Radio Sawa
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSpringfield, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
Radio Sawa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Radio Sawa
- Legal name
- Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.
- Website
- https://radiosawa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Radio Sawa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where Radio Sawa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Springfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Radio Sawa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- US Government Funding: MBN is a non-profit organization funded by the US Congress through a grant from the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent US government agency. The network operates under a Congressional mandate.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Radio Sawa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Radio Sawa, operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), is an Arabic-language radio and digital news service that delivers independent news, analysis, and commentary to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa. Content is distributed via the alhurra.com website, YouTube channels, podcasts, email newsletters, social media, and traditional radio broadcast under a Congressional mandate through USAGM.
Product overview
Radio Sawa (operating as Alhurra) is a news broadcasting platform under Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), offering a unified Arabic-first language news service with an integrated English version. The core offering is the alhurra.com website delivering regional news coverage. The product portfolio includes multiple branded content products: news shows (The Diplomat, What's the Story, Close Up), newsletters (MBN Briefing, Iran Briefing), the monthly MBN Magazine, and specialized trackers (China Tracker, Extremism Watch). Content is distributed across television, video series, podcasts, and email newsletters, with YouTube playlists serving as a distribution channel rather than an integrated product feature.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Iran Briefing: Newsletter covering Iran-related news and analysis
- MBN Agenda
- The Diplomat
- MBN Magazine
- Founding Encounters
- What's the Story
- Bitter Sweet
Products and services
- Alhurra Website (alhurra.com) Arabic-language news website providing independent analysis and coverage of Middle East and US politics, with content available in Arabic and English. Regional sections cover Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Gulf, Maghreb, Yemen, and Sudan.
- Radio Sawa Radio Service Arabic-language radio broadcast service targeting audiences in the Middle East and North Africa, providing news, music, and commentary.
- The Diplomat (دبلومات) Interview show featuring conversations with ambassadors and officials shaping Middle East foreign policy, hosted by Joe Kawly.
- Iran Briefing (إيران بإيجاز) Newsletter and podcast providing analysis of Iran's infrastructure, politics, and regional impact.
- Newsletter Products (نيوزلتر) Email newsletter products including MBN Briefing providing weekly roundups of top stories from the Alhurra platform, and Iran Briefing focused on Iranian affairs.
- MBN Magazine (ماغازين) Long-form journalism magazine featuring deep, richly reported commentaries on urgent regional topics, published monthly.
- China Tracker (مرصد النفوذ الصيني) Special coverage tracking Beijing's influence across the Middle East and North Africa through trade, diplomacy, and infrastructure projects.
- Founding Encounters (أميركا والشرق: قصص البدايات) Podcast series exploring lesser-known stories of Middle East and America relations from earliest years, covering historical diplomatic and cultural connections.
Companies that use Radio Sawa
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Radio Sawa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Radio Sawa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- UN/International Organizations (referenced in coverage)minorCoverage references include UN Special Envoy to Yemen, UN Security Council resolutions, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and other international bodies as part of news content.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Radio Sawa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Voice of America (VOA): US-funded international broadcaster operating under the same parent agency (USAGM) as MBN. Both share the Congressional mandate framework, government funding model, and mission of conveying US policy and independent news to international audiences, including in Arabic.
- Al Arabiya: Saudi-backed pan-Arab news network operating across TV, web, and social platforms. It competes with Alhurra for Arabic-speaking MENA audiences, offering similar 24/7 news, talk, and political coverage with different regional editorial alignment.
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL): US-funded international broadcaster operating under the same parent agency (USAGM) as MBN. Shares the Congressional funding model and public-service media mandate, though RFE/RL targets Eastern Europe and Eurasia rather than MENA.
- France 24 Arabic: French state-funded international broadcaster with a dedicated Arabic-language channel. Comparable to Alhurra as a Western government-funded international news outlet targeting Arabic-speaking audiences in MENA through TV and digital platforms.
- Al Mayadeen: Lebanese-based pan-Arab news network with editorial positioning often aligned with anti-Western perspectives. Competes with Alhurra for MENA audiences by offering an alternative editorial viewpoint in Arabic-language broadcast and digital formats.
- BBC News Arabic: BBC's Arabic-language service providing independent news and analysis across the MENA region. It is directly comparable to Alhurra as a Western government/publicly-funded international broadcaster with Arabic-language digital and broadcast distribution.
- Al Jazeera Arabic: Qatar-funded Arabic-language news network that competes directly with Alhurra/MBN for MENA audiences across broadcast, digital, and social channels. Both serve Arabic-speaking audiences with news, analysis, and regional coverage, though Al Jazeera operates with significantly larger resources and a different editorial sponsor.
- Sky News Arabia: Abu Dhabi-backed Arabic-language 24/7 news network covering MENA and international affairs across TV and digital. Competes with Alhurra for Arabic-speaking news audiences with a regional Gulf-state editorial backing rather than a Western government sponsor.
- Deutsche Welle Arabic (DW): German public broadcaster's Arabic-language service providing news and analysis to MENA audiences. Directly comparable to Alhurra as a Western public-sector international broadcaster distributing Arabic-language content across digital and broadcast channels.
- RT Arabic: Russian state-funded international broadcaster's Arabic-language service. Comparable to Alhurra as a government-funded international broadcaster distributing Arabic-language news content to MENA audiences with a non-Western editorial perspective.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Radio Sawa social profiles
Digital presenceRadio Sawa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Radio Sawa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Radio Sawa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Radio Sawa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Radio Sawa
What does Radio Sawa do?
Radio Sawa, operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), is an Arabic-language radio and digital news service that delivers independent news, analysis, and commentary to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa. Content is distributed via the alhurra.com website, YouTube channels, podcasts, email newsletters, social media, and traditional radio broadcast under a Congressional mandate through USAGM.
Is Radio Sawa a public or private company?
Radio Sawa is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Radio Sawa founded?
Radio Sawa was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Radio Sawa based?
Radio Sawa is headquartered in Springfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Radio Sawa make money?
One revenue line is on record: US Government Funding.
Who are Radio Sawa's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Voice of America (VOA), Al Arabiya, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), France 24 Arabic, Al Mayadeen, BBC News Arabic, Al Jazeera Arabic, Sky News Arabia, Deutsche Welle Arabic (DW) and RT Arabic.
Does Radio Sawa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Radio Sawa.
What industry is Radio Sawa in?
Radio Sawa's product category is International Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABABAB, Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 5161 and its SIC code is 4832.