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2 channels
Maldives television is a study in small-market pragmatism. With just 11 domestic channels, the landscape is tight and purposeful. The state broadcaster, Television Maldives (TVM), anchors the schedule with news in Divehi, mosque call-to-prayer breaks, and government-affairs programming. But the most visible category after general entertainment is religious content, Islamic lectures, Quran recitations, and Friday sermon replays fill significant airtime, reflecting the country's 100% Muslim population. Travel channels also punch above their weight, a natural fit for a nation whose economy runs on tourism; you'll see resort promo docs and underwater cinematography mixed into regular schedules. English programming, largely imported dramas, movies, and sports, airs with subtitles rather than dubbing, a practical choice given the small audience and the high cost of localization. Primetime runs from 20:00 to 23:00, but many households supplement local TV with Indian and international satellite channels, which dominate via cable and IPTV. The news-reading style is formal and unhurried, closer to a public briefing than the rapid-fire anchors of neighboring South Asian markets. Compared to India or Sri Lanka, the Maldives offers no soap opera glut or reality show boom, just a quiet, functional broadcast ecology that serves a dispersed population of atolls. For viewers, switching between a news bulletin, a travel feature, and a religious talk show feels less like channel surfing and more like tuning into the country's daily pulse.