria. Ronahî TV’s public profile has been shaped by both its Kurdish editorial focus and the political sensitivity of broadcasting from the Syrian conflict. In April 2017, satellite operator Eutelsat announced that it intended to remove the channel’s ability to broadcast, citing statements aired by members of the Kurdistan Communities Union and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several Western states. The European Federation of Journalists said that the decision followed pressure from Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council. The episode placed Ronahî TV within wider disputes over Kurdish media, satellite distribution, and the limits imposed on broadcasters operating in a conflict-related political environment. The channel has also experienced direct consequences of the Syrian conflict. Several journalists associated with Ronahî TV were killed or wounded while working in the region. Mustefa Mihemed died from injuries sustained in a mine explosion on 13 July 2016, and Kendal Cudi was injured in the same incident. Zekeriya Şêxo was wounded during the Turkish military operation in Afrin. These incidents illustrate the risks faced by the channel’s field personnel and the difficult conditions under which it produces regional reporting. Ronahî TV’s brand identity is therefore closely connected to Kurdish-language journalism, cultural representation, and conflict-zone reporting. Publicly available reference material does not establish a corporate parent, founder, ownership structure, listed status, or current executive team. Its present operating status and exact distribution footprint should be verified through current official or regulatory sources.

Ronahî TV was established in 2012 in Qamishli, Syria. It is described in reference material as the first Kurdish television channel founded by Kurds in Syria. From its base in northeastern Syria, the channel developed a Kurdish-language broadcasting identity focused on news, cultural programming, and matters concerning Kurdish communities worldwide. The channel’s principal language is Kurdish, supplemented by Arabic and English content. Its production and reporting model relies substantially on volunteer participation, with approximately 250 volunteers identified in available descriptions. Ronahî TV maintains reporting teams in Kobani and Afrin and uses studios located in Syria and in several European Union countries. The combination of local reporting teams and European studios gives the broadcaster a geographically distributed presence, although public reference material does not provide a complete list of facilities, transmission partners, or current distribution arrangements. Ronahî TV has operated in an environment shaped by the Syrian civil war and by political disputes surrounding Kurdish media. Its journalists have faced serious physical danger. Mustefa Mihemed died from injuries related to a mine explosion on 13 July 2016, while Kendal Cudi was wounded in the same explosion. Zekeriya Şêxo was later wounded during the Turkish military operation in Afrin. These incidents are part of the channel’s documented history as a broadcaster whose staff reported from conflict-affected areas. A major distribution dispute occurred in 2017. On 14 April, Eutelsat announced its intention to remove Ronahî TV’s ability to broadcast. Eutelsat referred to statements aired by members of the Kurdistan Communities Union and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several Western states. The European Federation of Journalists alleged that Eutelsat’s action followed pressure from Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council. Available sources do not establish the final long-term effect of that announcement on the channel’s operations. Publicly available material identifies Ronahî TV as a private broadcaster but does not establish a founder, corporate parent, ownership group, executive roster, financial information, or formal listed status. The official website provides a current reference point, but the channel’s present status, audience size, and detailed programming schedule require verification from up-to-date sources.

• 2017

  Eutelsat announced a planned broadcast interruption

  [1]Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org

  Eutelsat announced on 14 April that it intended to remove Ronahî TV’s ability to broadcast, citing content involving KCK and PKK members.

• 2016

  Journalists affected by a mine explosion

  [1]Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org

  Mustefa Mihemed died from injuries caused by a mine explosion on 13 July, while Kendal Cudi was wounded in the same incident.

• 2012

  Channel established in Syria

  [1]Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org

  Ronahî TV was established in Qamishli and became identified as the first Kurdish television channel founded by Kurds in Syria.

A Kurdish-language news and cultural broadcaster serving Kurdish audiences in Syria and internationally, with a particular emphasis on regional reporting and Kurdish community issues.

• Television news · 2012

  Kurdish-language news programming

  Ronahî TV’s principal offering is news and current-affairs content in Kurdish. The channel’s reporting focus includes events in Syria, Kurdish-populated areas, and issues affecting Kurdish communities internationally. Available reference material does not specify individual program names or broadcast schedules.

• Cultural television · 2012

  Cultural programming

  The channel produces cultural programming alongside its news output. This part of the service supports its broader role as a Kurdish-language broadcaster and addresses cultural subjects connected with Kurdish communities. Specific series, hosts, and formats are not identified in the available source material.

• Multilingual broadcasting

  Arabic and English content

  Although Kurdish is Ronahî TV’s primary broadcasting language, the channel also provides content in Arabic and English. These additional languages extend the potential reach of its reporting beyond Kurdish-speaking viewers, but the available sources do not quantify the proportion or schedule of non-Kurdish programming.

• 2017

  Response to the proposed Eutelsat broadcast removalOther

  Background

  Eutelsat announced that it intended to remove Ronahî TV’s ability to broadcast after the channel aired statements by members of the KCK and PKK. The announcement occurred amid broader disputes involving Kurdish media and Turkish broadcasting authorities.

  Action taken

  Eutelsat announced the intended removal of the channel’s broadcast capability. The European Federation of Journalists characterized the move as following pressure from Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not establish the final duration or operational consequences of the proposed interruption.

  Source

• 2017

  Eutelsat announced an intended interruption of Ronahî TV’s satellite broadcasting[1]Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  On 14 April 2017, Eutelsat announced its intention to remove Ronahî TV’s ability to broadcast. The company cited the channel’s airing of statements by members of the Kurdistan Communities Union and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several Western states. The European Federation of Journalists alleged that the decision followed pressure from Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council.

• 2016

  Ronahî TV journalists affected by the Syrian civil war[1]Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Mustefa Mihemed died from injuries caused by a mine explosion on 13 July 2016, while Kendal Cudi was wounded in the same incident. These cases were reported in connection with the risks faced by Ronahî TV personnel during the Syrian civil war.

• Ronahî TV journalist wounded during the Afrin operation[1]Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Zekeriya Şêxo, a journalist employed by Ronahî TV, was wounded during the Turkish military operation in Afrin.

1. 1Ronahî TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ronahî TV official websiteronahi.tv