National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan (MTRK)
The National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan (MTRK), established by presidential decree in 2005, serves as the nation’s official state broadcaster. Operating a broad network of television and radio channels, and regional stations, it delivers a diverse range of programming to domestic and international audiences.
Media assets
Television: Nationwide- Oʻzbekiston, Uzbekistan, Yoshlar, Sport, UzHD, Madaniyat va Maʼrifat, Dunyo Boʻylab, Bolajon, Navo, Oilaviy, Diyor, Kinoteatr, Mahalla, Oʻzbekiston 24, Oʻzbekiston tarixi; Regional- Andijon, Buxoro, Farg’ona, Jizzax, Namangan, Navoiy, Qaraqalpaqstan, Qashqadaryo, Samarqand, Sirdaryo, Surxondaryo, Toshkent, Xorazm
Radio: Oʻzbekiston, Yoshlar, Toshkent, Mahalla, O’zbekiston24
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
MTRK functions as a state-owned entity accountable to the Cabinet of Ministers. Leadership, including the chair and deputies, is appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the President.
In February 2024, Abdurashid Juraboyev was appointed chairman of the broadcaster. Juraboyev, a seasoned media executive with prior senior roles in the Uzbek broadcasting sector, was entrusted with overseeing MTRK’s modernization drive and aligning its vast network of television and radio channels with the government’s communication strategy. While Juraboyev’s leadership has been marked by investment in infrastructure and premium content, editorial independence remains constrained, with programming continuing to reflect government priorities.
In July 2025, the Agency for Information and Mass Communications (AIMC) was dissolved and oversight and monitoring functions in the information sphere were transferred to Uzkomnazorat (the Inspection for Control in Informatization & Telecoms). These moves reshape the state’s media-governance architecture around MTRK but do not change MTRK’s ownership. That means Uzkomnazorat now regulates and monitors MTRK, alongside other broadcasters and media outlets. In practice, this strengthens the compliance and control role of a body that was previously focused on telecoms and ICT, bringing MTRK more directly under a regulator known for its enforcement-oriented approach.
Source of funding and budget
MTRK’s financial lifeline has always been the state budget, and over the past five years its allocation has steadily swelled. In 2020, the broadcaster received approximately UZS 420 billion (about US $40.7 million), a sizeable sum by Uzbek standards at the time. This figure grew further in subsequent years, climbing to UZS 521.9 billion (US $42.5 million) in 2023 and UZS 559.9 billion (US $44 million) in 2024, according to a state budget document seen by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC). The real turning point came in 2025, when the government approved a 58.5% increase, pushing MTRK’s budget to UZS 881.3 billion, which is roughly US $68 million.
MTRK aims to sustain around 198,190 television broadcasting hours annually over the next three years, while ramping up radio output by 14% to 60,080 hours in 2025. The tally of 26 TV channels and 17 radio stations is expected to remain stable through 2027.
Editorial independence
Multiple local journalists and analysts (cited in 2023–2024) observe that MTRK’s editorial content closely mirrors government communications, with no independent legal framework in place to guarantee editorial autonomy.
No domestic statute or independent mechanism establishing MTRK’s editorial independence has been identified in the latest round of research for this report.
August 2025