2M is a television chain established in 1989 by the royal-owned business conglomerate ONA. Later, the station was sold to the Moroccan state, namely to a company called Société d’Études et de Réalisations Audiovisuelles (SOREAD). 2M operates a popular television channel and a radio station with the same name. In 2021, 2M was taken over by SNRT as part of a larger plan of the Moroccan government to build a large state-run media conglomerate. Until SNRT fully integrates 2M in its operations, we will maintain 2M’s profile in the State Media Monitor database.
Media assets
Television: 2M
Ownership and governance
2M was established in 1989 by ONA, a conglomerate owned by the royal family. Ten years later, it was sold to the state, which controlled 72% of the stake in the station. For a long time, the royal house has owned some 20% in 2M via Société Nationale d’Investissement (SNI) or Al Mada. This large private Moroccan holding runs businesses in various industries, including banking, telecommunication, energy, and food manufacturing. In May 2021, state-owned SNRT bought the whole stake in M2, with plans to include the station in a large state-owned media holding that is planned to be called Media Holding Public.
When the consolidation of the media companies into Media Holding Public is completed, we will move 2M’s profile to SNRT. In the 2023 State and Public Media Global List, we already included 2M in the SNRT’s portfolio.
Source of funding and budget
Advertising is 2M’s main source of revenue. The company that runs 2M, SOREAD, had incurred losses for an extended period. In an attempt to make the Moroccan public and state broadcast operations more efficient, the government announced in May 2021 plans to merge SNRT, 2M, and Medi1TV, a privately run station in which the royal house has a stake. By May 2023, SNRT purchased 2M and Medi1TV.
Editorial independence
Although there are no rules of editorial nature imposed on 2M, the broadcaster is known to toe the government’s line. Although it presents a variety of topics, 2M never criticizes the authorities or engages in coverage that displeases the government, according to local journalists and experts interviewed for this report in May 2024. Following the acquisition by SNRT, 2M is even more likely to act as a government mouthpiece, according to local journalists consulted for this report in May 2024.
2M operates in line with a rulebook spelling out the programming conditions the station needs to comply with. Yet, the document is not sufficient to guarantee 2M’s editorial independence.
No independent oversight or assessment mechanism to validate 2M’s editorial independence has been identified.
July 2024