TRT, Turkey’s public broadcaster, has relaunched its Arabic-language TV channel. TRT Arabi takes many cues from TRT WORLD, the English-language TV channel that went on air in 2015. Indeed, its director of news and programmes is Resul Serdar Atas, formerly director of TRT WORLD. On launch day [7 January], Atas tweeted: “This is a big day for TRT family by launching TRT Arabi to cover the world’s news and current affairs, especially the Arab world. Today’s launch of TRT Arabi is the result of days of hard work from our dedicated journalists and experts, to be with you.”
Watch the channel promotion:
The launch of TRT Arabi appears to be part of a modernisation strategy across TRT networks, with the new TRT international logo – first seen on TRT WORLD – being used on Arabi, Haber [News], Turk, Kurdi, Spor, and Avaz, and TRT’s main national channel, TRT1.
The revamped Arabic service (previously known as TRT Arabic) has a similar look and feel both on air and in its online presence to TRT WORLD. It has bureaux in Baghdad, Jerusalem, Tehran, Cairo, London, Moscow, Washington, Beirut and Oman.