Watan Habarlary
| Country | Turkmenistan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Affiliates | Turkmen government |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Turkmen |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Turkmenistan |
| Links | |
| Webcast | YouTube channel |
| Website | https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/tk |
Watan Harbalary, also referred to as Watan is a state-run Turkmenistani 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
- ^ "Turkmenistan parades latest military equipment". janes.com. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ "A day watching Turkmen television". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ Morton, Elise. "Turkmenistan looks to lure viewers with self-sustaining national TV". New East Digital Archive. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Turkmenistan: Son of a gunslinger | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ a b "Eurasianet makes progress with YouTube, scores small victory against authoritarian censor | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ "Turkmenistan President Berdymukhamedov reappears after death rumours". 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ Yazliyeva, Oguljamal (2020). "Dynamics of the Media System in Post-Soviet Turkmenistan". Journal of Nationalism, Memory & Language Politics. 14 (1) – via Sciendo.
- ^ 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.