Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) is the country’s state-owned broadcaster, formed through the merger of Cameroon Television and Cameroon Radio. Today, CRTV operates a diverse network that includes the flagship generalist channel CRTV, two thematic television stations: CRTV News and CRTV Sports & Entertainment, a national radio network, and 10 regional radio stations spread across the country. As the dominant media platform in Cameroon, CRTV plays a central role in shaping public discourse and controlling information flows.
Media assets
Television: CRTV, CRTV News, CRTV Sports & Entertainment
Radio: National-CRTV; Regional- CRTV Adamaoua, CRTV Centre, CRTV Est, CRTV Extrême-North, CRTV Littoral, CRTV North, CRTV Nord-Ouest, CRTV Ouest, CRTV Sud, CRTV Sud-Ouest; Local- CRTV Wave FM, CRTV Kousseri FM, CRTV Yagoua FM, CRTV Yaounde FM94, CRTV Mount Cameroon FM, CRTV Suelaba FM, CRTV Poala FM
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
CRTV was established by Law No. 87/020 of 1987 as a public institution. It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Communication. The President of the Republic appoints both the General Director and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, making CRTV’s leadership closely tied to the political executive.
While legally a public service broadcaster, CRTV’s governance structure firmly anchors it within the state apparatus, leaving little room for operational or editorial autonomy.
Source of funding and budget
CRTV relies almost entirely on public funding, receiving annual budget allocations from the national treasury.
The 2024 budget reflected a slight decline in real terms despite stable CFA allocations, likely due to inflation and currency volatility. No alternative revenue streams—such as license fees or substantial commercial advertising—have been developed to offset state dependence.
CRTV’s annual budget for 2025 has been set at approximately 31 billion CFA francs, reflecting a slight increase from prior years and indicating continued reliance on state funding
Editorial Independence
CRTV’s editorial content is firmly aligned with government interests, with frequent praise of official policy and near-total exclusion of opposition voices. A 2024 content analysis carried out for this report confirmed longstanding academic findings that CRTV operates as a government mouthpiece.
Reports of direct censorship and editorial pressure have surfaced repeatedly over the years, and these trends have not abated. Journalists within the organization often self-censor to avoid political backlash, especially during election periods or times of civil unrest.
Press watchdogs continue to label CRTV a state propaganda outlet, accusing it of amplifying government narratives and silencing dissent, especially in the lead-up to elections
There is no statutory guarantee, regulatory safeguard, or independent oversight mechanism in place to protect or assess CRTV’s editorial independence.
June 2025