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Entity Type: Domestic State-Affiliated Media

Cameroon National Radio and Television

Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), established in 1987, is Cameroon’s government-controlled national broadcasting service. The company resulted from the merger of Cameroon Television (CTV) and the national radio service, with broadcasting roots dating back to 1940 when French authorities established Radio Douala. Today, CRTV maintains comprehensive coverage across all ten regions of Cameroon through one national radio channel, ten regional stations, seven local stations, and three television channels including CRTV News and CRTV Sports & Entertainment. Under General Manager Charles Ndongo since 2016, the broadcaster operates primarily in French with some English programming, reflecting the country’s bilingual status. As a state-controlled broadcaster, CRTV operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Communication, with the President of the Republic appointing both the General Director and Board Chairperson, firmly anchoring the organization within the state apparatus with limited editorial autonomy.

National Broadcasting Corporation

The National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea (NBC PNG) is the country’s state-owned broadcaster, established December 1, 1973, and headquartered in Boroko, Port Moresby. The corporation operates two national radio stations—NBC Radio (90.7 FM and 585 AM) and Tribe 92FM (92.3 FM), which targets younger audiences—along with NBC TV, launched September 16, 2008. NBC is a member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and maintains approximately 20 locations nationwide with 19 provincial radio stations. According to the Lowy Institute, NBC plays “a critical role in connecting and informing the nation, especially those citizens without access to other forms of communication,” though its transmission infrastructure has faced significant challenges. The broadcaster’s mission includes reflecting “the drive for national unity” and expressing “the culture, characteristics, affairs, opinions and needs of the people,” according to its official website.

Saudi Research and Publishing Company

Established in 1972, Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) is a state-backed media conglomerate headquartered in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District. As Saudi Arabia’s largest publishing enterprise, SRMG operates over 30 publications with a combined monthly reach of 172 million readers across seven languages and four continents. The group’s portfolio includes prestigious titles like Asharq Al-Awsat, Arab News, Al Eqtisadiah, and Al Majalla. Originally established as Al Madina Printing and Publishing Company in 1963, the company was renamed Saudi Printing and Packaging Company in 2007. SRMG was listed on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) in May 2006. With close ties to the Saudi government, the company operates five divisions: media, international, events, research and polling, and innovation. In April 2022, SRMG announced its new headquarters in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). The company recorded strong financial performance in 2023, with net profits declining 14% year-on-year to SAR 559.62 million but maintaining its dominant position in Middle Eastern media.

Vietnam Television

Vietnam Television, operating as VTV, is Vietnam’s national state broadcaster established in 1970 with Cuban assistance. Officially tasked with “propagating the views of the Party, policies, laws of the government,” VTV runs multiple channels including news, education, entertainment, and ethnic programming. The network has faced significant controversies, including criticism from Vietnamese emigrants for its pro-communist stance, copyright infringement resulting in its YouTube channel termination in 2016, and government fines for broadcasting false information. VTV maintains 17 international bureaus and produces programming through its film production company, Vietnam Television Film Centre.

Gazprom-Media Holding

Gazprom-Media Holding is one of Russia’s largest media conglomerates, controlling nearly 20 television and radio channels plus digital platforms. Key assets include flagship channel NTV, sports network Match TV, entertainment channel TNT, and digital platforms like Rutube and PREMIER. The company also operates extensive radio networks, including Energy and Autoradio. Classified as “Captured Public/State-Managed,” Gazprom Media maintains complex state control through Gazprombank ownership, ultimately tracing to entities close to President Putin. The company’s flagship channel, NTV, particularly faces backlash as an aggressive disinformation channel, systematically targeting EU diplomats and civil society.

Tanjug News Agency

Tanjug News Agency, founded on November 5, 1943, as Yugoslavia’s official state news agency, operated under government control until 2015 when authorities announced its closure and officially stopped funding it. Despite this announcement, the agency continued functioning in what it is described as a “legal vacuum” with funds from undisclosed sources. In 2021, the Belgrade-based private company Tacno acquired rights to Tanjug’s intellectual property and trademarks for a 10-year period. Tacno is owned by Radoica Milosavljevic of RTV Pancevo, characterized as “an openly pro-government station,” and Minacord Media. Local journalists interviewed in 2023 and 2024 claimed the government continued financing aspects of the agency’s operations despite denials from both Tanjug and state authorities. Critics characterized the agency as “notorious for its government-supportive content,” with its editorial policy reportedly unchanged following privatization.

Cambodia National Television

The Cambodia National Television is the government-owned national television station of Cambodia, based in Phnom Penh. Television broadcasting in Cambodia began when Japanese assistance established a TV station in 1961, starting broadcasts the following year for six hours a week, but ended in June 1966 due to technical problems. Regular transmissions began on 2 February 1966, though sources disagree whether this was February or November 1966. During the Pol Pot regime (1975-1979), Cambodian television was completely shut down, professional staff were expelled, and citizens were massacred, with technical equipment completely destroyed. After this period, a production and broadcast center was rebuilt with stronger transmitters. In 1983 a Radio and Television Commission was created, which established Radio Television Cambodge (RTC) for the restored television service. Initially broadcasting three nights a week, by 1986 it broadcast daily for four to five hours with outdated equipment, limited funding, and amateur production levels. In 1994 state television and radio were placed under the Ministry of Information and separated into different organizations.

TASS

TASS is Russia’s state-owned news agency, established in 1904 and wholly controlled by the Russian government as a Federal State Unitary Enterprise. The agency “claims” to publish “nearly 3,000 news items daily in six languages” and operate 70 offices in Russia and 59 branches globally. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, TASS was suspended from the European Alliance of News Agencies for “not being able to provide unbiased news,” and Getty Images terminated its partnership for editorial policy violations. TASS has been identified as a source of disinformation in Russian influence operations, spreading false claims about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy fleeing Kyiv and unsubstantiated allegations about Ukraine developing a nuclear “dirty bomb.” The agency frequently acts as a propaganda instrument for the Kremlin.

Notimex

Notimex, formerly known as Agencia Mexicana de Noticias, was Mexico’s official state news agency until its dissolution in December 2023. Founded on August 20, 1968, to cover the Mexico City Olympics, the agency operated for over five decades under government ownership. The agency underwent reform in June 2006, changing its name and establishing what it described as “genuine editorial independence” through governance by a board with representatives from various state entities. Notimex ceased operations in June 2020 following a strike that began in February of that year. Sanjuana Martínez, appointed in March 2019, was the first woman to serve as Director-General before the Mexican Senate approved the agency’s “definitive closure” in December 2023.