Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN) is a broadcast network headquartered in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. OBN broadcasts in 14 Ethiopian languages and three international languages on radio and TV.
Media assets
Television: OBN
Radio: OBN Radio
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
OBN is operated by the Oromia Radio and Television Organization (ORTO), which was established in 2006 through Proclamation number 113/2006 of the Regional Government as the Oromia mass media organization (OMMO), which changed its name to ORTO in 2011 through Proclamation No. 164/2011.
Source of funding and budget
ORTO does not make public data about its funding. According to local journalists interviewed for this report in March-April 2024, the broadcaster is fully funded by the regional government in Oromia, the homeland of Oromo people.
Editorial independence
According to local journalists, OBN is known as a mouthpiece of the regional government in Oromia, which uses it regularly to communicate with people and promote its policies and decisions.
June 2024