| Embassy of The State of Kuwait Australia - New Zealand |
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Media
Kuwait’s official media, under the supervision of the Ministry of Information, follows an open and flexible policy domestically
and internationally. It is based on mutual cooperation, respect, and non-interference in the affairs of other countries. The
policy is planned collectively with emphasis on intellectual, social, political and economic development.
The media in Kuwait is vibrant and fully alive to its responsibilities of life. From newspapers to Satellite channels, Kuwait
has virtually become a media capital of the Gulf. Kuwaiti media is free and enjoys extensive support of the State. This
freedom of expression ensures that the State system remains answerable to its people.
Print media, radio and television reach out to the entire nation and are an effective medium in shaping the public opinion
through their well-informed and objective reportage. The establishment of Kuwait Information Offices under the aegis of
International Media Centres across the world has greatly helped Kuwait in projecting its policies, history, culture and art
and in showcasing its achievements to the entire world.
The Kuwait News Agency ( KUNA) serves as the official news service agency for the country.
Print Media
Kuwait takes pride in its press, which it regards as a democratic form of freedom of expression.
Kuwait has a thriving and largely successful print media industry. The print media is as multi-lingual and cosmopolitan as
the people of Kuwait are. English, Arabic even French newspapers and magazines catch a reader’s fancy.
Kuwaiti press houses have become large informational and commercial establishments. Printing presses are no longer
satisfied with printing only their daily newspaper. They have embarked on parallel operations, carrying out all the functions
of commercial printing presses.
The Kuwaiti press occupies an important place among the Arab press. It plays an outstanding role in informing public
opinion and participating in building modern Kuwait.
The press is not restricted to the officially licensed newspapers and magazines; it extends to a wide range of high-quality
magazines published by organisations, establishments, companies, banks, syndicates, federations and corporations. Many
are distributed free of charge.
There is more than Seven daily newspapers are issued in Kuwait: Al-Rai Al-Aam (Public Opinion), Al-Seyassah (Politics), Al-
Qabas (The Torch), Al-Watan (The Native Land) and Al-Anbaa (The News) are Arabic papers; Arab Times and Kuwait Times
are printed in English. Kuwait Times publishes 16 special pages for the expatriate community; eight in Malayalam and eight
in Urdu. to read Kuwaiti newspapers online click here
According to recent statistics, the total number of magazine and newspapers published from Kuwait is approximately 220,
specialising in different fields of life: political, social, medical, sports, educational, literary, technical, scientific, oil,
agricultural, legal, children, transport, etc.
Kuwait houses offices of Kuwaiti journalists, associations, Arab and foreign news agencies, press and radio stations.
The Ministry of Information produces a group of specialised publications - books, periodicals and other informative items.
Some of these are the Facts & Figures, Annual Year Book, Official Gazette, Al-Arabi, etc. It produces material for special
occasions - posters, folders, stickers, calendars, brochures, cards and post cards.
Radio
Radio Kuwait started its first transmission using a 0.5 KW transmitter in one of the rooms in Naif palace. It later started
broadcasting on short and medium wave lengths from the current Ministry of Information building. In 1960, a year before
independence, four more transmitters were added.
The first feminine voice was also heard for the first time this year. Efforts continued to boost the station’s transmission and
in 1990, before the Iraqi invasion, the station’s transmission capacity was 500 kilowatt and its reach included most of
Europe and North America.
Today, Radio Kuwait, under the auspices of the Ministry of Information, uses state-of-the-art broadcasting technology and
its programmes reach out to a much wider audience inside and outside Kuwait. Its programmes in Arabic and English are
broadcast on the FM, MW and SW frequencies and cover a wide range of subjects such as Arabic music (folk and modern),
news, discussions, and current and social affairs.
Kuwait’s English language radio stations broadcast a mix of current hit music and popular oldest in rock, contemporary and
other styles. They also broadcast regular local and foreign news updates and financial and sports reports. Operating 24
hours a day from one of the most sophisticated studios in the world, local DJs and presenters are very popular on both live
and pre-recorded shows.
The radio transmission stations:
For exact details and schedules of the programmes, tune into the Radio Kuwait or justvisit the Radio Kuwait
website www.moinfo.gov.kw
Television
Television in Kuwait made a small beginning in 1957. However, the first real steps towards television transmission weretaken in November 1961 when the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, ordered that Kuwait TV be
transferred to the State.
Development of television in Kuwait happened in three phases. Phase one began when Kuwait TV began telecasting
programmes in black and white for four hours per day from November 15, 1961 until March 15, 1974. The second phase
began with the transmission of the colour German PAL signals.
The third phase began with the inauguration of its new headquarters in the Information Complex on February 17, 1979.
The new building was equipped with the most sophisticated equipment enabling the station to offer a variety of
programmes -- drama, cartoons, cultural, scientific, religious, Arabic programmes, local series, western series, variety
programmes, news and political programmes.
Kuwait has four state-run TV channels.
Marking a first in Kuwait’s history, Studio 160 - a digital video studio - has been established. The studio has enabled better
quality transmission and picture resolution without any signal loss during transmission.
and internationally. It is based on mutual cooperation, respect, and non-interference in the affairs of other countries. The
policy is planned collectively with emphasis on intellectual, social, political and economic development.
