RTA TV

RTA, known as تلویزیون ملی (Telvizun-E-Milli, meaning National Television) in Persian, is a television channel originally founded in 1964; the first in Afghanistan. It is owned by Radio Television Afghanistan (from the Afghan government).

Exclusive 2008 speech

RTA became famous worldwide when Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a live speech to the world minutes after dozens of insurgents attempted to assassinate him at an Afghan military parade. The assassination attempt was thwarted by the Afghan National Army. The scene of the attempt was also broadcast live to RTA viewers in Afghanistan and picked up by the international media.

International launch

RTA became available in Europe, Middle East, North Africa and North America on 5 January 2008. The channel's broadcasting hours were originally 06:00 to 00:00 (local Afghan time), corresponding to 01:30 to 19:30 GMT. Later in 2008, RTA became a 24-hour channel, and this allowed viewers Internationally to watch it at more convenient hours.