Madagascar Radio and Television Office (ORTM) is the national public broadcaster of Madagascar and serves as the government’s principal media outlet. It operates the country’s main television channel, Télévision Nationale Malagasy (TVM), and its national radio station, Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM). ORTM remains the most visible and far-reaching media institution in Madagascar, playing a central role in state communications.
Media assets
Television: Télévision Malagasy (TVM)
Radio: Malagasy National Radio (RNM)
State Media Matrix Typology
Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
ORTM was established as a Établissement Public à caractère Industriel et Commercial (EPIC)—a public industrial and commercial institution—positioning it as a state-owned but revenue-generating entity. In practice, however, this hybrid model grants the government tight control over its operations while expecting it to raise a substantial portion of its own income.
The organization is overseen by a Board of Directors, largely composed of civil servants representing various ministries. The board is chaired by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication and Culture, reinforcing ORTM’s integration into the state bureaucracy. Appointments to senior management and editorial positions are typically made through ministerial channels, further embedding political influence in the broadcaster’s leadership.
Source of funding and budget
ORTM’s financial structure is a blend of public and commercial funding. Roughly 30% of its operational budget is provided directly by the government, while the remaining 70% is derived from commercial activities, including advertising sales, sponsored programming, and production services. Notably, the government only places public sector advertisements within its own media outlets, indirectly reinforcing the broadcaster’s dependence on state patronage.
There is no publicly available data on the total size of ORTM’s budget or a detailed breakdown of its expenditures. Calls for increased transparency in the allocation and use of public funds have gone unheeded, limiting independent scrutiny of the institution’s financial management.
Editorial independence
ORTM is widely regarded as lacking editorial autonomy. Its newsroom leadership is appointed through state-controlled processes, leaving editors beholden to government interests. According to media professionals working in Madagascar, self-censorship is deeply entrenched, particularly at ORTM, where critical reporting on government policies or political elites is virtually nonexistent.
Journalists report that the broadcaster functions more as a government megaphone than as a public service media outlet. The absence of an independent editorial charter, combined with the lack of statutory protections or oversight mechanisms, allows political influence to seep into editorial decision-making unchecked.
As of mid-2025, no domestic law guaranteeing the editorial independence of ORTM has been identified, nor does any independent regulatory or evaluative body exist to monitor its compliance with public interest obligations.
June 2025