TELMA (Moroccan TV channel)

TELMA

Company type	Private
Industry	Television broadcasting
Predecessor	Société Marocaine d'Études de Télévision
Founded	January 25, 1950 (1950-01-25)
Founder	Jean Luc
Defunct	May 20, 1955 (1955-05-20)
Fate	Liquidated
Headquarters	Casablanca , French protectorate in Morocco
Area served	Morocco (European residents)
Key people	Jean Luc (founder), Vicky Ivernel (film director)
Products	Television broadcasting
Owner	Compagnie Marocaine de Radio-Télévision (owned by Compagnie des compteurs)

TELMA holds the distinction of being the inaugural television broadcaster in both Africa and the Arab world, with operations spanning a brief period from 1954 to 1955 during the era of the French protectorate in Morocco. It was owned by the French private enterprise Compagnie Marocaine de Radio-Télévision and marked the first private Francophone television station, predating peripheral broadcasters near France. Its promotional tagline was Premier Poste de l'Islam, Premier Poste Africain (First Station of Islam, First African Station). The channel’s primary audience consisted of the European residents within the protectorate.

History

On 25 January 1950, during the protectorate period, the "Moroccan Company for Television Studies" (Société Marocaine d'Études de Télévision) was established with the objective of investigating commercial TV advertising free from royalty fees. This initial endeavor did not succeed, ultimately leading to TELMA’s creation. Subsequently, on 25 May 1951, TELMA was granted a broadcasting license by the French government, focusing its service on Morocco’s European communities. The principal shareholder was Compagnie des compteurs, a leader in French television technology.

In 1952, construction commenced near Casablanca to establish the primary transmitter station, which included studios and telecine equipment imported from France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Financial backers comprised Cie de Navigation Paquet, Paramount Pictures’ French branch, Pathé Afrique, Louis Dreyfus & Cie, Société des Avions Marcel Dassault, Radio Luxembourg’s French division, Suez Canal Company, Philips, Lebon & Cie, and TV Maroc.

Broadcasting began on 28 February 1954 (with some sources indicating 1 March), shortly after King Mohamed V was exiled. At that time, Morocco had an estimated 3,000–4,000 television receivers. TELMA transmitted from Casablanca on French VHF channel 8A using a 4-kilowatt transmitter, delivering approximately 20 to 30 hours of programming weekly. Additional transmitters were inaugurated in Rabat (1 September 1954), Meknes, and Fez, with future expansion plans targeting Marrakesh and Tangier to establish a national network. Initially, programming consisted mainly of French films and newsreels until connections with metropolitan France were established.

The programming schedule was predominantly in French with limited Arabic language content, complemented by English-language shows sourced from ABC at the request of American military forces starting mid-1954. The station aimed for daily transmissions lasting four hours: two hours in French and one hour each in English and Arabic, with intentions to introduce multi-language audio channels.

Political tensions during Morocco’s independence movement led to allegations of anti-French boycotts targeting TELMA beginning in March 1955. The broadcaster incurred financial deficits averaging US$57,000 monthly and totaled US$2.285 million losses within its first year, while unrest hindered growth among European viewers.

Operations ceased on 20 May 1955 without resumption. Attempts to sell included a proposed acquisition by commercial radio Europe No. 1 in October 1955, but ultimately liquidation occurred in January 1957.

In late 1960, the Moroccan government refurbished the Casablanca transmitter facility to launch the state-owned channel Al Aoula, which commenced broadcasting on 3 March 1962.