When Did Saudi TV Broadcasting Start?
Q &A
1
min Reading time
10/10/2025
Television broadcasting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially began in black and white in 1965 from Riyadh and Jeddah stations on a single channel. Afterwards, TV broadcasting reached Makkah al-Mukarramah and Taif from Jeddah station in 1967. Broadcasting then commenced from al-Madinah al-Munawwarah station in January 1968, followed by Qassim and Dammam stations in 1968. After that, official color broadcasting began in 1974 from Jeddah and Makkah al-Mukarramah stations. In 1972, the first live broadcast of the Day of Arafah was conducted.
Sources
(King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah))
Thikrayat TV Channel.
Rotana Khalejia.
Saudi Broadcasting Authority.