Channel 1 (Syrian TV channel)

Syria TV, also known as Channel 1 (Arabic: القناة الأولى) was a Syrian television channel launched on 23 July 1960.^[1] Its broadcast coverage was solely limited to Syria and broadcast service programs. It operated as an interactive local channel.^[2] Channel 1 was shut down in 2012.^[3]

Channel 1
القناة الأولى

Type	Terrestrial television
Country	Syria
Broadcast area	Nationwide
Programming
Language(s)	Arabic
Ownership
Owner	General Organization of Radio and TV
Sister channels	Channel 2
History
Launched	23 July 1960; 65 years ago (1960-07-23)
Closed	11 November 2012; 12 years ago (2012-11-11)

History

Syrian Television began broadcasts on 23 July 1960, during Syria's short-lived union with Egypt. It began with the phrase, "Here is Damascus", as delivered by Sabah Qabbani. It was broadcast from its studios situated at the highest peak of Mount Qasioun, with low power of no more than 10 kilowatts and only for one and a half hours reaching only Damascus. Its broadcasting hours increased over time.^[4] After the 1961 military coup which dissolved the union, Syrian TV broadcast a speech delivered by Shukri al-Quwatli, the first post-independence president of Syria, in October 1961, which was recorded in Switzerland.^[5]

Experimental color broadcasts began in 1978, with only a handful of programs being in color at the time, being broadcast for four hours. Regular color broadcasts began in 1980 using PAL and SECAM systems.^[3] Amid the civil war, Channel 1 ceased broadcasting on 11 November 2012 in preparation for the official launch of the short-lived satellite television channel Talaqie TV.^[6]