Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC)

Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) is a public corporation established under the Public Corporation Act, 1992 to provide a public service broadcasting through radio and television. In 2007, Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam and the national television (TVT) were merged into Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation. The broadcaster runs three television channels and four radio channels. A new channel dedicated to promoting tourism by airing programs about wildlife, historical sites and ruins, cultural tourism, and marine parks and beaches was launched in 2018.


Media assets

Television: TBC1, TBC2, Tanzania Safari Channel

Radio: TBC Taifa, TBC FM, TBC Arusha, TBC International

State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)


Ownership and governance

TBC is owned by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Treasury Register, a department within the Ministry of Finance, that holds 100% of the shares in the company. TBC has a board of governors that is appointed by the state president on the recommendation of the minister in charge of information and culture. TBC was established through the Public Corporation Act of 1992.

Source of funding and budget

The government of Tanzania provides the operational funds to Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation to foot recurrent expenditures as well as to boost radio and television reception. According to the minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, TBC was to receive an additional allocation of TZS 12.5bn (US$ 5.3m) to top up its budget for the financial year 2020/2021. The station also generates income through commercial activities. This income is believed by local experts to be under 50%. Detailed financial accounts of ZBC are lacking.

Editorial independence

The state broadcaster TBC operates on the orders of the government, being essentially a government mouthpiece. Some journalists agree that it lacks  the essential characteristics of a proper public broadcaster. One journalist said that calling TBC a public broadcaster is just “camouflage.” Another journalist said: “The ruling party has a serious problem once you start criticizing the government. As a government employee, you can’t report against the government anywhere.”

As a public broadcaster, TBC has a set of obligations and guarantees to produce and broadcast information, education and entertainment in an independent and impartial manner. However, these obligations are not met in practice. Other than that, TBC does not have an internal statute that would establish its independence.

There is no independent assessment/oversight mechanism in charge of validating the independence of TBC.

October 2023