Radiodiffusion Nationale Congolaise (RNC), the national public broadcaster of the Republic of the Congo, was launched in 1962 at the request of then-President Fulbert Youlou, with technical support from France. As the first television service in Sub-Saharan Africa, RNC holds historical significance. Today, it operates two main branches: Télé-Congo (television) and Radio-Congo (radio).
Media assets
Television: Télé Congo
Radio: Radio-Congo
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
RNC is wholly state-owned and operates under the aegis of the Centre National de Radio Télévision Congolais (CNRTV), a government agency supervised by the Ministry of Communication and Media. Despite the nominal distinction between Télé-Congo and Radio-Congo, both entities function as administrative arms of the ministry, lacking autonomous boards or governance structures. Directors for each division are appointed directly by the ministry and report to the Minister of Communication and Media, reflecting a clear line of political oversight rather than institutional independence.
Source of funding and budget
The broadcaster is entirely state-funded, with its annual budget—estimated to be in the range of XAF 120–130 million (approx. US$ 240,000)—allocated from the Ministry of Communication and Media’s overall expenditure. No external revenue streams or commercial income are reported, rendering the broadcaster fully reliant on public funds.
Editorial independence
RNC functions as a mouthpiece for government policy and messaging. According to regional media experts, the broadcaster’s editorial content aligns consistently with official narratives, lacking any demonstrable editorial autonomy. There are no legal provisions, independent regulatory frameworks, or third-party assessments in place to safeguard or verify RNC’s editorial independence. In practice, content decisions are shaped by the priorities of the government, with the broadcaster serving as an extension of state communication efforts.
July 2025