Syria TV bursts onto screens 'for all Syrians except the killers'

The newest player on the Arab media scene has arrived on the block, a satellite channel wholly devoted to Syria and its people.

On March 3, Syria TV began broadcasting from the Turkish capital Istanbul, with hopes of shaking up Syrian television news and entertainment.

The channel's CEO Anas Azraq told The New Arab during an interview last month at the station's studio space about his vision for the new platform.

"The channel is for all Syrians with the exception of the killers. It speaks for the people who want Syria to be a united, civil country, where power is transferred through elections and the rule of law prevails," Azraq said.

"We are trying to transmit the values of the revolution so we have chosen the slogan: 'freedom forever'. We refuse to view Syrians based on their religious beliefs, ethnicity or where they are from," he said.

Azraq added that the new channel will hopefully fill a void in the partisan Syrian media landscape.

"The average Syrian feels that his voice is absent in the pro-regime networks and channels that try to represent the opposition, while pan-Arab stations have cut back their Syria coverage and have different agendas," he explained.

The channel will kick off with a number of political, cultural and entertainment programmes, with content repeated twice a day to cater to the millions of Syrian refugees living around the world.

The channel, which is being funded by Syrian and Arab businessmen, boasts a majority Syrian crew numbering over 170, with a team of correspondents in Syria and neighbouring countries.

Mohamed Alaaeldin, head of the channels news department, said that hard news focused on the Syrian conflict will take up three hours of the channels daily coverage in the beginning.

"The distinguishing aspect of the channel is the amount of time dedicated to the Syrian cause and the staff who share the same hopes and dreams as the Syrian people," Alaaeldin said.

The channel is available on satellites Nilesat on frequency 11603 and HotBird on frequency 12520. Interested viewers outside the region can watch an HD live stream online.

Syria TV is part of the Fadaat Media network, of which The New Arab is also a member.