In the first half of 2025, Chairman Ahmed al‑Moslemany unveiled the “Maspero Platform”, an integrated digital media portal designed to centralise state radio, television, and on-demand services—stepping into Egypt’s competitive digital content space

Media assets

Television: National- Channel 1, Channel 2, Channel Egypt

Regional- Cairo Channel, Canal Channel, Alexandria Channel, Delta Channel, Upper Channel, Thebes Channel; Nile TV satellite chain, Nile TV International, Nile Sport

Radio: National- General Programme, Voice of the Arabs, Middle East Radio, European Program Radio, Cultural Radio, Youth and Spots Radio, Radio Greater Cairo, Songs Radio, News & Music Radio, Radio Masr, Al Qur’an al Karim Radio, Educational Radio, Voice of Palestine

Regional- North of Saaeed Radio, Nile Valley Radio, Middle Delta Radio, Radio Alexandria

International- Radio Cairo International, Radio Cairo World Service

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

The NMA was formalized through Law No. 178 of 2018, which delineated its responsibilities and structure, following Egypt’s 2014 constitutional reform. As a public administrative body, the NMA is underpinned by a governance framework that effectively places it under strong executive control.

The President of the Republic appoints one-third of the Authority’s nine board members directly. The remaining members are nominated by various state and semi-state institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Cabinet, telecom regulator, Parliament, Press Syndicate, and the Union of Print and Advertising Professionals—each nominating one representative.

While this appointment structure provides a veneer of multi-institutional involvement, it ensures that the executive branch retains predominant influence over the Authority’s governance.

As of November 2024, Ahmed al‑Moslemany (aka Ahmed El‑Moslemany) replaced Hussein Zein as head of the NMA, following a presidential decree reshaping Egypt’s media governance landscape. Al‑Moslemany is an Egyptian journalist, political analyst, and television presenter known for his close ties to state institutions. He previously served as a presidential media adviser.

Source of funding and budget

The NMA is heavily reliant on public subsidies, with the state treasury contributing the highest share of its financing. According to the 2022/2023 Egyptian national budget, the Authority received a total allocation of EGP 24.9 billion (approximately USD 805 million), of which EGP 18.4 billion (USD 595 million) came directly from state coffers.

In addition to direct budgetary support, the NMA collects income from the car radio tax—a legacy levy imposed on all vehicles equipped with radio receivers. However, according to Egyptian media experts consulted in May 2024, state funding consistently accounts for over 75% of the NMA’s annual financial intake, underlining its deep dependency on government support.

Editorial independence

Since its inception, the NMA—like its predecessor ERTU—has operated under firm government editorial control. Legislative changes introduced in recent years have further tightened state oversight, granting authorities more leeway to manage and censor public media content. These reforms, widely criticised by domestic and international observers, have facilitated a broader consolidation of media control in the hands of the executive.

To date, no domestic law guarantees the editorial independence of the NMA or the outlets under its remit. On the contrary, internal editorial processes are widely believed to be closely supervised to ensure alignment with the government’s political and ideological narrative. Journalists and media experts interviewed for this report in 2024 and again in March 2025 consistently pointed to an escalation in self-censorship and content filtering practices across NMA platforms.

There is no independent oversight body to monitor or evaluate the Authority’s editorial practices, nor are there any transparency mechanisms through which the public can scrutinise its output or strategic decisions.

July 2025

Media assets

Print: Al Ahram Publishing House (Al Ahram, Al Ahram El Dawlia, Al Ahram Al Masai, Al Ahram Weekly (English), Al Ahram Hebdo (French), Al Shabab Magazine, Al Ahram Al Iktesadi, Al Ahram Al Ryadi, Al Syasa Al Dawlia, Nesf Al Donya, Alaa Al Deen, AhwalMasrya, Al Dimoqratya, Loghat Al Asr, Al Bayt, The strategic report (Arabic), The strategic report (English), Al Ahram Strategic File)

