Mongolia National Broadcaster (MNB)

Established in 1967, the Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB) holds the title of Mongolia’s oldest public media institution. Today, it operates four television channels—MNB 1, MNB News, MNB Sport HD, and MNB World—as well as three radio services: Mongolian National Public Radio (MNB 1), P3 FM, and the international “Voice of Mongolia” in multiple languages. MNB reaches over 1.8 million households—covering north of 90 percent of Mongolia’s population.

Media assets

Television: MNB1, MNB News, MNB Sport, MNB World

Radio: Mongolian Radio, P3 FM, Voice of Mongolia

State Media Typology

Ownership and governance

Under the Public Radio and Television Law of 2005, MNB functions as a non‑profit public service broadcaster. Its top governing body is the 15‑member National Council, appointed jointly by the President, the Parliament (Great State Hural), and the Government. A Director‑General, chosen by the Council, oversees day‑to‑day operations.

Source of funding and budget

Historically, MNB has been funded through a blend of state subsidies and household license fees. In 2018, state funding represented just over 58 percent of MNB’s MNT 18.7 billion (approx. US $7.8 million) budget; the remainder came from license fees and limited additional income. Later sources indicate a more balanced split: about 50 percent from the state and 48 percent from license fees, with a modest remainder from social advertising and grants. Households in Ulaanbaatar currently pay around MNT 1,100 (US$ 0.30) per month, with rural areas paying slightly less. No publicly available financial reports have emerged post‑2019, so the precise current budget remains a well‑guarded secret.

Editorial independence

Although the law enshrines editorial independence for MNB’s journalists and content creators, in reality the broadcaster is often accused of being heavily politicized. Political sway extends to appointments within the National Council and senior management, calling into question its autonomy.

During the 2024 parliamentary elections, MNB provided free airtime for candidates, yet monitoring revealed a skewed presentation that favored the ruling party, raising concerns about impartiality, according to the OSCE.

As of mid‑2025, no independent oversight framework has been established to safeguard or assess its editorial independence.

August 2025