Eri-TV (Eritrean Television) is the state-owned broadcaster of Eritrea, based in the capital city of Asmara. It operates two primary television channels: Eri-TV1, which broadcasts internationally in Tigrinya, Arabic, English, and Tigre, and Eri-TV3, which primarily airs sports content. Eri-TV has a significant following among the Eritrean diaspora, particularly in Europe and North America, where it serves as one of the few accessible sources of Eritrean state media content.
Media assets
Television: EriTV 1, EriTV 2, EriTV 3
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Eri-TV is wholly owned, operated, and tightly controlled by the Ministry of Information of Eritrea, which oversees all other media in the country. The broadcaster has no independent board or oversight structure, and all senior editorial and managerial appointments are made by the Ministry, reportedly based on political loyalty.
Source of funding and budget
Eri-TV is entirely funded by the Eritrean government. As of June 2025, no official data on its budget or financial structure has been released, as Eritrea remains one of the most opaque countries globally in terms of fiscal transparency. Government sources consulted by international watchdogs confirm that the broadcaster’s operations are directly subsidized through undisclosed allocations from the state treasury. Advertising revenues, if any, appear minimal and are not publicly reported.
Editorial independence
Eri-TV functions as an extension of the state’s propaganda apparatus. Like all other media in Eritrea, it lacks editorial autonomy and serves primarily to promote government policies and narratives. It does not allow for dissenting views, investigative journalism, or criticism of state officials.
There is no constitutional statute or legal framework guaranteeing editorial independence for the broadcaster. Furthermore, no independent regulatory or oversight body exists to assess its performance or content. Eritrea continues to rank among the worst in the world for press freedom, with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) again placing it near the bottom of its 2025 World Press Freedom Index.
Recent reports from exiled Eritrean journalists suggest that Eri-TV has increased its production of diaspora-targeted content since 2023, likely as part of a broader soft-power effort by the government to influence public opinion among Eritrean communities abroad.
June 2025