Nessma El Jadida

Nessma El Jadida is a Tunisian commercial television channel whose current name means “New Breeze.” The service originated as Nessma TV, a privately operated broadcaster launched on 16 March 2007 by brothers Nabil Karoui and Ghazi Karoui in partnership with Italian media interests associated with Silvio Berlusconi and producer Tarak Ben Ammar. It was established as a subsidiary of Karoui & Karoui World Group and positioned itself as a regional Arabic-language television outlet for Tunisia and the Maghreb. The channel’s programming has combined locally produced talk, entertainment, news, cultural and sports content with acquired serials and international formats adapted for North African audiences. Broadcast programs have generally used French or Maghrebi Arabic subtitles, reflecting the linguistic and cultural mix of its target market. One of its better-known format adaptations was the Maghrebi edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, titled Man sa yarbah al malyoon. Its schedule has also included political and current-affairs programs, comedy, lifestyle programming, sports coverage and imported Turkish, Syrian and other Arabic-language dramas. Nessma expanded its digital and thematic offering during the 2010s. Nessma Live was introduced in January 2017, and Nessma Sport began operating as an internet-based sports streaming channel on 4 October of the same year. The wider Nessma brand therefore extended beyond a single linear television service into live and online programming. The broadcaster became especially prominent in Tunisian public life because of its ownership and political associations. Nabil Karoui, one of the channel’s founders and owners, later became a major political figure and finished runner-up in Tunisia’s 2019 presidential election. The channel’s regulatory position became increasingly contentious. On 27 October 2021, Tunisia’s broadcasting regulator ordered the service to stop operating, stating that it lacked the necessary broadcasting authorization. Security forces also raided the channel’s studios. The intervention was widely viewed in the context of the political conflict surrounding Karoui, although the formal regulatory issue concerned licensing. Following negotiations between channel representatives and the president of the High Independent Authority for Audiovisual Communication, commonly known by its French acronym HAICA, a temporary authorization was granted on 8 March 2022. The channel officially returned to the air on 11 March 2022 under the name Nessma El Jadida. The relaunched service was described as being owned by Maghreb Broadcast and managed by Zied Riba. It also became available through the Iraqi satellite platform ShababSat on DMN. The rebranding distinguished the relaunched operation from the earlier Nessma TV and Nessma Rouge identities while preserving the established Nessma name. Nessma El Jadida’s identity remains rooted in commercially oriented television for Tunisian and Maghrebi viewers. Its principal competitive assets are regional reach, Arabic and French accessibility, locally relevant programming and a familiar entertainment brand. Because ownership, licensing and operational details have changed over time, the current corporate structure and long-term status should be verified against the broadcaster’s latest regulatory and corporate disclosures.

Nessma was launched in Tunisia on 16 March 2007 by Nabil and Ghazi Karoui, with participation from Silvio Berlusconi’s Italian media interests and Tarak Ben Ammar. The channel was created within Karoui & Karoui World Group and developed as a commercial broadcaster aimed not only at Tunisia but also at viewers across the Maghreb. During its original period it was known primarily as Nessma TV and was also associated with the Nessma Rouge identity. The service built its schedule around a mixture of local and regional programs, entertainment formats, current affairs, sports, cultural content and acquired serials. Its presentation strategy acknowledged the multilingual environment of North Africa: programs were accompanied by French or Maghrebi Arabic subtitles. The channel carried a Maghrebi adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, as well as programs such as Bissiyassa, Couzinetna Hakka, Dhayf Al Ousboua, Jek El Mersoul, Les guignols du Maghreb, Memnoua Al Rjel, Ness El CAN, Ness El Hand, Ness Hollywood, Ness Nessma, Ness Sport, NetMag, Non Solo Moda, PlayR and Star Academy Maghreb. Its acquired drama catalogue included titles such as Aşk-ı Memnu, Bab al-Hara, Cello, Kurtlar Vadisi, Muhteşem Yüzyıl, Nsibti Laaziza and Muhteşem Yüzyıl. The broadcaster also developed extensions beyond its main television feed. Nessma Live launched in January 2017, and Nessma Sport followed on 4 October 2017 as an online sports service. These initiatives reflected the growing importance of live and digital distribution alongside conventional satellite television. Nessma’s public profile was affected by a major controversy in October 2011, when it aired Persepolis. A scene in the film depicting God speaking with a child was regarded by some Tunisian viewers as religiously offensive. Protests followed, and the home of Nabil Karoui was attacked with Molotov cocktails on 14 October. Karoui apologized two days earlier, but legal proceedings nevertheless began. The trial was delayed amid disorder, and on 3 May 2012 Karoui was convicted and fined 2,400 Tunisian dinars for offenses described as violating sacred values and disturbing public order. Regulatory conflict became central to the channel’s later history. On 27 October 2021, HAICA ordered the service to close because it was operating without the required authorization. State security forces raided its studios. The action took place amid heightened political tensions involving Nabil Karoui, who had been a presidential candidate and political rival of President Kais Saied. The timing and sudden enforcement prompted claims that the action had a political dimension, although licensing was the stated regulatory basis. A temporary authorization was granted on 8 March 2022 after discussions between channel representatives and HAICA’s president. Nessma resumed broadcasting on 11 March 2022 as Nessma El Jadida, or “New Nessma.” The relaunched operation was identified with Maghreb Broadcast and managing director Zied Riba. It was also distributed through the Iraqi satellite platform ShababSat on DMN. The new name marked an institutional and branding reset while retaining the audience recognition built by the original Nessma service.

