Cairo Channel
| Company type | State-owned broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | July 1962 |
| Defunct | 1967 |
| Fate | Relaunched |
| Headquarters | Cairo , Egypt |
Area served | Cairo, Kalioubia, Giza |
| Owner | National Media Authority |
The Cairo Channel (in Arabic: قناة القاهرة), alternatively referred to as Channel 3 (القناة الثالثة), is among the six regional broadcasters managed by the National Media Authority. Initially introduced in the 1960s, it underwent a relaunch in 1985.
History
Launched in July 1962, the Third Channel focused on cultural and educational content. By 1967, foreign films made up approximately 40% of its programming. It broadcast solely within Cairo on channel 9 until operations ceased in 1967 due to financial difficulties following the Six-Day War, which affected ERTU's ability to acquire imported content.
The Cairo Channel recommenced transmission on 6 October 1985, marking the anniversary of Egypt’s Sinai triumph in 1973, this time on channel 7 (as channel 9 was reassigned to Channel 2). Covering Cairo, Kalioubia, and Giza, it became ERTU's inaugural regional channel. Initially, its daily broadcast spanned two hours (6pm–8pm), occasionally extending for theatrical productions and Egyptian cinema.
In 2017, presenter Azza al-Henawi exited amid controversy related to her critiques of Egyptian political figures and sharing material associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, with legal issues tracing back to 2015.
By 2015, the Cairo Channel, together with six other ERTU Al-Mahrousa stations, faced criticism for lacking advancement, weak engagement on social media platforms, and limited studio facilities. Nevertheless, its show Line and Thread gained notable online traction, boasting 277,000 followers on Facebook and 14,000 subscribers on YouTube.