Belarus 1
Belarusian state-owned television channel and the country's oldest continuously operating television service.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Belarus 1 is a Belarusian state-owned television channel operated by Belteleradiocompany. It is generally described as the oldest television channel in Belarus and functions as a national general-interest broadcaster, combining news, political and current-affairs programming, cultural and educational material, documentaries, entertainment, and other television productions. The channel is principally distributed within Belarus and has historically served as one of the principal instruments of the country's state media system. The service began broadcasting on 1 January 1956 as the Belarusian branch of Soviet Central Television. Its first transmission followed several months of preparation and initially consisted of only a few hours of evening programming on selected days of the week. During the 1960s, the Belarusian service developed within the Soviet multi-program television structure and expanded its own production capacity. It began producing feature and documentary television films through the Telefilm editorial operation and participated in inter-republic program exchanges associated with the Intervision network. Broadcasting infrastructure and reach grew substantially during the 1970s and 1980s. The channel introduced color programming in the 1970s, while the opening of a new hardware and studio complex at the Belarusian Radio and Television Center in 1978 improved production capabilities. In 1981, an independent Belarusian program was introduced on channel 6, separating part of the local schedule from Moscow programming. By the late Soviet period, television coverage reportedly extended across approximately 95 percent of Belarus, and Belarusian-produced programming occupied a substantial place in the national schedule. After Belarus became independent, the service underwent several institutional and branding changes. The former Belarusian Program was renamed the Television Belarusian Channel, or TBK, in 1992. TBK joined the European Broadcasting Union in 1993. In 1995, the Television News Agency was created to produce news, analytical programs, and documentaries for Belarusian television. The channel became known as Belarusian Television, or BT, in 1996, and was subsequently promoted on air as the First National TV Channel. The latter name was formally assigned in 2006. In November 2011, the channel adopted the name Belarus 1 and introduced a new visual identity and a number of new projects. It moved to high-definition broadcasting on 30 March 2018, followed by further broadcast-design changes in October 2021. Its schedule generally runs from approximately 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. the following day rather than operating continuously around the clock. The channel's role has also been shaped by Belarus's political environment. International observers, opposition figures, and former employees have characterized state television, including Belarus 1, as a major platform for government messaging and political propaganda. Criticism has included allegations of one-sided election coverage, disinformation, attacks on political opponents, and support for repression. Former employees who left during the 2020–2021 protests described editorial restrictions affecting which opposition figures and experts could be mentioned or interviewed, as well as limits on politically sensitive terminology. State television personnel and managers connected with Belteleradiocompany have also appeared in sanctions measures adopted by some foreign governments in connection with alleged human-rights violations. These controversies are central to the channel's contemporary public reputation, alongside its continuing role as a broad national television service.
History
Belarus 1 traces its institutional origin to the first regular television service established in Belarus during the Soviet period. It launched on 1 January 1956 as the Belarusian branch of Soviet Central Television. The opening transmission followed months of preparation and began with a short test broadcast. In its first phase, the service aired only two or three hours in the evening on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. During the 1960s, the Belarusian service became part of a developing two-program television structure based largely on the First Program of Moscow Central Television. At the same time, it expanded its local production. From the middle of the decade, the Telefilm editorial office produced feature and documentary television films, while participation in the Intervision network enabled program exchanges with other Soviet republics. The channel's role therefore developed beyond relaying Moscow programming and included the creation of Belarusian television material. The service expanded substantially during the 1970s and 1980s. Television coverage eventually reached most of Belarus, reportedly extending to about 95 percent of the territory. Broadcasting was organized across three program streams by 1972, and locally produced color programming was introduced in 1974. The commissioning of a hardware and studio complex at the Belarusian Radio and Television Center in 1978 improved the volume and technical quality of color production. In January 1981, an independent Belarusian program began broadcasting on channel 6 without overlapping the Moscow schedule. By the late Soviet period, the Belarusian service ranked among the more productive television operations in the USSR, and its programs were reportedly watched by a large majority of the country's population. Its programming structure included news and public affairs, science and education, and artistic content. Following independence, the channel passed through several names and organizational phases. In 1992, the Belarusian Program became the Television Belarusian Channel, commonly abbreviated TBK. TBK joined the European Broadcasting Union in 1993. The Television News Agency was established in 1995 to produce news, analytical programming, and documentaries, including Novosti, Panorama, and, until the early 2000s, Resonance. In June 1996, TBK was renamed Belarusian Television, or BT. During the early 2000s, it was increasingly identified on air as the First National TV Channel, a designation formally assigned in 2006. The language balance of the channel also changed after independence. From the mid-1990s onward, Belarusian-language content became less prominent. By the early 2000s, news and a limited number of other programs retained Belarusian, while much of the schedule used Russian. A 2003 survey commissioned by Belteleradiocompany reportedly contributed to a decision to reserve Belarusian-language broadcasting mainly for cultural programming. Some Belarusian-language presentation elements and programs continued for a period, but the overall role of Belarusian diminished. In November 2011, the First National TV Channel was renamed Belarus 1. The change introduced a revised visual identity and new programming projects. The channel later upgraded its technical distribution by moving to high-definition broadcasting on 30 March 2018. Minor changes to its broadcast design followed in October 2021. Its schedule generally operates from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. the following day. In contemporary Belarus, Belarus 1 operates within a state-controlled media environment and is owned through Belteleradiocompany. It has been described by international experts and Belarusian democratic opponents as an important vehicle for official political messaging. Criticism has focused on alleged propaganda, disinformation, election manipulation, attacks on critics, and coverage supportive of political repression. During the 2020–2021 protest period, former journalists alleged that the channel maintained blacklists of opposition politicians and selected experts and imposed restrictions on politically sensitive language. Employees and senior managers associated with state television organizations, including Belteleradiocompany, have also been subject to foreign sanctions related to alleged human-rights violations. These disputes have become an important part of the channel's history and public identity.
