Samira TV
An Algerian television channel built around cooking, food culture, sewing, and lifestyle programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Samira TV is an Algerian television channel specializing in cooking programming, with a strong emphasis on Algerian cuisine and domestic lifestyle content. It was established in 2013 by Samira Bezouaia, editor-in-chief of Samira Magazine, and her husband Yacine Sadek. The channel emerged as a distinctive media proposition in Algeria because it targeted women and households through food, sewing, and related practical programming rather than relying primarily on general entertainment or imported drama. The channel’s early positioning connected television content with the everyday purchasing and household responsibilities of Algerian families. This made its audience commercially attractive to advertisers seeking to reach housewives and other consumers responsible for household purchases. Bezouaia did not initially have extensive audiovisual production experience, and Mohamed Oukaci, a television-production specialist, assisted with the channel’s development. Samira TV subsequently recruited chefs from Algeria and from other countries, including China, Syria, and Lebanon, allowing its programming to combine local culinary traditions with international cooking expertise. Samira Bezouaia and Yacine Sadek divided the organization’s creative and administrative responsibilities. Bezouaia led production and, by 2020, was also involved in artistic direction, editorial work, and production design. Sadek handled administrative matters. The channel became known for carefully designed sets and a consistent visual identity, characteristics that helped distinguish it within Algeria’s expanding food-television market. Samira TV achieved substantial audience reach during the 2010s. A 2016 seven-day household survey placed it among Algeria’s most popular channels, with viewing in 35.1 percent of surveyed households and a third-place overall ranking in the cited category. By 2020, published reporting estimated that approximately nine million people watched the channel each week and described it as the most popular television channel among Algerian women. Its reach also extended beyond Algeria through broadcasts in Morocco and Tunisia. The channel’s schedule has included cooking shows, food and lifestyle formats, sewing content, a self-help reality program titled El Najm Errabeh, and the Ramadan talk show Qaadatna Djazairia. The latter presented Algerian culture in a positive, conversational format and used a relatively costly set inspired by the Casbah of Algiers. Samira TV has also extended its food-media identity beyond broadcasting through the publication of cookbooks. Its success helped validate food television as a commercially important segment in Algeria. The channel’s growth was associated with a broader shift in viewing habits, capturing audiences that had previously spent significant time watching Turkish soap operas. Its prominence also contributed to competitive responses, including the relaunch of Echorouk TV’s food channel, Bena TV. Samira TV’s documented public identity is therefore that of a focused Algerian media brand: a cooking-led broadcaster that combines local culinary culture, women-oriented programming, practical household content, and a recognizable studio aesthetic.
History
Samira TV was launched in Algeria in 2013 by Samira Bezouaia and Yacine Sadek. Bezouaia was the editor-in-chief of Samira Magazine, while Sadek became responsible for the channel’s administrative side. The founders developed a television service centered on cooking, Algerian cuisine, sewing, and household-oriented lifestyle content. Its female-focused editorial approach was unusual in the Algerian television market at the time and gave the channel a clearly defined audience. The business proposition was also attractive to advertisers. By concentrating on food, domestic skills, and practical lifestyle subjects, Samira TV offered access to women and household decision-makers who were considered important purchasers of consumer goods. Because Bezouaia had not previously produced audiovisual media, television-production specialist Mohamed Oukaci assisted in the channel’s early development. Samira TV recruited chefs from Algeria and from abroad, including China, Syria, and Lebanon, broadening the range of culinary perspectives available on its schedule. The channel developed a recognizable presentation style through attractive sets and a consistent visual identity. Bezouaia’s responsibilities expanded beyond her formal production-director role. By 2020, she was also involved in aspects of artistic direction, editorial work, and production design. Sadek continued to oversee administrative matters, while the organization maintained a division between creative production and administration. Audience growth made Samira TV one of Algeria’s leading channels during the 2010s. A 2016 household survey cited a seven-day reach of 35.1 percent and placed the channel third overall in the relevant ranking. Its success occurred as food television became a more significant part of Algerian broadcasting. The channel reached viewers who had previously devoted much of their television time to Turkish soap operas, and its popularity prompted Echorouk TV to relaunch the food channel Bena TV. By 2020, published reporting estimated that Samira TV attracted roughly nine million viewers each week and identified it as the most popular Algerian channel among women. The channel also broadcast in Morocco and Tunisia, extending its North African audience beyond its home market. Its programming portfolio included cooking shows, sewing content, the self-help reality format El Najm Errabeh, and the daily Ramadan talk show Qaadatna Djazairia. Qaadatna Djazairia presented Algerian culture in a positive tone and used a set influenced by the Casbah of Algiers. The channel also published cookbooks, extending its culinary brand into print. The available reference material does not establish a later ownership change, corporate parent, or specific current executive structure.
