Radio Television Brunei (RTB)
Radio Television Brunei (RTB) is the national public broadcaster of Brunei Darussalam. Its origins date back to 1957 with the launch of Radio Brunei, followed by the establishment of television broadcasting in 1975. Today, RTB’s programming is accessible not only throughout Brunei but also reaches cross-border audiences in Malaysia’s Sarawak state and the island of Labuan, reinforcing its role as a regional soft power tool.
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
Ownership and governance
RTB operates as a fully state-owned enterprise. Historically overseen by the Ministry of Information, the broadcaster has since been brought under the direct jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), following a ministerial restructuring. RTB’s governance structure reflects a top-down model, with budgetary allocations and strategic oversight managed by the PMO, which continues to exert full operational and editorial control.
Current Acting Director of RTB is Pengiran Ismail Pengiran Muhammad Kifli, according to RTB information.
Source of funding and budget
RTB is financed entirely through government appropriations, with its budget directly allocated by the Prime Minister’s Office. In the 2019–2020 fiscal year, RTB received BND 41.3 million (approximately USD 30 million) in state funding. No subsequent public budget figures have been officially released for the 2021–2025 period. As of June 2025, RTB remains wholly reliant on public funding, with no reported diversification into commercial revenue streams or advertising.
Editorial independence
RTB functions explicitly as a state-run broadcaster, with its editorial line closely aligned with the government’s communication strategy. All editorial decisions are subject to approval and oversight by the Prime Minister’s Office, reinforcing the broadcaster’s role as an instrument of official state messaging. RTB’s official mandate includes aims such as “upholding the image of a caring and effective government” and “strengthening connections between the government and the people”—objectives that underscore its function as a state propaganda outlet rather than an independent journalistic institution.
To date, no statutory guarantees or independent oversight mechanisms have been identified that would protect RTB’s editorial autonomy. The absence of such safeguards continues to raise questions among regional media analysts regarding the potential for reform or the introduction of public interest obligations.
July 2025