Mosaic: World News from the Middle East
Syria

 

Syria Satellite TV

 

Syria Satellite TV is operated by the Syrian Ministry of Information. Based in Damascus, the channel reaches all of the Middle East, Europe, U.S., South America and North Africa. The Syria satellite channel delivers a blend of 24-hour Arabic language programming from Syria. The programming includes daily news, sports, music, popular movies, and comedy shows.

 

In June 2000, the network started airing a 15-minute daily news bulletin in Hebrew which it said is aimed at "revealing the truth to the Israelis." The Hebrew newscast is broadcast every day at 1600 GMT. The Syrian state-run Radio Damascus has been airing a weekly one-hour news program in Hebrew for several years.

Syria Satellite TV
Omayad Square
Damascus, Syria
Telephone: + 963-1-1372-0700
Fax: + 963-1-1224-9307
E-mail: contact@rtv.gov.sy

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

QUICK FACTS:

Population:
 17,585,540
  
Total Area:
 185,180 sq km
 slightly larger than North Dakota
  
Government Type:
  Based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts
  
Currency:
 Syrian pound (SYP)
  
Religions:
 Sunni Muslim 74%
  Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%
 Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish
  
Languages:
 Arabic(official)
 Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood;
 French, English somewhat understood
  
Legal System:
 Republic under military regime since March 1963
  
Suffrage:
 18 years of age; universal