The media in Kuwait is vibrant and fully alive to its responsibilities of life. From newspapers to Satellite channels, Kuwait
has virtually become a media capital of the Gulf. Kuwaiti media is free and enjoys extensive support of the State. This
freedom of expression ensures that the State system remains answerable to its people.
Print media, radio and television reach out to the entire nation and are an effective medium in shaping the public opinion
through their well-informed and objective reportage. The establishment of Kuwait Information Offices under the aegis of
International Media Centres across the world has greatly helped Kuwait in projecting its policies, history, culture and art
and in showcasing its achievements to the entire world.
The Kuwait News Agency ( KUNA) serves as the official news service agency for the country.
Print Media
Kuwait takes pride in its press, which it regards as a democratic form of freedom of expression.
Kuwait has a thriving and largely successful print media industry. The print media is as multi-lingual and cosmopolitan as
the people of Kuwait are. English, Arabic even French newspapers and magazines catch a reader’s fancy.
Kuwaiti press houses have become large informational and commercial establishments. Printing presses are no longer
satisfied with printing only their daily newspaper. They have embarked on parallel operations, carrying out all the functions
of commercial printing presses.
The Kuwaiti press occupies an important place among the Arab press. It plays an outstanding role in informing public
opinion and participating in building modern Kuwait.
The press is not restricted to the officially licensed newspapers and magazines; it extends to a wide range of high-quality
magazines published by organisations, establishments, companies, banks, syndicates, federations and corporations. Many
are distributed free of charge.
There is more than Seven daily newspapers are issued in Kuwait: Al-Rai Al-Aam (Public Opinion), Al-Seyassah (Politics), Al-
Qabas (The Torch), Al-Watan (The Native Land) and Al-Anbaa (The News) are Arabic papers; Arab Times and Kuwait Times
are printed in English. Kuwait Times publishes 16 special pages for the expatriate community; eight in Malayalam and eight
in Urdu. to read Kuwaiti newspapers online click here
According to recent statistics, the total number of magazine and newspapers published from Kuwait is approximately 220,
specialising in different fields of life: political, social, medical, sports, educational, literary, technical, scientific, oil,
agricultural, legal, children, transport, etc.
Kuwait houses offices of Kuwaiti journalists, associations, Arab and foreign news agencies, press and radio stations.
The Ministry of Information produces a group of specialised publications - books, periodicals and other informative items.
Some of these are the Facts & Figures, Annual Year Book, Official Gazette, Al-Arabi, etc. It produces material for special
occasions - posters, folders, stickers, calendars, brochures, cards and post cards.
Radio
Radio Kuwait started its first transmission using a 0.5 KW transmitter in one of the rooms in Naif palace. It later started
broadcasting on short and medium wave lengths from the current Ministry of Information building. In 1960, a year before
independence, four more transmitters were added.
The first feminine voice was also heard for the first time this year. Efforts continued to boost the station’s transmission and
in 1990, before the Iraqi invasion, the station’s transmission capacity was 500 kilowatt and its reach included most of
Europe and North America.
Today, Radio Kuwait, under the auspices of the Ministry of Information, uses state-of-the-art broadcasting technology and
its programmes reach out to a much wider audience inside and outside Kuwait. Its programmes in Arabic and English are
broadcast on the FM, MW and SW frequencies and cover a wide range of subjects such as Arabic music (folk and modern),
news, discussions, and current and social affairs.
Kuwait’s English language radio stations broadcast a mix of current hit music and popular oldest in rock, contemporary and
other styles. They also broadcast regular local and foreign news updates and financial and sports reports. Operating 24
hours a day from one of the most sophisticated studios in the world, local DJs and presenters are very popular on both live
and pre-recorded shows.
The radio transmission stations:
 | Kabd: Has 20 transmission sets which range between medium wave and short wave. |
| Al-Makawa: Has two transmission sets and well as an emergency set |
| Al-Jeewan: Transmits FM programmes in Arabic and English. |
| Marina : FM 88.8 |
For exact details and schedules of the programmes, tune into the Radio Kuwait or justvisit the Radio Kuwait
website www.moinfo.gov.kw
Television
Television in Kuwait made a small beginning in 1957. However, the first real steps towards television transmission were
transferred to the State.
Development of television in Kuwait happened in three phases. Phase one began when Kuwait TV began telecasting
programmes in black and white for four hours per day from November 15, 1961 until March 15, 1974. The second phase
began with the transmission of the colour German PAL signals.
The third phase began with the inauguration of its new headquarters in the Information Complex on February 17, 1979.
The new building was equipped with the most sophisticated equipment enabling the station to offer a variety of
programmes -- drama, cartoons, cultural, scientific, religious, Arabic programmes, local series, western series, variety
programmes, news and political programmes.
Kuwait has four state-run TV channels.
- KTV1 broadcasts a comprehensive variety of programmes in Arabic including music shows, films and news and
current affairs programmes from morning until late evening.
- KTV2 telecasts a variety of family programmes in English. Many of these programmes are extremely popular. Some
programmes, such as the evening movie, are subtitled in Arabic.
- KTV3 is Kuwait’s sports channel. It telecasts a truly wide selection of live and pre-recorded sporting events from all
over the world, some with voice-overs in Arabic.
- KTV4 is a recreational channel and offers an entertaining mix of programmes in Arabic and English throughout the
night.
Marking a first in Kuwait’s history, Studio 160 - a digital video studio - has been established. The studio has enabled better
quality transmission and picture resolution without any signal loss during transmission.