Radio Television Brunei (RTB) is the state-owned broadcaster in Brunei. Radio Television Brunei (RTB) has a history dating back to 1957, when Radio Brunei commenced broadcasting. The company launched television broadcasting in 1975. Additionally, the broadcaster’s programmes are available across the border in Malaysia, particularly 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-owned enterprise managed as a state-owned entity. Previously, the Ministry of Information (which has since undergone restructuring) exercised control over the organization. The RTB is now 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 2019-2020 financial year, RTB had a budget of BND 41.3m (US$ 30m), all of which was sourced from an allocation from the Prime Minister’s Office, according to the data available in the media.
Editorial independence
RTB is a fully state-controlled and state-managed entity, with all editorial decisions pertaining to RTB being made by the Prime Minister’s Office. The station’s stated mission is to “uphold the image of a caring and effective government” and to “strengthen connections between the government and the people.” The station’s stated objective is to disseminate information about the activities of the Brunei government in an openly propagandistic manner.
To date, no domestic statute or mechanism for the assessment or oversight of RTB’s editorial independence has been identified.
September 2024