The history of Argentine television began in 1951 with the launch of the state-owned Canal 7, which is now known as Televisión Pública. RTA is the network with the broadest coverage, operating Televisión Pública (Canal 7), Canal 12 television, and Radio Nacional.
Media assets
Television: Televisión Pública (Canal 7), Canal 12
Radio: Radio Nacional, Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior (RAE)
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
RTA was created through Law 26.522 as a state company subordinated to the Government.
The highest governing body in RTA is the board of directors, which is composed of seven members appointed as follows: the chair is directly appointed by the Argentinian government, one member is directly appointed by the government, three members are appointed by MPs, and two members are proposed by the Federal Council for Audiovisual Communication, Argentina’s broadcasting regulator. One of the two members proposed by the Federal Council must be an academic. The director of RTA is also appointed by the government through a decree.
In June 2021, an actor, Osvaldo Santoro was appointed the head of the RTA. The timing of the appointment of the RTA board of directors is deliberately scheduled to avoid synchronizing with the election of the new government. This is believed to prevent and discourage political interference in the appointment process.
In 2023, the newly appointed President, Javier Milei, began restructuring RTA to prepare the broadcaster for privatization. In February 2024, the government announced the one-year takeover of state-owned public media companies Educ.Ar, Télam, Radio y Televisión Argentina (RTA), and Contenidos Públicos. However, after lengthy political infighting and criticism from media experts and international organizations, the government announced in June 2024 that it removed the RTA from the list of state-owned companies that the government wants to privatize. According to Milei and his experts, the privatization process is expected to lead to more efficiency in running state-controlled companies in Argentina.
Despite that, in February 2025, the government declared that its control over public media, including RTA, would be extended until the close of 2025. This move was framed as part of a broader public emergency initiative rolled out across multiple sectors, purportedly to achieve “greater efficiency in the functioning of the public sector.”
Source of funding and budget
In 2023, RTA had a budget of ARS 25.7bn, mostly funded by the state. The budget remained similar to previous years, although, in local currency, it was significantly larger due to galloping inflation and exchange rates. Therefore, the 2023 budget, at around US$ 74m, was more or less the same as the previous year.
RTA also earns income from a levy on commercial media companies, advertising, sponsorship, and donations. As per Law 26.522 of 2009, RTA receives around 20% of the revenues collected through a levy imposed on commercial media each year.
RTA in 2023 recorded a deficit worth ARS 32.86bn, making it the Argentinian public company with the eighth highest deficit. By mid-2024, President Milei allocated roughly ARS 17.29bn to the RTA, a much lower budget than in previous years.
As a result of economic reforms, by the close of 2024, the RTA witnessed a noteworthy reduction in its workforce, with a drop of 426 employees—predominantly due to voluntary retirements—from its total count of 2,400 personnel.
Editorial independence
Despite the undeniable excellence of RTA’s programming, its editorial stance frequently leans in favor of governmental interests. This bias stems from the station’s leadership appointment process, wherein the most influential positions are secured solely through political favor.
The content broadcast by RTA unmistakably leans left, yet it also strives to educate the public about political systems at both regional and local levels. Nevertheless, some of its programs on TV Pública deliver scant factual information, instead adopting a heavy slant toward political propaganda. While National Radio consistently excels in terms of content quality, there is a perceptible narrative glorifying the president, often favoring him in orchestrated interview settings.
Over the last two years, governmental intrusion in RTA’s editorial direction has deepened considerably. As a result, there has been growing consensus among independent journalists and media analysts in Argentina, increasingly likening RTA to state-controlled media rather than a neutral public broadcaster. Its news reports frequently echo the phrasing used in government announcements and public statements, blurring the line between objectivity and advocacy and giving the air of a state-run channel masked as unbiased media.
The editorial stronghold intensified further following the 2023 election of Javier Milei as president. By May 2024, he took an unorthodox and controversial step: shutting down all public communication efforts of the station by suspending its social media accounts. Independent journalists panned the move as an egregious attack on press freedoms, criticizing Milei in strict terms for eroding the autonomy of RTA.
Underpinning RTA’s obligations is Law 26.522, which mandates the broadcaster ensure pluralism and diversity in its programming. As required in Article 121, RTA is tasked with advancing respect for civil liberties, fostering political inclusivity, securing the right to unbiased information, and facilitating public education. Additionally, the outlet adopted its first Ethical Code in 2021 as part of its pledge to these principles.
The Honorary Advisory Council for Argentina’s Public Media was also established through the framework of Law 26.522, asserting its oversight role intended to protect independence across public broadcasters. Paradoxically, however, the council, comprised of 17 appointees, draws all of its members straight from government-selected nominations forwarded by specified organizations, including two members proposed by communication or journalism universities, three proposed by the RTA trade unions, two by human rights NGOs, six by local governments, one by the Federal Council of Education, two by the Advisory Council on Audiovisual Communication and Children (representing producers of educational, children’s and documentary content), and one by indigenous peoples.The council regularly invites the public to debate various issues related to the RTA’s programs and presents its reports, along with recommendations, to the authorities.
March 2025