SOCAR Media
SOCAR Media, the broadcasting arm of Azerbaijan’s state oil giant SOCAR, controls a growing portfolio of outlets including CBC, Dalga TV, Khazar TV, and several radio stations. Established to consolidate the regime’s grip on mass communications, it operates squarely within the government’s orbit, blending entertainment with state-aligned messaging.
Media assets
Television: CBC, CBC Sport, Dalga TV, Khazar TV
Radio: Khazar FM, 100.5 FM, Araz FM
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
SOCAR Media is a wholly‑owned subsidiary of SOCAR (the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan), overseeing media brands including CBC (Caspian Broadcasting Company), CBC Sport, Dalga TV, Khazar (Xazar) TV, and several radio stations. Its acquisition of Khazar TV was officially completed in the first half of 2020, and this station is administered by the Caspian Media Center—a structure SOCAR intends to fold entirely into SOCAR Media.
Source of funding and budget
Publicly available financial disclosures for SOCAR Media remain elusive. Nonetheless, overseas-based Azerbaijani journalists interviewed in March 2024 point to a dual revenue model: advertising income and substantial subsidies from its state-controlled parent, SOCAR.
Editorial independence
SOCAR Media is widely seen as operating entirely in lockstep with the Aliyev government’s messaging goals. Observers emphasize that the company’s news coverage mirrors official viewpoints, and there’s no legal framework or independent oversight in place to safeguard editorial neutrality.
August 2025