On November 6, 1926, radio station No 1 was established and put into operation in Baku (in the area called Ganjlik). As a result, for the first time, a radio program with a frequency of 891 kHz was broadcast via a 1.2 kW (wired) transmitter in the Republic. At that time, this event was a great innovation in the political and cultural life of Azerbaijan people.
Then, in 1936, “Respublika” radio program was broadcast on a 35-kW radio transmitter, and in 1970, on a 20-kW radio transmitter, “Araz” radio program began broadcasting on the medium wave. Since 1969, these radio programs have been transmitted in stereo. During the USSR, foreign broadcasting was carried out on the territory of the radio station by means of powerful radio transmitters operating in different types of medium and short-wave bands. Since independence, “Respublika” and “Ictimai” radio programs have been transmitted on SRV-30 on frequency 891 kHz, SRV-20 on frequency 702 kHz, and SRV-7 on frequency 1530 kHz.
The first 180 m TV tower assembled from steel blocks was built in Baku in 1956, and on 14/02/1956, the first time AzTV1 program was broadcast in black and white on a 5 kW (UHF band) TV transmitter.
On June 28, 1957, the first live streaming was broadcasted on television at the Republic Stadium.
In 1967, it was switched from black-white television to color (SECAM) TV.
AzTV1 program began broadcasting in the VHF band via a 5 kW TV transmitter, and in 2001 in the UHF band via a 5 kW TV transmitter with the commissioning of the 310-meter Baku TV Tower Complex in 1996.
For the first time since 1997, “I Respublika” and “Araz” radio programs were broadcast on FM band from Baku TV Tower Complex.
Starting from August 26, 2019, DAB + standard digital broadcasting of 12 radio programs in one package on 218.6 MHz (11B) frequency (frequency range: 174 ÷ 230 MHz) was launched in Baku and Absheron peninsula. At present, radios in the capital are broadcast both on FM and in digital format. It is planned to launch digital radio in the regions in the near future.
Digital radio broadcasting allows for more efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum, more reliable reception of radio signals, the ability to transmit information in one frequency band in the form of video, graphics and text, as well as broadcasting in single-frequency network (SFN) mode.
According to item 5.1.7 of the Action Plan on implementation of the “State Program on realization of the National Strategy on development of information society in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2016-2020” approved by the Order dated September 20, 2016 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Resolution No10, dated September 27, 2016 on termination of analog broadcasting of national TV programs in Baku and Absheron peninsula from November 1, 2016 and analog broadcasting of TV programs in other regions of the country from December 1, 2016 was issued by National Television and Radio Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and implemented. Thus, with the cessation of analog TV broadcasting in the country, the transition to DVB-T standard digital TV broadcasting has been completed.
At present, television programs are broadcast throughout the country on the basis of digital technology.
At the same time, the vast majority of these television programs are broadcast in HD format in the capital. Until it, for the first time in Azerbaijan, TV programs were broadcast in HD format during the Eurovision-2012 song contest through the Baku TV Tower Complex.
After that, from 2016, Idman Azerbaijan TV, CBC Sport TV programs, from September 2017, ATV, from October, Khazar TV and Ictimai TV programs, from February 2018, AzTV, Culture TV programs, from June 2019, ARB24 and on January 12, 2021, Space TV program started broadcasting in HD format from Baku TV Tower Complex in the territory of Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.
Currently, work is underway to upload all local TV programs in HD format to Azerspace-1 satellite via the Baku TV Tower Complex. To date, CBC Sport TV has been broadcast via satellite in HD format.
After the victory of the 44-day war thanks to the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the heroism of our brave army and national unity, President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on October 29, 2020 “On the organization of temporary special administration in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.” In connection with this, work has begun to restore the infrastructure, including radio and television broadcasting stations in the liberated territories. To date, radio and television broadcasts have been restored in Shusha on 31.12.2020, in Kalbajar on 04.10.2021, in Zangilan on 20.10.2021 and in Gubadli on 25.10.2021. The radio and television programs broadcast from these stations and their coverage are as follows:
List of radio and television programs broadcast from Shusha station and coverage:
11 TV programs in digital package on 30th TV channel (AzTV, Madaniyyat TV, Idman Azerbaijan TV, Ictimai TV, CBC TV, Real TV, Khazar TV, Azad Azerbaijan TV, CBC Sport, ARB-24, TRT-1);
4 radios (Azerbaijan radio on 101.7 MHz frequency, Public FM on 90.7 MHz frequency, CBC radio on 102.7 MHz frequency, Azad Azerbaijan radio on 98.3 MHz frequency);
Broadcast coverage:
Shusha, Khankendi, Mingachevir, Yevlakh cities and Khojaly, Aghdam, Barda, Goychay districts, as well as surrounding settlements.
List and coverage of radio and television programs broadcast from Kalbajar station:
8 TV programs in digital package on TV channel 23 (AzTV, Madaniyyat TV, Idman Azerbaijan TV, Ictimai TV, Space TV, Azad Azerbaijan TV, Khazar TV, CBC TV);
1 radio (105 MHz Azerbaijan radio);
Broadcast coverage:
Kalbajar city and 15 villages of Kalbajar region – Boyagli, Yellija, Geshdek, Shaplar, Ikinci Milli, Mammadushagi, Tatli, Garachanli, Kholazag, Dag Kilincli, Otagli, Dalayrim, Kilsali, Chaykend villages and part of Yanshag village.
List and coverage of radio and television programs broadcast from Minjivan (Zangilan) station:
8 TV programs in digital package on TV channel 43 (AzTV, Madaniyyat TV, Idman Azerbaijan TV, Ictimai TV, Space TV, Azad Azerbaijan TV, Khazar TV, CBC TV);
2 radios (Azerbaijan radio on 100.5 MHz frequency, Public radio on 99.5 MHz frequency);
Broadcast coverage:
Zangilan city, Minjivan settlement and 10 villages of Zangilan region – Girag Mushlan, Icheri Mushlan, Khurama, Muganli, Baharli, Dallakli, Bartaz, Garadare, Shafibeyli.
List and coverage of radio and television programs broadcast from Gubadli station:
8 TV programs in digital package on 26th TV channel (AzTV, Madaniyyat TV, Idman Azerbaijan TV, Ictimai TV, Space TV, Azad Azerbaijan TV, Khazar TV, CBC TV);
2 radios (Azerbaijan radio on 103.5 MHz frequency, Public radio on 101.5 MHz frequency);
Broadcast coverage:
Gubadli city and 12 villages of Gubadli region – Alibeyli, Goturbulag, Khojahan, Gapanli, Muganli, Hal, Khanlig, Hamzali, Efendilar, Gazyan, Saray, Yukhari Mollu.
It is planned to put into operation Shahyeri station located in Hadrut settlement of Khojavend region by the end of this year. Currently, intensive work is underway in this direction. As a result of the commissioning of the station, the settlements in the direction of Hadrut of Khojavend, Fizuli, Jabrayil, Beylagan, Agjabadi, Aghdam regions, as well as Imishli, Zardab, Barda, Tartar and Gubadli regions will be provided with radio and television broadcasting.
06.11.2021