Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) is the official state broadcaster of the State of Qatar. Established by Emiri Resolution No. 9 of 2009, QMC operates two national television channels and six radio stations, serving as a key vehicle for government communication and public broadcasting in the country.
Media assets
Television: Qatar TV, Qatar 2, Al-Kass Sports
Radio: QBS Radio, A-Rayyan Radio, Qatar Radio, Urdu Radio, Oryx Radio, Holy Quran Radio, Sout Al Khaleej
News agency: Qatar News Agency
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
QMC is wholly owned by the State of Qatar and functions under the auspices of the Council of Ministers, to which it is institutionally affiliated. Strategic and operational decisions—including the appointment of senior leadership—are made by the Emir of Qatar, following nominations submitted by the Council of Ministers.
As of mid-2025, the organization is chaired by Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, a senior member of Qatar’s ruling House of Thani and concurrently the chairman of the board of Al Jazeera Media Network. His dual leadership roles underscore the close alignment between QMC and the state’s broader media and communication strategy.
Source of funding and budget
Under its founding charter, QMC is permitted to draw on a mixed funding model, including state subsidies, commercial revenues, donations, and bank loans. In practice, however, the corporation remains heavily reliant on public funding.
According to researchers in Qatar interviewed between 2023 and 2024, approximately 75% of QMC’s annual budget is sourced directly from the government. Two internal sources at QMC confirmed that in 2021, the organisation generated around US$4 million in commercial revenue, predominantly through advertising. More recent financial figures remain undisclosed, and no audited annual budget has been made publicly available to date.
Editorial independence
QMC operates effectively as a state-run broadcaster, adhering closely to editorial guidelines laid down by the Qatari authorities. Its programming avoids content that might be perceived as critical of the Qatari government, Islam, or ruling institutions. This editorial posture reflects broader patterns of media control in Qatar, where limits on expression are reinforced through law and institutional practice.
As of June 2025, there exists no independent domestic oversight mechanism capable of assessing or certifying QMC’s editorial independence. The absence of such safeguards raises persistent concerns regarding the station’s autonomy and its role in reflecting a diversity of viewpoints.
July 2025