 AzTV logo since 2019 | |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Azerbaijan United States UK |
| Programming | |
| Languages | Azerbaijani Other languages of Azerbaijan |
| Picture format | 16:91080iHDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-stock Company (Government of Azerbaijan), (Parent Company AZCON Holding). |
| Sister channels | İdman Azərbaycan TV,Mədəniyyət TV AzTV 2 (1992–2005) |
| History | |
| Launched | 14 February 1956; 69 years ago (1956-02-14) |
| Former names | Baku Television Studio (1956–1968) AzTV 1 (1996–2005) |
| Links | |
| Website | http://aztv.az/en |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Digital terrestrial television | Varies within location |
| Streaming media | |
| AzTV.az | Watch live |
AzTV orAzerbaijan Television (Azerbaijani:Azərbaycan Televiziyası) is astate-controlled nationaltelevision station inAzerbaijan.[1] It is the oldest television channel in the country, having first broadcast fromBaku on 14 February 1956 in what was then theAzerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic,Soviet Union.[2]
Azerbaijan Television started its operation 30 years afterAzerbaijani Radio - on February 14, 1956. The construction of the building for the television center inBaku began in 1954.[3] The location for its construction was chosen at one of the highest places inBaku - Mehdi Huseyn 1. The building of the telecenter, which Azerbaijani builders and specialists built together with their colleagues fromMoscow andLeningrad and equipped with the appropriate equipment, was handed over at the end of 1955. Until February 1956, test programs of the Baku studio werebroadcast occasionally.
On the first day of the show, young actressNajiba Malikova appeared on the screen.[4] Najiba Malikova, who opened with her "Göstərir Bakı!" (This is Baku!) speech, congratulated the audience on the occasion of the start of the television. On that day, the feature film "Bəxtiyar [az]" was shown on the screen.[5]
At first, the Baku studio aired a 2-hour program twice a week, then three days a week. At the first stage, since there were no specialists in the field oftelevision,radio,newspaper andtheater employees were invited to work here. Television had no understanding of programming, networks, and models. Therefore, the newmass media functioned as an image relay. Every day, the TV crew decided what to show the audience. The choice was not rich: concerts of classical andpop music, feature films, theater performances, interviews onsocio-political topics, speeches of labor pioneers were shown, the announcer read short 15-minute news fromnewspapers. Since August 1956, Azerbaijani television began to broadcast 5 days a week,[6] and the daily volume of programs was increased to 2 hours and 20 minutes. In 1962, the volume of daily aired programs increased to 7 hours. Since the 70s, the broadcast volume of daily programs and programs of Azerbaijan television has increased to 10 hours, and in the 80s to 18 hours. Since January 2005, television has switched to 24-hour continuousbroadcasting.
In 1956, the Baku television studio and the Radio Information Department operated separately. In October 1957, the television institution was removed from theMinistry of Culture, was merged with the Radio-Information Department and named the State Radio and Television Broadcasting Committee under theCouncil of Ministers of the Republic. In 1970, television received the status of State Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee. In 1991, the committee became a company. From June 2003,Nakhchivan Television, which is part of Azerbaijan State Television, began to operate as an independent broadcaster. Since 2005, by order of thePresident of Azerbaijan, the company has been transformed into "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" Closed Joint Stock Company.[7]
By September 2, 1956, the Baku studio had already shown up to 100feature films. Baku residents could watch the film magazines "Soviet Azerbaijan", "Science and Technology", "Foreign Chronicle", "Pioner" on television. Artists visiting our country fromMoscow and other 13 republics of theUSSR often performed from the Baku studio. In the first period, the Baku studio consisted of two rooms of 30 square meters. In one of the rooms divided in half, film equipment was installed, and in the other, performances of announcers and small music groups were broadcast.[8] The studio had only one telecamera, as well as two cameras in the projection room for showing motion pictures and slides. One of the three cameras was for the announcer, or speaker, and the other two were for the film. When the camera in the studio was out of order, the announcer's description and text were provided from theprojection room. On June 9, 1957, afootball game was broadcast from theRepublic Stadium for the first time. The report from the stadium was conducted by radio journalist Walid Sanani. On June 28, the student and youth festival was shown from that stadium. Live broadcasts were started fromAzerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater,Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater,Azerbaijan State Philharmonic and other concert halls.[9]
In 1958,eight-channel equipment was purchased from Leningrad (nowSt. Petersburg), which was considered a modern technical means for that time, and reconstruction works were started at the television center. From the mid-60s, new technology was introduced in the studios. TheKMZI-4 video recording technique used in the shooting pavilion since 1965 made it possible to transfer performances to videotape. Until the 1970s, the lack of video equipment in the local airspace slowed down the development of television. Only in 1970-1972, after the filming was done with16-millimeter film, news programs began to show reports. The improved "Kadr-2" video system, launched in 1971, created favorable conditions for editing.
