Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG)

Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) is Montenegro’s public service media organization. It comprises Radio Montenegro (RCG) and Montenegro Television (TVCG). The broadcaster operates three television channels and two radio channels.

Media assets

Television: TVCG 1, TVCG 2, TVCG SAT

Radio: RCG, Radio 98

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State Funded and State Managed (ISFM)

Ownership and governance

RTCG is a state-owned corporation. Its highest governing body is the Council, which consists of nine members. These members are required to be experts nominated by NGOs and appointed by Parliament.

The RTCG Council is responsible for appointing the broadcaster’s director general. This appointment process was originally designed to safeguard the station’s independence, as empowering NGOs to recommend experts was meant to reduce direct government influence. However, local experts and journalists in Montenegro interviewed in 2023 and 2024 reported that in practice, some of the NGOs that nominate members to the RTCG Council may themselves be dependent on government funding, which undermines the intended safeguards.

In June 2023, despite a ruling from the Higher Court of Montenegro that found Boris Raonić’s appointment as director general unlawful due to a conflict of interest (as he simultaneously held membership in Montenegro’s media regulator), the RTCG Council re-elected him to the post. The court ordered a new appointment process.

In August 2024, the Parliament of Montenegro amended the Law on the Public Broadcaster, lowering the required years of work experience for the Director General role from 10 to 5. This was clearly aimed at allowing the same, acting director—Boris Raonić—to be reappointed, despite prior court decisions deeming his appointment unlawful.

Source of funding and budget

RTCG is funded primarily from the state budget, supplemented by limited advertising revenues. In 2022, RTCG operated with a budget of €20.1 million, with more than 90% coming directly from the state. In 2023, total revenues rose to €28.1 million, three-quarters of which came from the state budget.

Editorial independence

The Law on the National Public Broadcaster remains the key legal instrument intended to safeguard independence. It requires RTCG to produce programming free from external interference and in the public interest). In practice, however, implementation has been inconsistent.

RTCG has also introduced accountability mechanisms, such as public consultations on programming, with results published on its website, and the office of an Ombudsman appointed by the Council through a public competition.

While these structures exist, their impact is limited due to weak enforcement and political pressures. RTCG has a long history of political interference, especially through appointments to the Council. Successive governments have sought to shape coverage by influencing governance and management structures.

However, since 2021, under pressure from the European Union in the context of Montenegro’s EU accession process, RTCG showed signs of improvement. The European Commission’s 2023 report praised the broadcaster for “pursuing a balanced editorial policy” and for increasing the diversity of political viewpoints represented in its news coverage. In 2023, based on the EU’s assessment, RTCG was reclassified as independent in our State Media Matrix taxonomy.

Nevertheless, recent developments indicate a renewed consolidation of government influence over RTCG. The European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report notes that in November 2024, prosecutors filed an indictment against members of the RTCG Council for abuse of office related to the Director General’s appointment. These criminal proceedings are ongoing.

In March 2025, 101 civil society organizations launched a public initiative opposing proposed amendments to media laws that would enable political parties to appoint NGO-representatives within the RTCG Council, leaving nomination purely in the hands of parties and undermining the independence provision of civil society nominations.

In February 2025, watchdog group CGO accused RTCG of being hijacked by political parties under Director General Boris Raonić, citing unprofessional practices and censorship, including the removal of a European Commission spokesperson’s statement.

As a result of these latest developments, in 2025 we have reclassified RTCG under the State-Controlled (SC) category, our typology’s designation for outlets subject to full government control.

September 2025