Radio Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC) is the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s state-run broadcasting institution, serving as the country’s principal source of radio and television programming. Established by decree no. 09/62 in 2009, RTNC inherited the infrastructure and legacy of L’Office Zaïrois de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (ORTZ)—the national broadcaster during the Zaire era—marking a continuity of state-controlled media from Mobutu’s regime to the present day.
Media assets
Television: RTNC1, RTNC2, RTNC3, RTNC4
Radio: RTNC
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
RTNC is a public establishment under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Communication and Media. The broadcaster is governed by a Board of Directors, expanded from five to nine members, all appointed by the President of the Republic based on government nominations. This structure underscores the institution’s proximity to political power and the executive branch.
Although in August 2023, Minister of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya publicly committed to RTNC reform, no concrete measures or legislative proposals have materialized as of mid-2025.
Source of funding and budget
RTNC’s financing model—on paper—includes three revenue streams: license fees (ostensibly levied on all households with access to audiovisual content), advertising and commercial revenue, and state subsidies.
However, experts familiar with DR Congo’s media system point out that, in practice, the broadcaster remains overwhelmingly dependent on government funding. Advertising income is routed directly to government accounts, and there is no transparency regarding the actual size or breakdown of RTNC’s budget.
In a bid to improve the collection of license fees, the Ministry of Communication announced in May 2024 that it had entered discussions with REGIDESO (the national water utility) and SNEL (the electricity company) to integrate license fees into utility bills nationwide. As of June 2025, implementation remains pending.
Editorial independence
RTNC’s editorial output is widely regarded as aligned with the government’s narrative. While there is no formal directive requiring pro-government coverage, local journalists and observers unanimously describe RTNC as a propaganda vehicle for the ruling administration. The station dedicates substantial airtime to portraying government achievements and official ceremonies, with little room for critical or independent reporting.
To date, there are no statutory protections, oversight bodies, or independent mechanisms in place to safeguard editorial independence or evaluate RTNC’s performance through an impartial lens. The broadcaster operates as a de facto communication arm of the state.
July 2025