Libya Alhurra TV (), meaning Free Libya TV, is an Internet television channel founded by Mohamed Nabbous on 19 February 2011 at the start of the

Libyan Civil War Demographics of Libya is the demography of Libya, specifically covering population density, ethnicity, and religious affiliations, as well as other aspects of the Libyan population. All figures are from the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks ...

. It was the first private television station in

Benghazi Benghazi () () is the List of cities in Libya, second-most-populous city in Libya as well as the largest city in Cyrenaica, with an estimated population of 859,000 in 2023. Located on the Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, Ben ...

, in the east of the

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

. The channel's purpose is to provide the world with news and exclusive on-ground footage from Benghazi during the civil war. Libya Alhurra TV was the only TV broadcast from Benghazi when

Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (20 October 2011) was a Libyan military officer, revolutionary, politician and political theorist who ruled Libya from 1969 until Killing of Muammar Gaddafi, his assassination by Libyan Anti-Gaddafi ...

shut down Internet lines as the war began. (A rebel-controlled ''radio'' station, Voice of Free Libya, was also broadcasting from Benghazi at that time.) Alhurra TV was able to bypass government blocks on the Internet in order to broadcast live images from Benghazi across the world. On 19 March 2011, Nabbous was killed by pro-Gaddafi troops during the

Second Battle of Benghazi The Second Battle of Benghazi was fought between army units and militiamen loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and anti-Gaddafi forces in Benghazi on 19-20 March 2011 during the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Libyan Civil War. The battle marked the ...

. His wife Samra Naas announced his death on the same day and vowed to continue with the channel in his stead. Along with a remaining team member, the channel obtained, produced and broadcast original contributions of raw footage from pro-opposition individuals both inside and outside the country.

References

{{Reflist 2011 establishments in Libya Arabic-language television stations Internet television channels Libyan civil war (2011) Mass media in Benghazi Television channels and stations established in 2011 Television stations in Libya