Since 1970,Moscow television began broadcasting programs in color. Since 1973, Azerbaijani television has been able to switch to color broadcasting only in Baku. The introduction of the KADR-3R video recorder in the mid-70s created conditions for quality electronic assembly. In the 1970s and 1980s, video technology made its way to the airwaves.
In 1985, Azerbaijan Television reached the 4th place in theUSSR due to its technical equipment, film production and appearances onCentral TV with various programs.[10]
During the period from 1981 to 1991, the most advanced technical means for that time made their way to the television space. The expansion of technical capabilities increased the quality of programs year by year, helped to find new forms. It was possible to shoot, edit, and broadcast directly through video cameras.
In May 1956, the first announcers appeared on the screen. Among them wereTamara Gözəlova, Nailə Mehdibəyova, Sevda Qənizadə, Sara Manafova, Rəna Nəsirova, Rəxşan Aslanova, Sima Xasıyeva and Nizami Məmmədov.[11]
Later, a generation of talented announcers appeared on television: Roza Tağıyeva, Rafiq Hüseynov, Ofelya Sənani, Şərqiyyə Hüseynova, Sabir Ələsgərov, Hicran Hüseynov, Həqiqət Əsgərova, Natəvan Hacıyeva, Tamilla Ələkbərova, Davud Əhmədov, Gülşən Əkbərova, Nərgiz Cəlilova, Ülkər Quliyeva, Aygül Qaradağlı, Dilarə Səlim, Rafiq Həşimov and others.[12]
In 1956, the construction of theTV tower was not yet completed. Until then, the transmitter of the Baku studio was installed in a 44-meter conventionaloil well. In 1957, the tower with the height of 180 meters was commissioned.[13] At that time, the broadcasts transmitted through the tower could be viewed only in the capital and its surroundings. In 1960, with the commissioning of the Baku-Aghstafa radio relay line, television rebroadcast stations began to operate inGoychay-Ganja-Aghstafa stations. As a result, it became possible to watch television in most regional centers and residential areas ofAzerbaijan. In 1961, the launch of powerful television stations inGanja,Goychay andShusha made it possible to receive broadcasts fromBaku inGoygol,Goranboy,Yevlakh,Mingachevir,Agjabedi andNagorno-Karabakh. Thanks to the small television station established inNakhchivan in January 1962, the population of theAutonomous Republic was able to watch television programs. TheNakhchivan studio, which was launched on March 12, 1963, began to show its programs to the local population through this station.[14]
Increasing the program hours and applying advancedtechnology in thecommunication andtelecommunication system required the construction of a new TV tower. In 1979, theMinistry of Communications began work on the construction of a 310-meter TV tower in Baku. The new TV tower, whose foundation was laid in 1981, was commissioned on June 7, 1996. Starting from February 2004, better quality broadcast of AzTV's programs was ensured in European countries. For this purpose, specialists of the Teleradio Production Union installed a new digital TV - Up-link station in the TV tower complex. Now the programs of Azerbaijani television are broadcast from that station toEurope through "Hot Bird",North America through "Galaxy 25", andAsia through "Azerspace-1" satellites.[15]
In 2007, Azerbaijan Television was awarded the "European quality" medal for the technical relevance of broadcasting to Europe. It was broadcast in 16:9 aspect ratio on November 6, 2013. "Azerbaijan Television will fully switch toHD format from 2020. Necessary equipment has been purchased to broadcast programs from a new server system. This is a big milestone in the 63-year history of Azerbaijan Television.Rovshan Mammadov, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-stock Company voiced these views at the next meeting of the Artistic Council. He noted that more than 10 editing computers were purchased for more effective preparation of programs.
