Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise

Radio Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC) is the national broadcaster of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is government controlled in a country with a poor record on press freedom. Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise currently broadcasts in Lingala, French, and English.

Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise
TypeBroadcast
Country
AvailabilityNational
OwnerGovernment of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Launch date
1971; 53 years ago (1971)[1]
Former names
Office Zaïrois de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (1981–1997)
Official website
rtnc.cd
RTNC 1
CountryDR Congo
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersKinshasa
Programming
Language(s)Lingala, French, and English
Ownership
OwnerRTNC
History
LaunchedNovember 24, 1966 (58 years ago) (1966-11-24)
Former namesRTNC (1966-1976; 1997-1999)
Tele-Zaïre (1976-1997)

History

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Radio Congo Belge (RCB) was created in 1940 by the general government of the Belgian Congo. After the country gained independence, Radio du Congo Belge (RCB) became Radiodiffusion Nationale Congolaise (RNC).

RTNC started television broadcasts in Kinshasa on November 24, 1966,[2] three hours a day (7pm to 10pm), on VHF channel 5.[3] By the mid-1970s, following the rename of the country to Zaire, the television station was known as Télé-Zaire, and had its broadcasting hours extended (6pm to 11pm weekdays and 10am or 1pm to 11pm weekends). A second station in Lubumbashi started in 1967, on channel 9.[4] Programming was mainly dedicated to news and current affairs topics, with smaller proportions of educational and entertainment programming.[5] In preparation for the start of color broadcasts in 1974, Télé-Zaïre received US$1.6 million investments from RCA, which not only saw the implementation of color television, but also increased the facilities in Kinshasa.[6]

Between 1981 and 1997, it was known as the Office Zaïrois de Radio Télévision (OZRT) at the time of Zaire,[7] it was also the only Zairian agency to broadcast on the airwaves since the 1972 law. The station was made available on satellite in the 90s using the Intelsat system to deliver its signals; most relay relay stations in the country's inland were dependent on available power supplies.[8] Since political liberalization in the 1990s, other private companies have broadcast audiovisual media. It took its current name on May 17, 1997, following the coming to power of the AFDL, the party of Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

Operations

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Radio

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  • RTNC Chaîne nationale
  • RTNC Kinshasa
  • RTNC Bandundu
  • RTNC Bukavu
  • RTNC Goma
  • RTNC Kat (Lubumbashi)
  • RTNC Kindu
  • RTNC Kisangani
  • RTNC MbujiMayi
  • RTNC Mbandaka

Television

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RTNC covers 70% of the Congolese territory (as of 2001)[9] and operates two television channels:

  • RTNC1: general channel with national coverage;
  • RTNC2: public provincial commercial and entertainment channel in Kinshasa.

In the early 2000s, RTNC seized Canal Kin Télévision and TKM, renaming them RTNC3 and RTNC4 in the process.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Advertising World. Directories International. 1979. p. 29.
  2. ^ Times, Special to The New York (1966-11-25). "Congo Celebration Marks Year of Rule by Mobuto". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  3. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1972. p. 1099. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1976. p. 1119. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  5. ^ "World Communications" (PDF). UNESCO. 1975. p. 129. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  6. ^ "RCA Broadcast News" (PDF). RCA. February 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ^ Presidential Ordinance no. 81-050 of 2 April 1981
  8. ^ 2005 World Radio and Television Handbook, page 640
  9. ^ a b "DRC: Launch of Canal Tropical Television", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 24, May-July 2001
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