2M (TV channel)

Background

2M was set up as a second national television channel with the aim of promoting competition and diversity in Moroccan audio-visual broadcasting.

2M started its programmes officially on 4 March 1989. It used to be a cable channel broadcasting unscrambled twice a day. After 7 years of activity, SOREAD (ONA group), the major shareholder, withdrew from the management of this TV channel due to financial reasons. The Moroccan state took over the control of 2M with a participation of 68% in its capital. This takeover was supported by a major effort to develop the audio-visual sector.

In early October 2000, 2M started 24-hour broadcasts, changed its schedule and later started broadcasting on Intelsat on January 15, 2001.

Radio 2M is the companion radio channel to 2M, presenting music, news, and information directly from Morocco in Arabic and French.

Content

2M challenged taboos by debating controversial issues and established a reputation for itself as a symbol of freedom of speech in Morocco. The channel regularly broadcasts news, films, sports and music. It is a government-controlled public TV station and it has been alleged that the government also controls editorial choices.

2M in figures

• Personnel: 500 people, including 30% executives;
• Coverage: 80% of the population;
• Capital: 302,371,500 Moroccan dirham (€27,008,467 / £18,228,395 / US$36,750,427), including 68% owned by the state and 20.7% owned by Mohammed VI's holding SNI.

Programming

Foreign shows

2M's successes are largely Turkish series dubbed in Arabic, reporting shares of up to 75% as of January 2018.

Former

In the past, the local version of 2M aired French dubs of international TV series, as well as some dubbed in the local dialect of Arabic.

• 24
• Alias
• Bones
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy contre les vampires)
• CSI (Les Experts)
• CSI: NY (Les Experts : Manhattan)
• CSI: Miami (Les Experts : Miami)
• Cuenta Atràs () (Moroccan dubbing)
• Damages
• Dark Angel
• Desperate Housewives
• Dexter
• Friends
• Gossip Girl
• Instant Star (Ma vie de star)
• Jericho
• Just Cause (En quête de justice)
• Law & Order (New York District)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (New York unité spéciale)
• Los hombres de Paco () (Moroccan dubbing)
• Mad Men
• Medium
• Maid in Manhattan (Amour à Manhattan)
• Más sabe el diablo (L'Ange du diable, El Diablo)
• NCIS (NCIS : Enquêtes spéciales)
• Un paso adelante (Un, dos, tres) (Arabic dubbing)
• Prison Break
• Rubí (Arabic dubbing)
• Stargate Atlantis
• The 4400 (Les 4400)
• The Invisible Man (Invisible Man)
• The O.C. (Newport beach)
• The Shield
• The Sopranos
• The Simpsons
• Ugly Betty
• Vermist () (Moroccan dubbing)

American TV shows and Hollywood movies are imported from France with French dubbing.

On both the local and satellite versions of the channel, a selection of other foreign shows are dubbed locally in Moroccan Arabic:

• Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke
• Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar
• Vaidehi
• Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann
• ** ()
• Avenida Brasil
• Larin izbor

2M's children's programming block ("2M Kids") also includes foreign TV shows dubbed in French or in Moroccan Arabic, such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Chaotic, Tommy & Oscar, and Bob the Builder.

Locally-produced

• Arabic afternoon news bulletin (الظهيرة)
• Berber news bulletin (zgh, ⵉⵏⵖⵎⵉⵙⵏ)
• French evening news bulletin (Info Soir)
• Arabic evening news bulletin (المسائية)
• EcoNews
• JamShow (first season over)
• Sabahiyat 2M ()
• Rachid Show ()
• Shahiwat maa Shoumisha ()
• L'Couple
• Maa Lnass (, lit. "With the People")
• Mourakiboun ()
• Obesity Challenge (تحدي السمنة)

References

References

1. (2017-04-27). "Audiovisuel : L'État et la SNI refusent de recapitaliser 2M".
2. "2M".
3. (31 December 2012). "Societe Nationale d'Investissement : Etats Financiers Sociaux".
4. "Audience TV au Maroc: 2M cartonne, Al Oula stagne". atlasinfo.fr.
5. "2M to broadcast 24 hours", ''Africa Film & TV Magazine'', nº. 28, February–April 2001
6. "2M.ma".
7. "2M.ma".