• 2022

  Nessma El Jadida relaunches

  [1]Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel receives temporary authorization and returns to air under the Nessma El Jadida name.

• 2021

  Regulator orders shutdown

  [1]Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org

  HAICA orders Nessma to cease operations, citing the absence of a broadcasting license.

• 2017

  Nessma expands into digital services

  [1]Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org

  Nessma Live launches in January, followed by the online sports service Nessma Sport in October.

• 2012

  Nabil Karoui convicted

  [1]Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org

  Karoui is found guilty in connection with the Persepolis broadcast and ordered to pay a fine.

• 2011

  Persepolis controversy

  [1]Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel’s broadcast of Persepolis produces protests, an attack on the founder’s home and criminal proceedings.

• 2007

  Nessma launches in Tunisia

  [1]Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org

  Nessma begins broadcasting as a commercial channel founded by Nabil and Ghazi Karoui with international media partners.

A commercially oriented Tunisian and Maghrebi television service combining Arabic-language regional programming, French-accessible presentation, entertainment, news, sports and imported drama.

• Television channel · 2022

  Nessma El Jadida

  The relaunched Tunisian commercial television service, introduced in March 2022 after a regulatory shutdown. It preserves the Nessma brand while presenting the operation as a new phase under Maghreb Broadcast.

• Digital television · 2017

  Nessma Live

  A live-oriented digital extension of the Nessma service launched in January 2017, allowing the brand to distribute programming beyond its primary linear channel.

• Sports streaming · 2017

  Nessma Sport

  An online sports channel introduced on 4 October 2017. It extended Nessma’s digital presence through sports-focused programming.

• 2021

  Shutdown over broadcasting authorization

  HAICA ordered Nessma to stop broadcasting because it was operating without the required license. A studio raid accompanied the order, and the action was politically sensitive because of Nabil Karoui’s rivalry with President Kais Saied.

  Source

• 2011

  Persepolis broadcast controversy

  Nessma’s airing of Persepolis provoked protests because a scene depicting God was considered offensive by some viewers. Nabil Karoui apologized, but his home was later attacked and legal proceedings followed. In May 2012 he was convicted and fined 2,400 Tunisian dinars.

  Source

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• 2022

  Relaunch and rebrand as Nessma El JadidaStrategy

  Background

  The original service had been ordered off the air after a licensing dispute with Tunisia’s audiovisual regulator.

  Action taken

  Following a temporary authorization, the channel returned under the Nessma El Jadida name with Maghreb Broadcast identified as owner and Zied Riba as managing director.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand enabled the channel to resume broadcasting and marked a change in its operating and management structure.

  Source

• 2017

  Launch of Nessma Live and Nessma SportProduct launch

  Background

  The broadcaster sought to extend its television brand into live and internet-based distribution.

  Action taken

  Nessma Live launched in January, and Nessma Sport launched online in October.

  Aftermath

  The brand gained additional digital and sports-oriented outlets, although the later status of these services is not documented in the supplied material.

  Source

1. 1Nessma El Jadidaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Nessma official websitenessma.tv