Khabar Agency

The Khabar Agency (KA) (Kazakh: "Хабар" Агенттігі, "Habar" Agenttigi; Russian: Агентство «Хабар») is a major media outlet in Kazakhstan. It was established in 1995, known originally as the National Television News Agency (Khabar is News in Kazakh). It is currently one of the largest networks in the country, and broadcasts daily in Russian and Kazakh. Additionally, Khabar runs the satellite channel Kazakh TV, which is potentially available across Europe and Asia. It features programming in English, Kazakh and Russian.[1]

Khabar Agency
TypeJoint stock company
IndustryMass media
Founded1995 (1995)
Headquarters
Almaty
Area served
Kazakhstan
ProductsBroadcasting, radio, web portals
Websitekhabar.kz
Khabar TV
CountryKazakhstan
Broadcast areaKazakhstan
HeadquartersAlmaty, Kazakhstan
Programming
Language(s)Kazakh, Russian
Ownership
OwnerKhabar Agency
Sister channelsEl Arna
Khabar 24
Kazakh TV
History
Launched23 October 1995
Links
Websitekhabar.kz

Khabar annually hosts the Eurasian Media Forum, which attempts to bring together journalists and political figures to "facilitate the professional development of the Eurasian media and promote international public understanding of Eurasian issues".[2]

Since 1 January 2016, Khabar has been an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).[3][4]

Ownership

The ownership of Khabar has at times not been completely clear. Dariga Nazarbayeva, daughter of Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev, founded and controlled the company. She officially stepped down as company chairwoman during her bid for parliament in 2004.[5] However, she still retained close ties to the agency and continued to organize the Euraisan Media Forum. Her husband, Rakhat Aliyev, confirmed that the couple still held shares in Khabar, along with several other media outlets.[6] He was, however, quick to deny direct ownership, and attacked those who claimed otherwise.[7]

In April 2006, Kazakhstan's Information and Culture Minister Ermukhamet Ertysbayev announced the intention to gain "one hundred-percent state control over the Khabar joint-stock company." This came on the heels of a general government call for greater control of the media, brought about from the turmoil following the murder of political opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbayev.[5]

Shortly thereafter, Dariga's Asar party was merged into Otan. Some observers see the near-simultaneous loss of both the political party and the Khabar network as efforts by President Nazarbayev to reel in his daughter.[8][9]

On 5 May 2006, Maulen Ashimbaev, deputy head of the President's administration, was named the new chairman. As of 2006 the state owned 50% plus one share of Khabar.[10]

Political bias

As one of the primary media outlets in Kazakhstan, Khabar is often under scrutiny for its role in elections. The agency is often criticized for mostly covering pro-presidential parties, namely Otan (now Nur-Otan) and Asar, Dariga's short-lived party.[11] During the 2004 elections, for example, half of all election coverage on Khabar was devoted to the Asar Party.[12]

Location

Khabar's headquarters is located on 4 Kunayev Street in Nur-Sultan. Near to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy headquarters.

References
  1. About Us Archived 2009-12-17 at the Wayback Machine Khabar Agency.
  2. About Us Archived 2010-04-09 at the Wayback Machine Eurasian Media Forum.
  3. Jiandani, Sergio (18 December 2015). "Kazakhstan: Khabar Agency becomes EBU associate member". esctoday.com. ESC Today. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  4. "С 1 января телеканал "Хабар" вступает в Европейский вещательный союз". khabar.kz (in Russian). Khabar Agency. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015. (version in Kazakh Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine)
  5. Kazakhstani Government Moves To Reassert Control On Mass Media Archived 2017-12-29 at the Wayback Machine Eurasianet
  6. Kazakh President's son-in-law denies bank charges, admits to media holdings RFE/RL. 2002.
  7. A Press Repressed Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Global Journalist. 2002.
  8. Kazakhstan: Battle Of The Clans Continues Archived 2017-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Eurasianet
  9. Kazakhstan: Apparent Rift Opens Within Nazarbayev Family Archived 2017-12-30 at the Wayback Machine Eurasianet
  10. Kazakh Presidential Aide Named To Head Media Company RFE/RL. May 2006.
  11. To Tout Reform, Nazarbayev Uses Opposition Minister Archived 2018-07-26 at the Wayback Machine Eurasianet.
  12. Media Bias Mars Kazakhstan’s Election Campaign Archived 2018-07-26 at the Wayback Machine Eurasianet.
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