It was also brought to attention that the programs "Baku s Nadejdoy" and "Hüquq və mən" will be aired in the near future. At the meeting, the members of the Artistic Council exchanged opinions, expressed their suggestions and comments on the programs shown on Azerbaijan Television, "Culture" channel and "Idman Azerbaijan TV". The next meeting of the Artistic Council was held in January 2020.[16]
From May 31, 2021, Azerbaijan Television,Idman Azerbaijan TV and the "Culture" channel started broadcasting in HD.[17][18]
This process, which requires a lot of funds, was carried out according to the order of PresidentIlham Aliyev on measures to strengthen the material and technical base of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company signed in 2019.
Elnur Alizadeh, Director of the Technical Production Unit of "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC, said that the technical staff worked hard for several days: "The technical staff worked very hard yesterday, today, throughout this process in general. Our goals are also after that. is to strengthen our technical base".[19]
Chief engineer Yolchu Aliyev noted that this is just the beginning: "It was difficult because we have 3 channels, but the work to be done starts after that".[20] On January 28, 2022, it switched to HD broadcast format on the "Azerspace-1" satellite.[21]
The beginning of theNagorno-Karabakh conflict during 1988 became a real test for Azerbaijani television. Since it operated under the control of theCommunist Party and was not ready for the conflict that began within theUSSR, Azerbaijan television could not establish an information policy. Azerbaijani television aired a short news about the non-stop rallies held by the separatists inKhankendi only 10 days later - with the permission of the government under the name "The situation inKarabakh". During the mass demonstrations that started inBaku, TV started broadcasting live from the square two days late. This became possible as a result of the opposition of the AzTV management to the will ofAbdurrahman Vazirov, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan. The employees of the Azerbaijani television, together with the people, opposedGorbachev's steps and demanded compliance with theConstitution of Azerbaijan, international legal norms, and the prevention of illegal actions ofArmenian separatists. The political commentators speaking on Azerbaijan television boldly expressed the essence of theKremlin's policy against Azerbaijan, the uncontrollablesocio-political situation that has arisen in our republic, and the rightful demands of the people. The emissaries fromMoscow promised through Azerbaijani television that the Kremlin would not send troops to Baku and declare astate of emergency.
It was possible to restore the broadcasting of Azerbaijani television only on January 28. AnnouncerRafig Huseynov, appearing on the air in a black suit and without a tie, expressed his condolences to the people of Azerbaijan regarding the killing of 138 civilians.
But since the television operates under the control of theSoviet Army, only the information, programs and programs "cut" by the military censor were aired. This situation continued until September 1991. After the KKCP inMoscow, PresidentAyaz Mutallibov lost the support of theSoviet Army, and the transformation of republics into independent states in thepost-Soviet space became an unstoppable process.
On October 18, 1991,Azerbaijani declared independence. Azerbaijan TV turned from a provincial TV channel into the main television of anindependent state.
The channel has been owned since 2005 by the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting ClosedJoint-stock Company (Azerbaijani:Azərbaycan Televiziya və Radio Verilişləri Qapalı Səhmdar Cəmiyyəti),[22] of which thenational government is the only shareholder.[23] This company also owns the channelsİdman Azərbaycan TV(Sport Azerbaijan TV) andMədəniyyət TV(Culture TV).
In 2007, an application by AzTV to join theEuropean Broadcasting Union was rejected after the channel was found to be too closely associated with the rulinggovernment.[24]
The channel starts its daily broadcast by airingNational Anthem of Azerbaijan. Programming on AzTV primarily consists of news, talk shows, documentaries, music shows, and feature films.
Their 1st shows (including music videos) that were recorded in 1956 are stored on film. In 1965, the studio switched to usingvideotape recording since it became affordable and the quality of their produced shows (includingmusic videos) increased. AzTV maintains a huge archive of all their savedTV programming that was recorded from 1956–present. All of their shows are preserved on different film and videotape formats.
As of March 2014[update], 99.96% of the population of Azerbaijan can receive AzTV viaterrestrial,cable, orsatellite broadcasting, giving it the largest coverage area of any Azerbaijani television channel.[25]
In addition to broadcasting domestically, AzTV broadcasts internationally on theinternet and viafree-to-air satellite toEurope,North America, and portions ofNorth Africa, theMiddle East, andCentral Asia.[26]
