QMC to launch English TV 'Channel 37' by 3rd quarter next year

The New English TV Channel 37 in Qatar

Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), the official broadcasting authority for the State of Qatar, is launching its newest venture “Channel 37 TV” with 4K programming in English.

According to 37 TV Director Ali bin Tuwar al-Kuwari, the channel will act as a cultural bridge between Qataris and expatriates.

“The authority concerned has decided to launch a TV channel in English targeting the expatriates in Qatar,” said Al Kuwari while speaking to local Arabic daily Arrayah.

He further stated that the work is in full swing to launch TV Channel 37 by third quarter of 2022 but there is an emergency plan to launch it earlier if needed. 

What to expect from Channel 37?

Speaking about the programmes, Al Kuwari said, “TV Channel 37 will air miscellaneous programmes targeting the entire family – political programmes ‘face to face’, economic programme, etc., inspired by new ideas.”

• 20 programmes in the first round
• 6 daily slots
• morning and evening programme
• 3 main news bulletins
• Indian and Korean serial episodes a day

The new channel will cater to diverse interests of the various categories of residents in Qatar. The director stressed that the new TV channel has a specialised team to select excellent content for the targeted public.

He said that the program is being initiated following the directive of Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Media Corporation H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani who directed them to start from where others end, the investment has been made on mobilizing human resources and 4K equipment for the TV channel.

“Since Qatar attached great importance to its past and legacy in all things and TV Channel 37 is part of it which aims at reviving an important cultural legacy,” Al Kuwari furthered.

Why is it called Channel 37?

Referring to the name of the channel, al-Kuwari said the number 37 denotes the optimal and healthy temperature of the human body.

Presenters

TV Channel 37 has 8 presenters and this number will be increased gradually by adding Qatari and expatriates for diversification which will reflect the international image of the channel, said Al Kuwari

FIFA World Cup 2022 Coverage

A special unit for the new media has been introduced in addition to a good number of studios distributed across the various areas of the country and presenters from different nationalities to give excellent coverage during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The new channel will have a special drone unit for filming aerial videos for an added perspective.

Al-Kuwari added that 37 TV is co-operating with Qatar Statistics Authority to prepare some studies and data that help measure the indicators of the demographic structure of the country and determine information regarding the middle class, comprising the working class and high professionals.

OTT Technology

The channel will also reach out to the public through the Over-The-Top (OTT) technology. OTT is a means of providing television and film content over the internet at the request and to suit the requirements of the individual consumer.

Launch Night

Channel 37 TV is also preparing a special documentary for telecast on the launch night. It will feature recollections from a number of viewers who have strong relations to the Qatar TV channel when it was launched in 1982.

Documentaries

Al Kuwari disclosed that the TV channel partnered with many entities such as Northwestern University and Qatar University which provided innovative ideas.

The new channel also has a unit for documentary researches and discoveries that was established in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), and it is being equipped with the most sophisticated video recording equipment and technologies to document and record the wild marine and land life in Qatar.

“There is a very close partnership with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. We have a dedicated unit for making documentaries on the environment of Qatar,” said Al Kuwari.

Accordingly, high quality documentaries, meeting international standards in the field, will be presented through the new channel.

As part of the new round of programmes, 26 short films will be presented besides a large collection of documentaries.