Dar Al Tahrir Publishing House (Al Gomhuria, Al Masa, The Egyptian Gazette, The Egyptian Mail (in English), La Bourse Egyptienne (in French), Le Progrès Egyptien (in French), Al Raay, Al Koura wa el mlaaeb, Al Alem Magazine, Ketab Al Gomhouria, Aqeedaty, Horyaty)

Akhbar Al Youm Foundation (Al Akhbar, Akhbar Al Youm weekly, Akher Saa, Akhbar Al Hwadeth, Akhbar Al Nogoom, Akhbar Al Adab, Akhbar Al Ryada, Al Lewaa Al Islam, Fares magazine, Kittab Al Youm, Kittab Al Youm Al Tebi, Braille News, Litterature News, El Masaa News, Akhbar Al Youm Classic)

Dar Al Hilal Publishing House (Al Hilal)

Rose Al Yousef Foundation (Rose al Yusuf)

Dar Al Maaref; News agency:Middle East News Agency (MENA)

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

The NPA was legally established under Law No. 179 of 2018, launching operationally that year after Egypt’s wider media restructuring. Its nine-member board is appointed by the President: three directly and six through nominations from bodies like the Ministry of Finance, Cabinet, Parliament, and press syndicates. The first Chairman, Karam Gabr, served until mid-2020, when he was promoted to chair the Supreme Council of Media Regulation—and succeeded by Abdel-Sadek El-Shorbagy, who has remained at the helm since 2020.

Current Chairman, CEO-equivalent, of NPA is Abdel-Sadek El-Shorbagy. He has served as Chairman of the NPA since June 2020, reappointed in 2024 by presidential decree. El-Shorbagy is a veteran journalist and former editor-in-chief of Rose Al-Yusuf magazine, known for his alignment with state narratives and close ties to the political establishment.

Source of funding and budget

According to local media experts and journalists interviewed for this report in May 2024 and February 2025, NPA is predominantly financed via the state budget, supplemented by 5% of state press group profits. In fiscal year 2021–22, the Authority posted a loss of approximately EGP 12.6 billion (USD 800 million), with state funding covering roughly two-thirds of its costs. By mid-2024, public financial oversight continued to note this dependency, with core funding still traced to the Treasury.

Editorial independence

Consistent with its mandate, the NPA’s publications remain under tight government control. Legal reforms since 2014 have fortified state influence, and leaders within the Authority have championed its role as a “pillar of the state.”

There are no legal guarantees in place to preserve editorial autonomy, nor mechanisms for independent monitoring or accountability.

July 2025

Media assets

Print: Al Youm Al Sabea, Ain Al Mshaheer, Sout Al Ouma, Egypt Today, Business Today

Television: Al Hayah, ON E, ON Sport, CBC Egypt, CBC Drama, CBC Sofra, CBC Extra

Radio: Nile Radio Company (Mega FM, Nagham FM, Shabee FM, Radio Hits)

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

EMG is wholly owned by Eagle Capital Financial Investments, a state-run investment arm tied to Egyptian intelligence. Initially founded by Ahmed Abu Hashima, a businessman with ties to the security services, Eagle Capital assumed full control in late 2017, acquiring Hashima’s stake.

The company maintains close coordination with state media authorities; a 2019 agreement with the National Media Authority (NMA) formalizes content-sharing and satellite channel collaboration.

As of mid‑2025, Tamer Morsi continues in his role as Chairman—a position he has held since February 2018—overseeing EMG’s vast media and production network.

Source of funding and budget

EMG does not publicly disclose its financials. However, according to media insiders interviewed in May 2024, the conglomerate enjoys significant state-backed financing routed through partnership agreements and coordinated content production deals with NMA. Multiple funding channels ensure EMG’s dominance in broadcast and digital sectors.

Editorial independence

Despite its commercial veneer, EMG remains editorially subservient to state interests. Management is staffed with individuals closely tied to the intelligence community, and news output consistently mirrors government perspectives. No independent oversight exists, and local journalists report that self-censorship prevails, with sensitive coverage—especially of dissent, security, or criticism—routinely suppressed.

July 2025