Radio Télévision Nationale d’Haïti (RTNH) is Haiti’s state-owned public broadcaster, established in 1987 through the merger of Télévision Nationale d’Haïti (founded in 1956) and Radio Nationale. RTNH operates both television and radio services, broadcasting in French and Haitian Creole. Its headquarters are located in Port-au-Prince.
Media assets
Television: Tele Haiti
Radio: Radio Nationale
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
RTNH remains under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, a structure in place since 1995. In February 2025, the Haitian Council of Ministers initiated a significant restructuring of RTNH by establishing a five-member Technical Commission. This commission, led by Sandra Duvivier and including members such as journalist Jean Mary Simon and Gamall Augustin, is tasked with overhauling both the television and radio divisions of RTNH. The goal is to modernize the broadcaster’s operations and align its services with contemporary public service broadcasting standards.
Source of funding and budget
RTNH is entirely funded by the Haitian government. The most recent publicly available budget data indicates that for the fiscal year 2018–2019, RTNH operated with a budget of HTG 220 million (approximately USD 3.4 million).
While the national budget for 2024–2025 has been amended to address pressing national priorities, including security and economic recovery, specific allocations for RTNH have not been publicly disclosed.
Editorial independence
RTNH continues to function under significant government influence regarding its editorial content. Although it no longer serves as a direct propaganda outlet, editorial decisions are still predominantly made by government authorities.
As of May 2025, there is no established legal framework or independent oversight body to ensure or assess RTNH’s editorial independence. The recent restructuring efforts may impact this dynamic, but their effectiveness in promoting editorial autonomy remains to be seen.
Despite the establishment of the restructuring commission, information collected from journalists working with the broadcaster in May 2025 indicates that RTNH faces internal administrative issues. Employees reported a lack of concrete steps toward meaningful reform, leading to concerns about the effectiveness of the restructuring efforts. The escalating gang violence in Haiti severely impacted RTNH’s operations. The broadcaster faced challenges in safely deploying journalists and maintaining consistent coverage, particularly in areas heavily affected by violence.
May 2025