12 channels
Moroccan television runs on a bilingual rhythm that few countries match. Flip through the dial and you'll hear Modern Standard Arabic in a formal newscast, then Darija, the Moroccan Arabic dialect, in a domestic drama, then French in a talk show or a dubbed film. That linguistic layering isn't a quirk; it's the core of the viewing experience. Public broadcaster SNRT anchors the landscape with a family of channels covering general entertainment, news and culture. Its bulletins are read in formal Arabic, often by women in elegant, understated presentation, a style that contrasts with the more heated panel debates on commercial news channels. The evening schedule leans heavily on series, both homegrown and imported. Turkish dramas and Egyptian classics arrive dubbed or subtitled, while Moroccan productions often stick to Darija for authenticity. During Ramadan, the rhythm shifts entirely: families gather after iftar for long drama serials and religious programming, and advertising slots become the most expensive of the year. Sports coverage centres on domestic league football and national team matches, with live commentary in Arabic and French. Entertainment spans music competition formats, comedy sketch shows and cooking programmes, frequently adapted from international franchises but localised with Moroccan humour. Unlike some neighbours that lean on a single state broadcaster, Morocco's market has opened to private commercial channels, creating a livelier mix. Yet the public channels still set the news agenda. For anyone trying to understand the country, its television is a surprisingly direct window, less into politics than into how Moroccans switch between languages, registers and regions in daily life.