TOLO (TV channel)
| Company type | Commercial television station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, Television |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Kabul , Afghanistan |
Area served | Afghanistan |
| Products | Television programming in Dari-Persian and Pashto |
| Owner | MOBY Group |
TOLO () represents a commercial television station managed by MOBY Group within Afghanistan. Established in 2004, it was one of the earliest commercial broadcasters in the nation, cultivating a wide viewership through a varied programming portfolio. It stands as one of Afghanistan's leading channels, transmitting content in both Dari-Persian and Pashto languages.
History
Originating in Kabul in 2004, TOLO expanded its reach by November 2007 to cover 14 cities across Afghanistan via free-to-air terrestrial and satellite signals. Its affiliated channels include TOLOnews, which offers round-the-clock news coverage, and Lemar TV, which caters specifically to Pashto-speaking viewers.
The station gained international attention through the 2012 documentary The Network by Eva Orner, which saw limited distribution abroad in 2013.
On 21 January 2016, a suicide car bombing targeted TOLO personnel in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of at least seven employees, including three women, and injuring 26 others. This incident was widely condemned globally as an attack on press freedom in Afghanistan.
After the Taliban's return to power in 2021, roughly 150 TOLO employees left Afghanistan. Since August 2021, the channel has curtailed entertainment programming and increased religious content to align with Taliban-imposed restrictions, including the prohibition of music on mass media platforms.
Programmes
TOLO’s initial programming slate featured sports coverage, reality television formats, and investigative reports.
The series Raaz Hai Een Khana ("The Secrets of This House") received a Special Award at the 2008 Seoul Drama Awards. Entirely produced and aired by Afghan talent for Afghan audiences, it was chosen from a pool of 152 submissions spanning 33 countries.
The channel’s prominent game-show reality format, Afghan Star, is a singing contest evaluated by professionals from Kabul’s music sector and is adapted from the Idol franchise. This program was also the subject of the acclaimed 2009 documentary film Afghan Star.
In 2010, TOLO introduced the police drama Eagle Four, partially supported by U.S. government funding and frequently likened to the American series 24.
Additionally, TOLO airs international content such as well-known Turkish dramas and the Pakistani animated superhero show Burka Avenger.
Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, TOLO and other broadcasters were compelled to cease airing programs depicting interactions between men and women, leading to the discontinuation of Afghan Star. The network redirected its focus toward single-gender productions centered on cooking, travel, and entrepreneurship, alongside educational shows designed for girls barred from attending school under Taliban governance.