- 2021
Broadcast-design refresh
[1]The channel made minor changes to its broadcast design in October 2021.
- 2018
High-definition broadcasting begins
[1]Belarus 1 switched to HD broadcasting on 30 March 2018.
- 2011
Belarus 1 brand introduced
[1]The First National TV Channel was renamed Belarus 1 and received a new on-air design and programming projects.
- 2006
First National TV Channel designation formalized
[1]The service's early-2000s on-air designation as the First National TV Channel was formally assigned.
- 1996
Renamed Belarusian Television
[1]TBK adopted the name Belarusian Television, or BT.
- 1995
Television News Agency established
[1]The Television News Agency was created to produce news, analytical programs, and documentaries for Belarusian television.
- 1993
European Broadcasting Union membership
[1]TBK became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union.
- 1992
Television Belarusian Channel name adopted
[1]The former Belarusian Program was renamed the Television Belarusian Channel, commonly known as TBK.
- 1981
Independent Belarusian program launched
[1]An independent Belarusian program began on channel 6, reducing overlap with Moscow programming.
- 1978
New television production complex opened
[1]A hardware and studio complex at the Belarusian Radio and Television Center increased production capacity and improved the quality of color broadcasting.
Products and positioning
A national general-interest public broadcaster under state ownership, combining broad television programming with government-aligned news and political communication.
News
National news programming
Belarus 1's news output is a core part of its schedule and includes national reporting, official affairs, political coverage, and analytical material. Named programs associated with the channel include Novosti and Panorama. The news operation is produced within the state television system and has been central to public criticism of the channel's editorial independence.
Film and documentary programming · 1960
Documentary and feature television films
The Belarusian television service developed its own feature and documentary production from the 1960s, initially through the Telefilm editorial office. This production tradition continued as part of the channel's broader national programming portfolio and remains one of the historical foundations of its general-interest identity.
Cultural and educational television
Cultural and educational programming
Cultural, scientific, and educational programs formed one of the three principal programming blocks of the late Soviet Belarusian television service. The channel has also retained a role for Belarusian-language cultural material, even as the overall share of Belarusian-language programming declined from the mid-1990s onward.
Entertainment
General entertainment programming
As a national general-interest channel, Belarus 1 carries artistic and entertainment programming alongside news, public affairs, documentaries, and cultural content. The available reference material does not identify a single entertainment franchise as the channel's definitive flagship.
Controversies
2020
Censorship allegations during the 2020–2021 protests
Former Belarus 1 journalists alleged that newsroom coverage was tightly controlled during the protests, including restrictions on naming opposition figures, consulting selected political experts, and using terms associated with Soviet repression. The allegations reinforced broader criticism that Belarusian state television served as a government propaganda instrument.
2020
Criticism over propaganda and election coverage
International experts and Belarusian democratic opposition figures have accused Belarus 1 and related state broadcasters of disseminating disinformation, manipulating election coverage, insulting government critics, and supporting political repression.
2020
Foreign sanctions involving state television personnel
Employees and senior managers of Belarusian state television organizations, including the broadcaster associated with Belarus 1, have been included in sanctions measures adopted by the European Union and other governments in connection with alleged human-rights violations.
Brand decisions
2021
On-air design updateOtherBackground
The channel continued periodic adjustments to its visual presentation after the 2011 rebrand.
Action taken
Minor changes to the broadcast design were introduced in October 2021.
Aftermath
The channel retained the Belarus 1 identity while updating its on-air presentation.
2018
Transition to high-definition broadcastingOtherBackground
The channel undertook a technical modernization of its television distribution.
Action taken
Belarus 1 began broadcasting in HD on 30 March 2018.
Aftermath
The change improved the technical format used for the channel's national broadcasts.
2011
Rebrand as Belarus 1StrategyBackground
The service had been known as the First National TV Channel and, before that, under names including BT and TBK.
Action taken
In November 2011, the broadcaster adopted the Belarus 1 name and introduced new projects and a revised visual identity.
Aftermath
Belarus 1 became the channel's continuing public brand within the Belteleradiocompany network.
Sources2 sources
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