Etablissement public de télévision (EPTV)
Formerly known as Établissement national de télévision (ENTV), EPTV has been Algeria’s cornerstone public broadcaster since its founding in 1991 under executive decree No. 91‑100. As a publicly owned industrial and commercial entity, it oversees nine national TV channels—ranging from general entertainment to religion, education, and heritage—and a consortium of regional channels. In October 2021, EPTV expanded its portfolio with the launch of a rolling news channel, AL24 News, broadcasting in Arabic, French, and English to project Algeria’s voice on the global stage.
Media assets
National: TV1, Canal Algerie2, TV3, TV4, TV5, TV6, TV7, TV8; TV9
Regional: TV1 Alger, TV1 Oran, TV1 Constantine, TV1 Ouargla, TV1 Bechar
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Established by ministerial decree in 1991, succeeding ENTV and originally RTA (1962), EPTV functions as a “public establishment with industrial and commercial character.”
The highest governing structure at EPTV is its Administration Council, comprised of ten members—including the Director General—five appointed by government ministries and others by state firms (like APS) or media guilds. The council is chaired by the DG, who is installed via a decree from the Ministry of Communication.
In May 2025, Fethi Saïdi was appointed acting DG of EPTV, taking over from Salim Rebahi. This continues a pattern of frequent leadership turnover; the DG role remains highly unstable and politically sensitive.
Source of funding and budget
EPTV’s finances are propped up chiefly by state subsidies, accounting for over 70% of the budget; license fees collected via electricity bills; and advertising revenue. In 2021, the government allocated DZD 6.1 billion (~US $45 million), with a similar commitment in 2022 plus an extra DZD 550 million injection. The broadcaster has not disclosed updated financial reports since.
Editorial independence
Despite the façade of charter-based autonomy, censorship remains pervasive. Journalists interviewed for this report in May 2024, November 2024 and May 2025 acknowledge editorial interference from the Ministry of Communication.
The Boukabes/Lounakel episode speaks volumes: airing Moroccan sports success—a gesture seen as innocuous by many—reportedly cost Lounakel his job. This is evidence that any coverage deviating from state orthodoxy can result in executive repercussions.
No legal safeguards or independent oversight mechanisms exist to shield EPTV journalists from political intervention—editorial control remains firmly with the Ministry of Communication.
July 2025