2M (TV channel)

2M is a Moroccan free-to-air television network. It was established by the royal-owned conglomerate, ONA, before being partly sold to the Moroccan state. Of 2M, 45.3% is owned by Atlas Benjelloun's holding company SNI, while approximately 32.5% is controlled by the Moroccan state. It is based in Casablanca.

The channel is available free-to-air locally on digital signal with national coverage, and on satellite television via Globecast, Nilesat and Arabsat.

2M offers services in Arabic, French, and Berber.

Background

2M was set up as a second national television channel with the aim of promoting competition and diversity in Moroccan audio-visual broadcasting.

2M started its programmes officially on 4 March 1989. It used to be a cable channel broadcasting unscrambled twice a day. After 7 years of activity, SOREAD (ONA group), the major shareholder, withdrew from the management of this TV channel due to financial reasons. The Moroccan state took over the control of 2M with a participation of 68% in its capital. This takeover was supported by a major effort to develop the audio-visual sector.

Radio 2M is the companion radio channel to 2M, presenting music, news, and information directly from Morocco in Arabic and French.

Content

2M challenged taboos by debating controversial issues and established a reputation for itself as a symbol of freedom of speech in Morocco. The channel regularly broadcasts news, films, sports and music. It is a government-controlled public TV station and it has been alleged that the government also controls editorial choices.

2M has two separate feeds: one available nationwide via terrestrial television, and a satellite feed under the branding 2M Monde (French for lit. 2M World). Both feeds have the same local shows but are aired at different times. 2M Monde does not broadcast Hollywood movies and American TV shows because the network only buys their broadcasting rights for within Morocco.

The channel gained controversy when on 23 November 2016, it aired a segment on its morning show ''Sabahiyat 2M'', on how to cover beaten bruises with makeup on the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. 2M apologized on 28 November for airing the segment, calling it an "error in judgment."

2M in figures

*Personnel: 500 people, including 30% executives;
*Coverage: 80% of the population;
*Capital: 302,371,500 Moroccan dirham ( €27,008,467 / £18,228,395 / US$36,750,427), including 68% owned by the state and 20.7% owned by Mohammed VI's holding SNI.

Programming

Foreign shows

List of American and European TV shows broadcast by the local version of 2M (which may change time by time):

* '' 24''
* '' Alias''
* ''Bones''
* '' Buffy'' (Buffy contre les vampires)
* '' CSI'' (Les Experts)
* '' CSI: NY'' (Les Experts : Manhattan)
* '' CSI: Miami'' (Les Experts : Miami)
* ''Cuenta Atràs'' ( ar, العد العكسي) ( Moroccan dubbing)
* ''Damages''
* '' Dark Angel''
* '' Desperate Housewives''
* '' Dexter''
* '' Friends''
* ''Gossip Girl''
* ''Instant Star'' (Ma vie de star)
* '' Jericho''
* ''Just Cause'' (En quête de justice)
* '' Law & Order'' (New York District)
* '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' (New York unité spéciale)
* ''Los hombres de Paco'' ( ar, باكو) (Moroccan dubbing)
* ''Mad Men''
* '' Medium''
* ''Maid in Manhattan'' (Amour à Manhattan)
* '' Más sabe el diablo'' (L'Ange du diable, El Diablo)
* '' NCIS'' (NCIS : Enquêtes spéciales)
* '' Un paso adelante'' (Un, dos, tres) (Arabic dubbing)
* '' Prison Break''
* '' Rubí'' (Arabic dubbing)
* ''Stargate Atlantis''
* ''The 4400'' (Les 4400)
* ''The Invisible Man'' (Invisible Man)
* ''The O.C.'' (Newport beach)
* ''The Shield''
* ''The Simpsons''
* '' Ugly Betty''
* '' Vermist'' ( ar, وحدة المفقودين) (Moroccan dubbing)

American TV shows and Hollywood movies are imported from France with French dubbing. Some Mexican and Turkish TV shows are dubbed locally in Moroccan Arabic.

Besides American TV shows, 2M also airs a selection of Turkish, Indian and other foreign shows also dubbed in Moroccan Arabic, including '' Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke'', '' Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar'', '' Vaidehi'', ''Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann'', ' ( ar, سامحيني), '' Avenida Brasil'' and '' Larin izbor''. 2M's children's programming block ("2M Kids") also includes foreign TV shows also dubbed in French or in Moroccan Arabic, such as ''Célestin'', ''Braceface'', '' Oggy and the Cockroaches'', '' Zig and Sharko, Bernard, Atomic Puppet, Furiki'' and ''1001 Nights''. All of the aforementioned shows are broadcast on both the local and satellite versions of the channel.

Locally-produced

* Arabic afternoon news bulletin (''الظهيرة'')
* Berber news bulletin (, ⵉⵏⵖⵎⵉⵙⵏ)
* French evening news bulletin (''Info Soir'')
* Arabic evening news bulletin (''المسائية'')
* ''EcoNews''
* ''Sabahiyat 2M'' ( ar, صباحيات 2M)

* ''Rachid Show'' ( ar, رشيد شو)
* ''Shahiwat maa Shoumisha'' ( ar, شهيوة مع شميشة)
* ''L'Couple''
* ''Maa Lnass'' ( ar, مع الناس, lit. "With the People")
* ''Moubacharatan Maakoum'' ( ar, مباشرة معكم)
* Obesity Challenge (تحدي السمنة)

See also

* Samira Sitail
* Leila Ghandi

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:2M TV
1989 establishments in Morocco
Arabic-language television stations
Berber-language mass media
French-language television stations
Television stations in Morocco
Mass media in Casablanca
Television channels and stations established in 1989
Société Nationale d'Investissement
Mass media companies of Morocco
ONA Group