- 2020
Reported leadership among Algerian women viewers
[1]Published reporting estimated approximately nine million weekly viewers and described Samira TV as the most popular channel among Algerian women.
- 2016
Reported among Algeria’s leading channels
[1]A cited seven-day household survey recorded a 35.1 percent reach and placed Samira TV third overall in the relevant category.
- 2013
Channel founded
[1]Samira Bezouaia and Yacine Sadek established Samira TV in Algeria as a cooking- and lifestyle-oriented television channel.
Products and positioning
A cooking-led Algerian television brand combining local culinary heritage, practical household content, women-oriented programming, and accessible lifestyle entertainment.
Television programming · 2013
Cooking television programming
The channel’s core offering consists of cooking programs centered on Algerian cuisine, supplemented by chefs and culinary perspectives from other countries. The programming gives Samira TV its main editorial identity and connects the broadcaster to household food preparation and North African culinary culture.
Television programming · 2013
Sewing and lifestyle programming
Samira TV has also carried sewing and practical lifestyle content. These formats support the channel’s women-oriented, household-focused positioning and broaden its scope beyond recipes into everyday domestic skills and leisure.
Reality television
El Najm Errabeh
El Najm Errabeh is a self-help reality television format included among Samira TV’s documented programs. It represents the channel’s expansion from strictly culinary programming into personal-development and lifestyle entertainment.
Talk show
Qaadatna Djazairia
Qaadatna Djazairia is a daily Ramadan talk show focused on Algerian culture and presented in a positive, conversational style. Its studio design drew inspiration from the Casbah of Algiers and represented a comparatively substantial set investment for the channel.
Publishing
Cookbooks
Samira TV has extended its cooking identity into print through the release of cookbooks. The available material does not specify individual titles, publication dates, or sales.
Brand decisions
- Focus on an underserved female television audienceStrategy
Background
At launch, Algerian television had relatively few channels built specifically around women’s interests and household activities.
Action taken
Samira TV built its schedule around cooking, sewing, food culture, and related lifestyle programming, creating a clearly defined female and household audience.
Aftermath
The strategy helped the channel achieve substantial audience reach and contributed to competitive interest in food-focused television, including Echorouk TV’s Bena TV relaunch.
- Echorouk TV — Echorouk TV relaunched its food channel, Bena TV, in response to the popularity of Samira TV and food channels more broadly.
Recent events
- 2020
Samira TV reported as Algeria’s most popular channel among women[1]
Other
Reporting cited an estimated weekly audience of about nine million viewers and described Samira TV as the most popular channel among Algerian women.
- 2016
Samira TV becomes a major Algerian food channel[1]
Other
A cited seven-day household survey reported that Samira TV reached 35.1 percent of households and ranked third overall in the relevant category.
- 2013
Samira TV established in Algeria[1]
Other
Samira Bezouaia and Yacine Sadek created Samira TV as a cooking- and lifestyle-focused Algerian television channel.
Echorouk responds with a food-channel relaunch[1]
Other
Samira TV’s popularity was associated with a competitive response from Echorouk TV, which relaunched its food channel, Bena TV.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/samira-tv · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled