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Entity Type: Domestic State-Affiliated Media

Radio Television Malaysia

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Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), Malaysia’s state broadcaster, was established on 1 April 1946 as Radio Malaya. Unlike independent public broadcasters like the BBC, RTM is a government department under the Ministry of Communications with no statutory independence. The broadcaster operates 7 television channels and 34 radio stations nationwide, including the over-the-top streaming service RTM Klik. RTM is now financed through an allocation from the state budget and generates revenue through the sale of advertising and sponsorship. The broadcaster has expanded international relationships through cooperation agreements with various state media organizations, including recent partnerships with China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) for content exchange and co-production initiatives. As a government department operated by the Communications Ministry, RTM is responsible for providing support to government policies and for introducing and explaining these policies to the public.

Public Service Media Maldives

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Public Service Media (PSM) is the state-owned broadcaster of Maldives established on April 28, 2015, under the Public Service Media Act (Law 9/2015). Operating as the official state media, PSM manages multiple brands, including Television Maldives (TVM), PSM News, YES TV, Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu, Dhivehi FM, Dheenuge Adu, Munnaaru TV, and PSM Connect. The organization emerged amid significant controversy when the International Federation of Journalists condemned its formation as creating a “state mouthpiece” that would undermine press freedom. PSM replaced the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (2012-2015), which had succeeded the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (2008-2012). The broadcaster states its mission is to “invigorate an informed, civilized and unified society” while being “shaped by Maldivian traditions, culture, ideology and values.”

RT

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Russia Today (RT) is a Russian state-controlled international television network launched in 2005 as part of a Kremlin initiative to improve Russia’s global image and counter Western media narratives. Originally branded as “Russia Today,” the network rebranded to “RT” in 2009 to obscure its Russian origins while expanding into multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Arabic. Headquartered in Moscow and funded by the Russian government through the federal budget, RT operates television channels, websites, and social media platforms reaching audiences across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Western governments and media analysts have widely characterized RT as a propaganda tool that spreads disinformation, particularly regarding Russian foreign policy, the Ukraine conflict, and Western democracies. The network has faced bans, restrictions, and loss of broadcast licenses in numerous countries, including throughout the European Union following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite these restrictions, RT maintains significant online reach and continues expanding its global operations.

Al Arabiya

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Al Arabiya (العربية) is a state-owned international Arabic-language television news channel launched on March 3, 2003, in Saudi Arabia, with initial operations based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Founded by the brother-in-law of Saudi King Fahd as a direct response to Al Jazeera’s critical reporting on Saudi Arabia throughout the 1990s, the broadcaster is owned through the Middle East Broadcasting Center, also known as the MBC Group. While MBC Group has identified itself as “the largest and leading private multimedia company in the Middle East North Africa region,” it is 54 percent held by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The channel’s mission from its start was to offer a “balanced and less provocative” alternative to Al Jazeera — meaning more amenable to the interests of the Saudi royal family. Al Arabiya broadcasts a mix of standard news, talk shows, and documentaries, and its website is available in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Persian.

National Television of Cambodia

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National Television of Cambodia (ទូរទស្សន៍ជាតិកម្ពុជា, ទទក), or TVK, serves as Cambodia’s state television broadcaster, operating under the government’s Ministry of Information in Phnom Penh alongside National Radio of Cambodia (RNK). Television broadcasting in Cambodia began on February 2, 1966, as [Télévision Royale Khmère](https://watermark02.silverchair.com/c0012009780262374095.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhWErcy7Dm3ZL9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAA1AwggNMBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggM9MIIDOQIBADCCAzIGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMD3eEAly8vFyiYJV8AgEQgIIDAz4VcLWyjSmLsQjbUEO8HRmV7FDPocZOCBQOq4GTLUe1rKEppK6LiGr2uNIXLUpGjTTcrIO-R-AkxsVpFoeKGiCvjXuNRMIMR3CNasTXGbqhinqbUQg56Vj5-RNDMF3ir4GoX8ytJA9fd2M7vfykNfx9-Yzk2xBdX7iomHVnta-qU0Kuy1KIGrqmTs4pWpP-eIygB9l4c6aNzQ8AirIioVLfJ0kAHXKQ2-PtvJqenK7pHmOan7jxSW6OPex5gncBFu6M8eWGw4CyNk2184ndzUYdGy34efmnXGQ1DPXynGgxLjK7GWmAvGxyUUgDvVczWm2pFcx81OPIp82mmK2gCD7TA6ijiFAPGJvMCoXGtVOfO7-Gq9gY9O6d0CFzKpfeSUSRwu0xYYrZFWPnxJzvI2Z-36EMZ6m3lUT0J6-Lwre4Y73W1ozyyv7JbpPPrtxYVu8Jb9FcjWOO4AtgZuYdYj-NU71rp73gIAjP-2xB19FwRjbxsydGRQHjRzlRFHNqFFxRSJd09bpK379eVUvWKaIUULWYMJisXLyINzKXy2XIxKLs8cAReALX8mUCTHQWidK4l9SsI5Ga9LZwzZ7psJQf2TXsA9FFa1qacSzMpKpm5HMhU562WbcY0O2CC4VxqSug-DtCFyGD4oQYRHk2XArFfP-IHkDl0cBRzIDX-gIQUbpZarJTybXVLbslqWMnGJOvzr9EGQ1mSTu5RWludr0200-m9mMt3VqjXN7XlZEK5GoCV4F9dRCOnMjJ-LiOOdMGBqV9D0gRcyd-Bc7KkxCgx8RZD7UbgnmnDYCylWJgCEhwYEZg82B7bg1PrupdMWWCzGi7n3IbXu4wSsH0P3agIcYCtRT9mdxz-BmCvr1P5GL-v1cCLWHCrTzRaq0iMHsZ3GXZfjA7ENaENVbDBl-xpnkzSycV8YYRfEgj4B1-oJUzMk9SRXiuEjt015FT7MoJmZI0rbOupIGyTCr24NX4VPIfJoPox0bOi0FAwZm93IaEHRIEfFCtg) (TVRK) during the Sihanouk era, though operations were completely destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period when professional staff were expelled or killed and technical equipment was demolished. The service was restored in the early 1980s as Radio Television Cambodge, initially broadcasting three nights per week before expanding to daily transmissions. TVK operates two channels, including TVK2 (an educational channel launched April 20, 2020), and maintains regional stations in provinces including Battambang, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. The network is a member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and broadcasts in HDTV format with programming primarily in Khmer.

Agence Kampuchea Presse

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Agence Kampuchea Presse (ទីភ្នាក់ងារសារព័ត៌មានកម្ពុជា) is Cambodia’s state-owned national news agency, established in 1978. The agency operates under the Ministry of Information as the “sole official State-owned and non-profit news agency” of Cambodia. Local journalists interviewed in March 2024 confirmed that AKP is fully government-funded and does not publish financial reports. The agency’s editorial strategy is subject to close government control, with research showing there are no statutes safeguarding journalist autonomy or independent editorial oversight processes for AKP staff.

MCOT Public Company Limited

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MCOT Public Company Limited (บริษัท อสมท จำกัด มหาชน) is Thailand’s state-owned public broadcaster, established as Thai Television Company Limited on November 10, 1952, and reorganized as the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand in 1977. MCOT operates under the Ministry of Finance, running four main business segments: television broadcasting through MCOT 9 Television Station and 35 provincial network stations; radio operations via 47 central stations covering 92.4 percent of Thailand; digital terrestrial television under DVB-T2 standards; and digital/new media services including on-demand content through internet platforms. MCOT reported a net loss of 316.7 million baht ($8.98 million USD) in 2024 on revenues of 1.17 billion baht ($33.15 million USD), a sharp reversal from 2023’s profit of 587.4 million baht ($16.65 million USD) on 2.38 billion baht ($67.5 million USD) revenue, according to company financial statements, reflecting significant challenges facing traditional state broadcasters in Thailand’s evolving media landscape.

Thai News Agency

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Thai News Agency is the national news service of Thailand and a subsidiary of MCOT (Mass Communication Organization of Thailand), the country’s state broadcaster. Founded on June 16, 1977, the agency serves as Thailand’s primary wire service, responsible for producing, gathering, analyzing and distributing news content across multiple platforms including radio, television, digital media, internet and social media channels. Operating under state media oversight, Thai News Agency functions as the official voice of the Thai government, providing domestic and international news coverage while supporting MCOT’s broader broadcasting operations.

Narodnaya Gazeta

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Narodnaya Gazeta (Народная газета) is the state-run newspaper of the Republic of Tajikistan, published weekly in Russian. Founded in 1925 as Sovetsky Tajikistan (Советский Таджикистан), it adopted its current name following Tajikistan’s independence in 1991. The newspaper covers general news, government policy, foreign policy, economics, and national development initiatives. The outlet should not be confused with the Russian-language Narodnaya Gazeta based in Belarus, which has close ties with the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin.