Watan Habarlary

Watan Habarlary
Also known asWatan
Country of originTurkmenistan
Original languageTurkmen
Production
Production locationAshgabat
Production companiesState Committee of Turkmenistan for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography
Original release
Network

Watan Harbalary, also referred to as Watan is a state-run Turkmen national television news program.[1]

Schedule

It is broadcast on three television channels simultaneously at the end of the day.[2][3]

Programming

The programming is pro-state and aligns with the viewpoint of the Turkmen government and the ruling family.[4] It airs footage showing ex-President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov shooting guns,[5] drifting in cars,[6] or riding horses.[7] He is often referred to as "mähriban we gahryman Arkadag", meaning dear and hero Arkadag. The program has been accused of censorship in the form of copyright strikes on western news channels[6] republishing its footage, as well as helping create a cult of personality around Berdimuhamedov.[8]

It uses a YouTube channel to publish news programs to embed into state websites.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Turkmenistan parades latest military equipment". janes.com. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  2. ^ "A day watching Turkmen television". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  3. ^ Morton, Elise. "Turkmenistan looks to lure viewers with self-sustaining national TV". New East Digital Archive. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  4. ^ Pannier, Bruce (2020-09-19). "Turkmenistan Increases Crackdown On Internet Access As Living Standards Continue Downward Spiral". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  5. ^ "Turkmenistan: Son of a gunslinger | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  6. ^ a b "Eurasianet makes progress with YouTube, scores small victory against authoritarian censor | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  7. ^ "Turkmenistan President Berdymukhamedov reappears after death rumours". 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  8. ^ Yazliyeva, Oguljamal (2020). "Dynamics of the Media System in Post-Soviet Turkmenistan". Journal of Nationalism, Memory & Language Politics. 14 (1) – via Sciendo.
  9. ^ Eckel, Mike (2021-10-13). "YouTube Blocks Channel Of U.S. News Group After Complaints From Turkmen State Media". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2025-06-15.