Assahafa.com
Morocco’s state broadcaster SNRT will complete its acquisition of major media outlets within two months, becoming the sole owner of Soread 2M and Medi1 TV, while holding an 83.6% stake in both Medi1 Radio and Regie3.
This was announced by SNRT CEO Faiçal Laraïchi during a parliamentary committee meeting on Tuesday.
Speaking before the Education, Culture and Communication Committee at the House of Representatives, Laraïchi explained that this consolidation reflects a government decision to create a public media holding company, with SNRT, which currently employs 2,300 people, serving as the parent company.
“We have already acquired Medi1 Radio, Medi1 TV, and Regie3, which handles advertising for public media,” Laraïchi said. “Regarding 2M, we have made significant progress on legal, financial, and tax obligations.”
The CEO said that this restructuring aligns with the government’s strategy to streamline resources. “This is part of a political vision to consolidate public media outlets and rationalize management of financial, human, technical, and production resources, as well as program acquisition, satellite investment, and geographical news coverage,” he explained.
Laraïchi also detailed several cost-reduction measures that will come out of the merger, including shared equipment usage. “SNRT has made significant investments in broadcasting trucks. Instead of 2M or Medi1 purchasing their own trucks, they can use these technical and human resources, reducing costs across all companies,” he explained.
The consolidation will also affect broadcasting operations. “SNRT has stopped hiring in the broadcasting department since other companies joining the holding, particularly 2M, already have 35 to 40 broadcasting staff,” Laraïchi noted.
The SNRT CEO assured that despite the changes, editorial independence would be maintained: “This does not mean SNRT will control the editorial direction of 2M and Medi1. Each channel will preserve its identity, editorial line, and programming.”
The restructuring will optimize various operational aspects, including satellite usage. “This will enable us to offer a unified Moroccan package rather than having channels scattered across different satellites,” Laraïchi said.
SNRT currently operates about 200 broadcasting stations, while 2M has approximately 90 stations, with Medi1 TV and Radio maintaining a smaller number.
Regarding technical integration, Laraïchi mentioned plans for a unified information system to oversee all companies’ operations.
“Instead of each company submitting separate equipment tenders, we can now submit unified requests and negotiate with stronger companies,” he explained, adding that this would standardize technical work culture across the organizations.
The merger will also consolidate staff training: “Training can be shared to ensure unified methodology and concepts, rather than each company training its staff separately,” Laraïchi stated.
Following the acquisition phase, SNRT will enter discussions with the government to establish a program contract, as required by Law 77.03, which will determine funding arrangements with the Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Finance for fulfilling broadcasting obligations.
Programming strategy
In other matters discussed during the parliamentary session, Laraïchi addressed SNRT’s programming strategy, particularly during Ramadan.
“We strive to provide the best quality content to Moroccan viewers during the holy month,” he said, noting that some programs are kept in reserve from previous seasons to ensure programming flexibility.
He detailed the company’s rigorous selection process for external productions, explaining that an eight-member committee oversees program selection. “Four members are from SNRT and 2M, while four are external,” Laraïchi said.
He noted that the committee enforces strict budget limitations, with projects exceeding the predetermined cost ceiling by more than 3% being automatically rejected.
Laraïchi provided historical data on SNRT’s collaboration with production companies, noting a significant evolution over the years.
“In 2010, we worked with 89 companies, which increased to 103 the following year and 118 in 2012. After implementing new specifications in 2013, the number dropped to 38 companies,” he explained.
He also added that by 2024, SNRT and 2M collectively worked with approximately 78 production companies.
The selection process includes careful scrutiny of documentation and costs. “Any file missing a single document is immediately rejected to ensure equal opportunities,” Laraïchi stated.
SNRT, he said, maintains a comprehensive database of historical pricing information to evaluate production costs effectively, particularly for equipment rental and logistics.
Source: Morocco word news
