Roya TV

Roya TV is a Jordanian private, independent satellite television channel headquartered in Amman and owned by Sayegh Group. It began broadcasting on January 1, 2011, during a period of expansion for privately operated media in Jordan. The channel was established as a broad-based Arabic television service rather than a narrowly specialized network, combining news, entertainment, drama, lifestyle programming, and live shows. The network has positioned itself toward families and younger viewers while also presenting itself as a socially engaged Jordanian media outlet. Its stated objectives include encouraging democratic awareness, extending media access beyond the principal urban centers, and raising awareness of human rights and feminism in the Arab world. This public-facing mission sits alongside a commercially oriented television schedule built around recurring daily programming blocks, including morning, midday, afternoon, and evening periods. A substantial portion of the schedule consists of live programs, enabling the channel to combine topical discussion with entertainment and service content. Roya's programming has included news and current-affairs coverage, general entertainment, drama, lifestyle features, and cooking content. One example cited in descriptions of the channel's early programming is the morning cookery program Dunya Ya Dunya, presented by Deema Hijjawi after she joined the channel in 2012. The channel's output is designed primarily for Jordanian audiences but is distributed more broadly across the Arab world through satellite and digital channels. Editorially, Roya TV has taken strongly pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist positions. Its published and social-media language has at times rejected recognition of Israel's legitimacy and referred to Israel as occupied Palestine. The network has also been described as opposed to Khomeinism and political Islam, and as supportive of Iranian opposition forces rather than the government of Iran. These positions distinguish Roya from the Jordanian government's official diplomatic posture and have contributed to scrutiny of its public communications. In December 2021, Deutsche Welle announced that it would suspend its partnership with Roya TV after characterizing material posted by Roya on social media as anti-Israel and antisemitic. Roya's chief executive, Fares Sayegh, rejected the characterization of criticism directed at the Israeli state as antisemitism and argued that criticism of allegedly illegal, inhumane, or racist state actions should be treated separately from hostility toward Jews as a group. The dispute illustrates the editorial and reputational pressures faced by a regional broadcaster operating at the intersection of Jordanian politics, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and international media partnerships. Roya TV remains an active Jordanian television brand with a mixed broadcast and digital presence. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its corporate finances, detailed ownership structure beyond Sayegh Group, audience measurements, and current executive roster.

Roya TV was launched on January 1, 2011, as a privately owned Jordanian satellite channel under Sayegh Group. Its creation took place amid a broader expansion of private media in Jordan, where new broadcasters sought to complement state-linked outlets with programming aimed at distinct demographic and editorial audiences. Roya entered the market as a general-interest network, combining news, entertainment, drama, lifestyle content, and live shows rather than concentrating on one genre. The channel's declared audience included families and young people. Its stated public mission extended beyond commercial broadcasting: Roya presented itself as a platform intended to promote democratic values, reach remote areas of Jordan, and increase awareness of human rights and feminism in the Arab world. The schedule was organized into morning, midday, afternoon, and evening periods, with live programming forming a significant part of its daily output. This structure allowed the channel to combine current affairs and discussion with practical lifestyle and entertainment material. Roya developed a recognizable presence through recurring daily shows and service-oriented programming. In 2012, Deema Hijjawi joined the channel to present Dunya Ya Dunya, a morning cooking program. The program reflected the network's effort to blend locally relevant lifestyle content with accessible daytime television. Alongside such programming, Roya broadcast news, drama, entertainment, and other general-interest formats for viewers in Jordan and the wider Arab world. The network's editorial identity has also been shaped by its positions on regional political questions. Roya has been described as strongly anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian, and its written communications have at times refused to recognize Israel's legitimacy or referred to the country as occupied Palestine. Its stated or reported positions on Iran and political Islam have likewise differed from some aspects of the Jordanian government's posture: the channel has been characterized as anti-Khomeinist and anti-Islamist, opposed to the Iranian government, and supportive of Iranian opposition forces. These positions became the subject of an international media dispute in December 2021. Deutsche Welle said it would suspend its partnership with Roya after objecting to content on Roya's social-media platforms that it described as anti-Israel and antisemitic. Fares Sayegh, identified as Roya's chief executive, responded that criticism of actions by the Israeli state should not be conflated with antisemitism. The episode highlighted the difficulty of maintaining cross-border media partnerships when a local broadcaster's political language is interpreted differently by international organizations and audiences. Roya TV continues to operate as a Jordanian satellite and digital media brand. The available reference material confirms its ownership by Sayegh Group, its base in Amman, its regional Arab-market orientation, and its broad programming model. It does not provide sufficient public information to establish detailed financial performance, audience share, a complete list of current executives, or a comprehensive chronology of later programming and corporate developments.

