Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) is the state broadcaster of Jordan. It was formed in 1985 after the merger between Jordan Radio and Jordan Television.
Jordan's first radio broadcasts were received from other countries in the Middle East. Initially known as Transjordan, it did not adopt a radio service of its own until 1948. Radio Jordan first broadcast in 1956. Today it broadcasts a 24-hour Arabic service, as well as an English language service for 21 hours per day and a French language service for 13 hours per day.
Televisiontransmission in Jordan started in black and white in April 1968 from one studio, with three hours of programming. It started as JTV (Jordan Television Corporation).
JTV was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union in 1970. The following years witnessed several milestones for JTV. In 1972, it became the first station in the region to operate a second channel, Channel 2, which specialised in foreign programmes, including a news bulletin in English. In 1974, JTV started transmission in full colours using the PAL-B system, and in 1975, transmission was expanded to cover the entire Kingdom. The first face of JTV was Ghada Haddadin, who later acted as the anchor for English news. From 1987, Hala Kharouba served as the host of the English channel. Along with the English programmes on Channel 2, JTV started transmission of French news bulletins and programmes in 1978.
In 1985, Jordan Radio and Jordan Television merged to form Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV).
In 1993, the Jordan Satellite Channel was launched and in 1998, a third channel was launched, Channel 3, which was devoted to transmitting the Parliamentary sessions and local and international sports.
In January 2001, the corporation underwent major restructuring. Programmes of Channel 1 and 2 were combined in one main channel. Channel 2 specialised in sports, while Channel 3 was operated in cooperation with the private sector, on the basis of two transmission periods: the morning and afternoon "Cartoon Channel" and the evening "Jordan Movie Channel".
Al-Urdunniyya can be viewed through live streaming online at jrtv.jo.
Services
JRTV operates three television channels and four radio stations throughout the country:[1]
Radio stations
Jordanian Radio (Radio al-Urdunniyah) – generalist national radio station
Radio Amman FM – a station with a specific focus on Amman, the capital of Jordan; Irbid has a local version of this station
Radio Jordan – foreign music and programming in English or French, depending on the time of day; broadcasting in English since 1973 (initially on medium wave, then FM since 1994) and in French since 1992
