In photos: One year on for Algeria’s TV success

Setting up an independent TV channel in a country where the state used to dominate broadcasting completely is no easy feat. This spring, the Khabar Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) celebrates its first anniversary with Algerians across the country looking on at what has quickly become one of the country’s most popular TV channels.

By Ralf Andersson, IMS consultant

Algeria’s media environment has long been characterised by state-owned TV-channels and little education and training of editorial and technical staff. KBC’s beginnings were not easy.

The planning and preparations for the launch of KBC started in 2013, an offspring using the knowledge and resources of the successful newspaper El Khabar, Algeria’s largest newspaper with a daily distribution of almost half a million copies.

From the beginning, IMS worked with KBC to provide its staff and management with expert advice and targeted journalistic and editorial training. The summer of 2013 was spent on strategic planning with regards to everything from KBC’s fundamental values to visual identity. During the fall, technical equipment was purchased, employees were recruited and trained, and studios and editing rooms were built.

On 1 April 2014 KBC launched its first news broadcast jsut before the country’s presidential elections.  With their high quality election coverage KBC quickly became one of Algeria’s first private and independent TV channels in an environment where up until recently there had been none.

Popularity

KBC is currently the second most viewed private TV channel in Algeria. It is placed as number six out of 62 national Algerian, pan-Arab and international broadcasters.

“We are tolerated by the government, and we do not feel any hard pressure from them. We are professional. We criticize, but we adhere to journalistic rules and standards. There is pressure from certain government officials on our advertisers, which makes some advertisers scared to use our platform,” says the General Director of KBC, Ali Djerri.

Taboo topics

The journalistic ambitions mean that KBC also covers topics that are sometimes considered taboo and which have rarely been covered on Algerian TV before. This includes sexual abuse, domestic violence, adoption and corruption.

In line with the strong traditions of the El Khabar newspaper, there is a constant focus on independent and critical journalism, securing the brand of KBC as a balanced news-provider with an eye for stories that matter to ordinary people. Several of KBC’s specialty programmes reflect this approach. One of them is “Special Invitation”, where a guest is invited for a thorough conversation. In a recent program, the guest was the famous Algerian cartoonist, Ali Dilem, who has been sentenced to prison for his cartoons depicting the Algerian president, and has received several fatwas condemning him to death.

“I usually talk through my cartoons, because they express what I have in my heart. I am very touched that you gave me the opportunity to express myself on TV,” said Ali Dilem after appearing on the program.

The response of the KBC presenter was: “We try to ensure freedom of speech at KBC. We are open for all citizens and all kind of opinions, because we believe in democracy and multiple opinions.” The program was recorded shortly before the attacks on Charlie Hebdo.

While celebrating its anniversary and success, KBC starts the second year with a brand new studio. It is just another step in KBC’s impressive development over the first year.