TOLO (TV channel)

History

The station was launched in Kabul in 2004, and by November 2007 it was broadcasting in 14 cities in Afghanistan on free-to-air and throughout the region by terrestrial antenna and by satellite. Its sister channels are TOLOnews, on air all day, and Lemar TV, in the Pashto language.

TOLO was the subject of documentary film in 2012 called The Network, by Eva Orner. The film saw limited international release in 2013.

On 21 January 2016, a Taliban suicide car bomber detonated explosives near a bus carrying staffers from TOLO in Darulaman Road in Kabul, killing at least 7 staff members – including 3 female employees - and wounding 26 others. The attack drew widespread global condemnation, with various world countries, activists and media organizations denouncing it as an attack on Afghanistan's freedom of press.

During and following the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, around 150 TOLO staff fled the country. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, Tolo TV drastically reduced entertainment programs and increased religious programs, especially since the Taliban banned music in mass media.

Programmes

Early programmes on the channel included sports broadcasts, reality TV shows, and investigative journalism programmes.

Raaz Hai Een Khana ("The Secrets of This House") took the Special Award at the Seoul Drama Awards in October 2008. Telecast by TOLO and produced by Kaboora Productions, Raaz Hai Een Khana is the first drama series entirely written, acted, filmed, produced and broadcast by Afghans, for Afghans in Afghanistan. It was selected for a Special Prize amongst 152 entries from 33 countries.

TOLO’s first game-show reality programme, Afghan Star, is a competition for Afghan singers, judged by industry people in the Kabul music industry. The programme is an adaptation and remake of the Idol franchise.{{cite news | access-date = 2021-08-30

In 2010 TOLO TV began Eagle Four, a police drama often compared to the American series 24; it was partially funded by the U.S. government.

TOLO TV has also broadcast several foreign programs, including Turkish dramas and the Pakistani animated superhero series Burka Avenger.

Since the 2021 Taliban takeover, TOLO, like other TV channels, have been required to cease broadcasting content showing men and women interacting with each other, severely impacting what entertainment series are able to be broadcast. Afghan Star was removed from air as part of these restrictions. This has led to the production of new single-sex shows on topics such as cooking, travel, and entrepreneurship. The channel has also attempted to create more educational programming to aid girls who are unable to attend school under the Taliban.

References

References

1. Brown, Katherine A.. (February 1, 2019). "Your Country, Our War: The Press and Diplomacy in Afghanistan". Oxford University Press.
2. "The Network". Dogwoof Films.
3. "Seven TOLO TV Employees Killed in Wednesday Attack". TOLO News.
4. Lamb, Christina. (2024-09-21). "The Afghan station defying Taliban and giving women a voice".
5. (18 August 2021). "Fewer Women, No Entertainment: Kabul's Media Scene Transforms After Taliban Takeover". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
6. "For first time, a woman won Afghanistan's version of 'American Idol'". Washington Post.
7. Nordland, Rod. (21 November 2010). "On TV, an Afghan Unit Challenges Tradition And Tackles the Taliban". [[The New York Times]].
8. (2010-12-08). "Afghan TV police drama delivers message with zest". [[Los Angeles Times]].
9. "Afghan TV Show Aims To Burnish Police Reputation". [[NPR]].
10. (November 17, 2010). "U.S. Courts Afghans Through Television". WSJ.com.