Second National TV Channel (ONT)

ONT (Общенациональное Телевидение – All‑National TV) is Belarus’s second national television channel and a state‑owned broadcaster. Launched by presidential decree in February 2002, it occupies the frequencies formerly used to relay Russia’s Channel One and continues to re‑transmit a significant portion of that channel’s programming.


Media assets

Television: ONT


State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)


Ownership and governance

From its inception, ONT has been tightly entwined with the state. The Ministry of Information holds 51% ownership; Belarusbank, a state‑owned banking group, commands 29%; and the station is overseen by the President’s Office. Top leadership is appointed by the Ministry of Information.

In June 2024, President Alexander Lukashenko signed off on the appointment of Igor Lutsky as Chairman of the Board. Lutsky is a veteran of the Information Ministry and currently a senior figure in the Council of the Republic’s Education, Science, Culture, and Social Development Commission.


Source of funding and budget

The channel remains predominantly state‑financed, receiving government appropriations as its financial backbone. Advertising revenue plays a minor role in its overall budget, with reportage from Belarusian journalists and industry insiders underscoring the marginal nature of commercial income (as of May 2024).


Editorial independence

ONT’s editorial stance is firmly government‑aligned. Leadership is appointed by state authorities, and there’s no independent oversight or statutory guarantee ensuring editorial freedom. A scan of state‑owned media oversight bodies, such as the Belarusian Association of Journalists, confirms continuing government influence across broadcast outlets and indicates no movement toward independent governance. A telling instance in January 2025: ONT aired a propaganda film titled “Freedom of Speech,” featuring journalists from Radio Liberty and an opposition activist—both imprisoned and recognized as political prisoners. Moreover, after 2020, ONT notably curtailed or scrapped programs featuring opposition or independent voices, and introduced pro‑government segments designed to discredit dissent—reflecting a long‑standing pattern of propaganda usage.

August 2025