Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) is a state-owned radio and television network in Liberia. Founded in 1960, the broadcaster was owned and operated by Rediffusion, London, until 1968, when the government of Liberia took over.
Media assets
Television: LNTV, Metro TV
Radio: ELBC 99.9 FM, Metro 89.9
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
The highest authority at LBS, which is a state-owned company, is its 15-member Board, which is appointed by the President. The company’s Director General and Management are also appointed by the President.
Source of funding & budget
A government subsidy accounts for some 60% of LBS’ budget. The remainder of 40% is generated from airtime revenues. For 2020-2021, the state subsidy was a total of US$ 893,000, according to data from the Liberian state budget. In 2022, LBS received a state subsidy of US$ 1.21m. In 2023, a state subsidy worth US$ 976,000 was allocated, which accounted for nearly 70% of the station’s annual budget, according to the Liberian state budget documents consulted for this report. In 2024, the government earmarked a subsidy of US$ 1m, contributing to a yearly budget of US$ 1.44m.
The accounts of LBS are subjected to periodic audits by the government. LBS also accepts funds from foreign governments like China that it mostly uses to buy equipment.
In recent years, LBS has benefited from significant financial support from the Chinese government, according to journalists in Liberia interviewed for this report.
Editorial independence
According to local journalists and experts, LBS and its leadership are expected to be loyal to the government and give positive coverage to authorities. According to the same sources, LBS does not tolerate criticism of the authorities. An ad hoc content analysis also identified a visibly pro-government bias in LBS’ reporting. Recent incidents indicate that censorship is still a common practice at LBS.
In its 2017 national elections assessment report, the Carter Centre wrote that the broadcaster was biased toward the ruling party.
In a 2018 report, the Human Rights Council (HRC) recommended the transformation of LBS from a state broadcaster to a public service company, which would mean becoming editorially independent, among other things.
No statute, oversight, or assessment mechanism to validate LBS’ editorial independence has been identified.
July 2024