Benin’s public broadcaster, historically known as the Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), has long been the country’s primary state-run media institution. Originally established in 1972 under the name Office de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Dahomey (ORTD), it was rechristened following the country’s renaming to Benin. In a significant institutional overhaul, the government approved the merger of ORTB with the Centre Multimédia des Adolescents et des Jeunes du Bénin (CMAJB) in November 2023, resulting in the formation of the Société de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Bénin (SRTB). This new media entity now oversees two television channels and five radio stations, following the closure of the BB24 business channel in June 2023.
The rebranding to SRTB marks a pivotal shift, reflecting the state’s efforts to consolidate public media under a more centralized and, ostensibly, youth-oriented structure. The move brought together ORTB’s longstanding national reach with CMAJB’s youth-focused platforms, Ado TV (rebranded in 2025) and Ado FM, in what the government described as an effort to “modernize and harmonize” public broadcasting.
Media assets
Television: Benin TV, Benin TV Junior
Radio: Radio Benin, Radio Parakou, Atlantic FM, Radio Benin Alafia, Ado FM
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
SRTB remains a state-owned institution, legally grounded in decree No. 252-2005, which governs its structure and responsibilities. Originally formalized under decree No. 75-43 of 1975 and amended by subsequent laws, the broadcaster underwent key legal revisions post-1990 as Benin transitioned to a multi-party democracy. The most impactful of these was decree No. 99-315 of 1999, which granted the broadcaster the status of a public establishment with “social, scientific, and cultural character.”
The institution operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Communication and Post, which retains de facto control over strategic decisions, including financial appropriations and managerial appointments. The broadcaster’s highest governing body is the Board of Directors, which, following reforms in July 2022, was reduced from seven to five members. All board members are nominated or vetted by state institutions, including the presidency and line ministries, reinforcing the broadcaster’s close alignment with government priorities.
Angela Aquereburu Rabatel, a Togolese filmmaker and media executive, was appointed as Director-General of SRTB and Director of Bénin TV on 12 February 2025. Her selection reflects a strategic shift toward professionalizing leadership and bringing an external perspective from the Francophone audiovisual sphere.
Source of funding and budget
SRTB is wholly financed through state budget allocations. According to decree 252-2005, the Ministry of Communication and Post proposes the broadcaster’s annual budget, which is then ratified by the government. This financial model cements the broadcaster’s dependence on public funds and, by extension, its susceptibility to political influence.
No public financial reports have been made available since the 2023 institutional reform, and details regarding the 2024–2025 operating budget have not yet been disclosed as of June 2025.
A late budget approval has been a recurring gripe among SRTB staff. Workers report that although the salary allocation for 2024 was only green-lit in June 2024, the downstream effects are still being felt into 2025 – programs, equipment, and operations remain chronically underfunded. The staff union, SYNTRAP, sounded the alarm in late 2024, warning that if working conditions didn’t improve, SRTB might resort to “dead-air days”—a scenario that has yet to be avoided.
Editorial independence
While there is no formal statute granting editorial autonomy to SRTB, its legal framework does not explicitly empower the government to interfere with content. However, in practice, editorial decisions are heavily influenced by the executive branch. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has repeatedly flagged SRTB (and previously ORTB) for functioning as a mouthpiece of the government, particularly under the administration of President Patrice Talon.
The absence of an independent oversight mechanism or regulatory authority to assess and enforce editorial independence remains a pressing concern. Journalists within the organization reportedly face internal censorship and pressure to align coverage with official narratives, particularly during election cycles or political crises.
June 2025