• 2021

  Deutsche Welle partnership dispute

  [1]Roya TVen.wikipedia.org

  Deutsche Welle announces that it will suspend its partnership with Roya over content it described as anti-Israel and antisemitic; Roya's chief executive rejects that characterization.

• 2012

  Deema Hijjawi joins the channel

  [1]Roya TVen.wikipedia.org

  Deema Hijjawi joins Roya TV and presents the morning cooking program Dunya Ya Dunya.

• 2011

  Roya TV begins broadcasting

  [1]Roya TVen.wikipedia.org

  Roya TV launches on January 1 as a Jordanian private independent satellite channel offering news, entertainment, drama, lifestyle, and live programming.

A Jordanian independent satellite broadcaster combining family- and youth-oriented entertainment with news, lifestyle, live programming, and socially engaged editorial coverage for Jordan and Arab audiences.

• Satellite television channel · 2011

  Roya TV satellite channel

  The core Roya TV service is a Jordanian private satellite channel broadcasting a general-interest Arabic schedule. Its output includes news, entertainment, drama, lifestyle features, and live shows, with programming arranged across morning, midday, afternoon, and evening periods. The service targets Jordanian viewers while reaching audiences more broadly across the Arab world.

• Cooking and lifestyle program · 2012

  Dunya Ya Dunya

  Dunya Ya Dunya is a morning cooking program associated with Roya TV. Deema Hijjawi joined the channel in 2012 to present the show, which represents the network's use of practical lifestyle and food content within its daytime schedule.

• Digital media

  Roya digital and social-media content

  Roya distributes video and editorial material through digital channels and social-media platforms in addition to its satellite broadcast. Public discussion of the network's digital output has included political and current-affairs material as well as content connected with its television programming.

• 2021

  Deutsche Welle partnership suspension

  In December 2021, Deutsche Welle said it would suspend its partnership with Roya TV after characterizing content published by Roya on social media as anti-Israel and antisemitic. Roya chief executive Fares Sayegh defended the network's right to criticize actions by the Israeli state and argued that such criticism should be distinguished from antisemitism.

  Source

Read more

• 2021

  Defend the distinction between anti-Israel criticism and antisemitismStrategy

  Background

  Deutsche Welle announced a suspension of its partnership with Roya over social-media content it characterized as anti-Israel and antisemitic.

  Action taken

  Roya chief executive Fares Sayegh publicly argued that criticism of illegal, inhumane, or racist actions by Israel as a state should not be equated with antisemitism.

  Aftermath

  The dispute ended the cited Deutsche Welle partnership and brought international attention to Roya's editorial language and regional political positioning.

  Source

• 2012

  Add Dunya Ya Dunya to the morning scheduleProduct launch

  Background

  The channel was building a daily schedule that included live and lifestyle-oriented programming.

  Action taken

  Roya added the morning cooking program Dunya Ya Dunya, presented by Deema Hijjawi.

  Aftermath

  The program became an example of Roya's family- and lifestyle-focused daytime offering.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch as a broad private Jordanian broadcasterStrategy

  Background

  Roya was established during an expansion of private media in Jordan, with an intended audience of families and young people.

  Action taken

  The channel adopted a mixed schedule covering news, entertainment, drama, lifestyle, and live programming, while stating social objectives related to democracy, human rights, feminism, and access to remote communities.

  Aftermath

  Roya developed as a general-interest satellite channel serving Jordan and wider Arab audiences.

  Source

1. 1Roya TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Roya TV official websiteroya.tv