Radio Television Brunei (RTB) is the state broadcaster in Brunei. Its history goes back to 1957 when Radio Brunei launched broadcasting. The company’s television service was started in 1975. The broadcaster’s programs are also available across the border in Malaysia (mostly in the northern part of the Sarawak state and on the island of Labuan).
Media assets
Television: RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka, RTB Sukmaindera
Radio: National FM, Pilihan FM, Pelangi FM, Harmoni FM, Nur Islam FM
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
RTB is a state-controlled enterprise operated as a state body. In the past, it used to be controlled by the ministry of information (which has been restructured in the meantime). Now, RTB is operated by and has a budget line in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Source of funding and budget
RTB is fully funded by the government of the Sultanate of Brunei. For the fiscal year 2019-2020, RTB had a budget of BND 41.3m (US$ 30m), all coming from an allocation from the Prime Minister’s Office, according to the latest data available in the media.
Editorial independence
RTB is fully controlled and managed by the state through the Prime Minister’s Office that makes all the decisions related to the editorial coverage of RTB. The station’s declared mission is to “uphold the image of a caring and effective government” and to “strengthen connections between the government and the people.” The station has an openly propagandistic mission aimed at disseminating information about the activities of the Brunei government.
No domestic statute and no mechanism of assessment or oversight of the editorial independence of RTB have been identified.
October 2023