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56 channels
Iraqi television reflects a country still stitching itself together after decades of conflict and fragmentation. The state broadcaster, Iraqi Media Network, runs several channels under the Iraqiya brand, general news, sports, and a dedicated children's feed, but the real story is in the sectarian and ethnic carve-up. Religious channels are a major category here, with Shia and Sunni programming sharing airtime in ways that would be unusual in most Arab countries. News channels are heavily factionalised: some align with the government bloc, others with the Kurdish Regional Government, and a few with Sadrist or Shia coalition viewpoints. The Kurdish-language sector is distinct, with channels like Rudaw and Zagros broadcasting in both Sorani and Kurmanji dialects, plus some English bulletins for international audiences. Primetime in Iraq tends to start late, after Maghrib prayer, and is dominated by Turkish dramas dubbed into Iraqi Arabic, these are cultural juggernauts. Reality competition formats from the region, like Arab Idol, have Iraqi spinoffs but less frequently. Dubbing is the norm for imports, not subtitles, especially for kids' cartoons and telenovelas. Live football coverage of the Iraqi Premier League and European leagues pulls huge numbers, but piracy cuts into official broadcast revenues. Children's programming is a mix of local productions and Arabic-dubbed international shows, often broadcast on dedicated kids channels like Toyor al-Janah or state-run Al-Imam. The TV landscape here is messy, political, and deeply local, a mirror of Iraq itself.