First Private Television Station in Tunisia

16/02/2005

Hannibal TV, the first private television channel in Tunisia, began airing on Sunday (13 February). The station founded by businessman Larbi Nasra, is named after the famed Carthaginian warrior.

(Reuters – 13/02/05; Al Jazeera – 14/02/05)

[File] Station founder Nasra

The 24-hour channel will target a youth audience with musical variety shows, series, films, and sports in Arabic and French.

"All the TV shows will bring a good image of Tunisia to viewers, especially foreigners," Nasra said. Hannibal TV will shy away from news because of censorship issues and Nasra's admission it could not compete with Arabic all-news channels.

The decision by the Tunisian government to allow competition to its two government-controlled channels was likely motivated by criticism from various organizations about limited media freedom.

The second segment on Hannibal TV after the reading of Quran verses showed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stating he wanted to ensure "liberty of expression is the fundamental rule in development of the Tunisian approach to information."

Tunisian Human Rights League Chairman Mokhtar Trifi retorted, "the existence of the new television station will not further a free press because the government has not changed its policy of muzzling the media."

Radio Mosaic, the first private radio station in Tunisia, has been successful since its 2003 launch.