ARB Media Group, a conglomerate of regional television channels, was founded in 2011. Today, it operates ARB TV, a nationwide broadcaster, along with five regional channels: ARB Kapaz, ARB Sheki, ARB Aran, ARB North, and ARB South. Additionally, it runs two thematic channels – ARB24, which is dedicated to news, and ARB Gunes, which focuses on children’s programming. The group also manages a radio channel, Kapaz FM.
Media assets
Television: ARB Kapaz, ARB Sheki, ARB Aran, ARB North, ARB South, ARB24, ARB Gunes
Radio: Kapaz FM
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Private (CaPr)
Ownership and governance
The ownership details of ARB are not publicly accessible, with known information indicating control by private entities. The company’s management has close ties with the Azeri authorities. For instance, Ismet Sattarov, the head of the ARB group, has a history of working with a foundation named after the former Azeri president, who is the father of the current president.
In 2020, Sattarov was appointed by the president to lead the National Television and Radio Council, the state-controlled broadcast regulator in Azerbaijan, as per reports from journalists covering Azerbaijan interviewed for this report in March 2024. This dual role creates an apparent conflict of interest, as Sattarov essentially serves as both the regulator and the regulated.
Source of funding and budget
Public information regarding the budget of ARB Media Group is currently unavailable. However, Azeri journalists based overseas interviewed for this report in March 2024 suggest that the media outlets operated by ARB generate income through the sales of advertisements. They also reportedly receive substantial subsidies from the state.
Editorial independence
ARB Media Group is widely regarded as a staunch supporter of President Aliyev, with channels under its management closely echoing the government’s agenda, as per Azeri journalists and experts interviewed for this report in March 2024. Various independent reports further characterize the company as pro-government.
No domestic statute or independent assessment/oversight mechanism to validate the independence of the media outlets run by ARB Media Group has been identified.
August 2024