The Lesotho National Broadcasting Service (LNBS) is the country’s principal state-run broadcasting entity, operating Radio Lesotho, Ultimate Radio, and Lesotho Television (LTV). LTV began transmission in 1988, reaching most of the lowland regions, while Ultimate Radio was launched in 2006 with a commercial funding model intended to generate revenue for the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology. Radio Lesotho serves as the national broadcaster, disseminating news and government messaging across the country.
Media assets
Television: Lesotho TV
Radio: Radio Lesotho, Ultimate Radio
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
LNBS is fully owned and operated by the Government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Communications, Science & Technology, from which it receives direct policy direction. The service is administered by a Director General, who reports to the Deputy Principal Secretary of the Ministry. No independent board or governing body oversees its operations. LNBS functions largely as a communications arm of the state, with its leadership structure tightly embedded within government bureaucracy.
Source of funding and budget
LNBS relies almost entirely on annual government allocations, with limited supplementary income from advertising. Budget allocations in recent years have shown a slight upward trend:
| Fiscal Year | Total Budget | Radio Allocation | TV Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/2020 | LSL 61.4m (US$3.9m) | LSL 19.7m | LSL 41.6m |
| 2022/2023 | LSL 51.16m (US$2.7m) | — | — |
| 2023/2024 | LSL 52.2m (US$3m) | — | — |
As of June 2025, the budget for the 2024/2025 fiscal year has not been publicly disclosed. However, financial and operational audits are reportedly underway as part of a broader public sector reform agenda initiated by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in early 2025.
Editorial independence
Although LNBS claims to serve the public interest, its content overwhelmingly reflects the official positions of the government. Programming decisions and news agendas are shaped by state policy priorities, with little evidence of editorial autonomy.
Government control extends to both editorial guidelines and staff appointments, effectively stifling pluralism and dissenting viewpoints, particularly around politically sensitive issues such as elections, corruption, or public protests. Independent observers—including regional media rights organizations—regularly criticize LNBS for functioning as a government propaganda outlet.
There is no domestic law guaranteeing editorial independence for LNBS. Disputes involving content or coverage are handled by the Broadcasting Disputes Resolution Panel (BDRP), a unit within the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA). However, the effectiveness and neutrality of the panel have been questioned due to its proximity to state interests.
No external or independent oversight mechanism has been identified to evaluate or safeguard editorial independence. Internal performance reviews are conducted via standard government bureaucratic processes, which are neither transparent nor independently verifiable.
A coalition of journalists’ unions and civil society actors called for an independent media council to be established with statutory authority over all public media, including LNBS. As of June 2025, the government has not responded to this proposal.
June 2025