Burundi National Radio and Television
Burundi's national public broadcaster, operating radio services and the country's principal television channel.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Burundi National Radio and Television, commonly abbreviated as RTNB and also known in French as La Radio Télévision Nationale du Burundi, is Burundi's national broadcasting organization. Its origins date to 1960, when Radio Burundi began broadcasting while the territory was still under Belgian colonial rule. Television was added much later, beginning in 1984, after Burundi had achieved independence. The organization consequently developed as a combined radio and television broadcaster rather than as a commercial consumer brand. RTNB's role is primarily national and public-facing. Its output combines news, cultural programming, public-service information, entertainment, music, and televised series. The broadcaster transmits in Kirundi, French, Swahili, and English, reflecting Burundi's linguistic environment and its need to serve audiences with different language preferences. Radio remains an important part of its service, while television provides a central national outlet for news, cultural content, scheduled programs, and special broadcasts. The organization operates two radio services and one principal television channel. Chaine 1 is described as the main radio service, carrying news, cultural programming, and public-service announcements. Chaine 2 provides additional news, music, and entertainment. RTNB's television operation is the country's first and main television channel. Its television infrastructure has included a 0.5-kilowatt transmitter in Bujumbura operating on UHF channel 25, although the broadcaster's reach and technical platform have changed over time. A major technological transition began in June 2013, when Burundi started moving television transmission from analogue to digital technology. The original intention was to complete the transition by the end of 2014, but the process was delayed by the unrest that affected Burundi in 2015. President Pierre Nkurunziza formally launched digital broadcasting in December 2016, initially in Bujumbura, with a plan to extend the service across the country. RTNB appointed a new general director in August 2016. The digital migration was reported as completed later in 2017, although the system was still described as not fully operational in the middle of 2023. RTNB also has a longstanding entertainment and cultural role. The television series Ninde, whose title means “Who is it?” in English, began in 1980 without a formal title and was later named by RTNB. After television broadcasting began in 1984, the series was transferred to television and became one of the broadcaster's continuing programs. Other identified programming includes Amakuru, Kirundi-language news; Journal, French-language news; English-language news; and Burundi Bwacu, a cultural program. The broadcaster's visual identity has changed with its technical and programming development. One known ident, used from 2008 to 2017, placed the Burundian flag within the RTNB lettering against a mountain landscape. A later ident, introduced after 2017, incorporated the day's broadcast schedule, including news, programs, advertising, documentaries, and station idents. RTNB therefore functions simultaneously as a national information institution, a cultural platform, and a broadcast service undergoing gradual modernization.
History
RTNB traces its institutional history to the launch of Radio Burundi in 1960, when Burundi was still part of the Belgian colonial system. Radio therefore preceded television by more than two decades and provided the foundation for the country's national broadcasting service. Among the people associated with the early development of the radio operation was Valence Rwamukwaya, a Rwandan-born broadcaster who worked for Burundi's national radio for two years beginning in 1982. Television broadcasting began in 1984, after Burundi's independence. The addition of television transformed the organization from a radio service into a combined national radio and television broadcaster. Its television operation used a low-power transmitter in Bujumbura, identified as a 0.5-kilowatt transmitter on UHF channel 25. The service became an important vehicle for national news, cultural programming, entertainment, and recurring television programs. One of RTNB's enduring programs is Ninde. The program originated in 1980, initially without a formal title. RTNB later gave it the name Ninde, meaning “Who is it?” Once television transmission began in 1984, the program was broadcast on television as well as forming part of the broadcaster's wider programming history. The organization also developed programs such as Burundi Bwacu, focused on culture, together with news services in Kirundi, French, and English. Swahili is also among the languages used in RTNB broadcasting. The broadcaster has operated two radio stations alongside its television service. Chaine 1 serves as the principal radio outlet, carrying news, cultural material, and public-service announcements. Chaine 2 complements it with news, music, and entertainment. The television service is generally described as RTNB's first and main channel. Together, these outlets provide a mix of information, cultural expression, and general entertainment for audiences in Burundi. RTNB began a major technical transition in June 2013, when Burundi started moving from analogue television to digital transmission. The government initially expected the process to finish by the end of 2014. Political unrest in 2015 delayed the timetable. Digital broadcasting was officially launched by President Pierre Nkurunziza in December 2016, beginning in Bujumbura and proceeding through a planned expansion. A new RTNB general director was appointed in August 2016, during this period of institutional and technical change. The migration was reported as completed later in 2017, but the digital system was still characterized as not fully operational in mid-2023. This indicates that the transition involved more than a formal launch and required continuing technical development. RTNB's station identity also changed during the same period. An ident used from 2008 to 2017 combined a mountain landscape with the Burundian flag embedded in the RTNB lettering. A newer ident, introduced after 2017, displayed the daily broadcast schedule and associated program elements. By the 2020s, RTNB remained Burundi's national broadcaster, with radio and television output spanning news, culture, music, entertainment, public information, and recurring series. The available reference identifies four radio programs and two television programs as part of its programming at the time, including Ninde and Burundi Bwacu. The broadcaster's history is therefore defined by the expansion from radio to television, the preservation of multilingual and culturally oriented programming, and the continuing effort to modernize its transmission infrastructure.
- 2017
Digital migration reported as completed
[1]RTNB's digital migration was reported as completed later in the year, while later descriptions indicated that the system was not fully operational.
- 2016
Digital broadcasting launches
[1]Digital broadcasting was officially launched in December, beginning in Bujumbura before planned nationwide expansion.
- 2013
Analogue-to-digital transition starts
[1]Burundi began transitioning television broadcasting from analogue to digital transmission, with completion initially planned for 2014.
- 2008
Earlier station ident enters use
[1]A station ident featuring a mountain landscape and the Burundian flag within the RTNB lettering began a period of use that continued until 2017.
- 1984
Television broadcasting begins
[1]RTNB added television broadcasting, and Ninde was later carried on the television service.
- 1980
Ninde originates as a radio program
[1]The program that later became known as Ninde began without a formal title and was subsequently named by RTNB.
- 1960
Radio Burundi begins broadcasting
[1]The organization traces its origins to the launch of Radio Burundi while Burundi was still under Belgian colonial rule.
Products and positioning
National, multilingual public broadcasting focused on news, cultural representation, public information, entertainment, and nationwide audiovisual service.
Television broadcasting · 1984
RTNB television channel
RTNB's first and principal television service. It broadcasts news, cultural programs, entertainment, documentaries, scheduled announcements, and recurring series for audiences in Burundi. The service began in 1984 and later participated in Burundi's transition from analogue to digital television transmission.
Radio broadcasting
Chaine 1
The main RTNB radio station. Its stated programming mix includes news, cultural content, and public-service announcements, making it a principal channel for national information and public communication.
Radio broadcasting
Chaine 2
RTNB's second radio station, complementing Chaine 1 with news, music, and entertainment programming.
Television series · 1980
Ninde
A long-running RTNB series whose title means “Who is it?” in English. It began in 1980 without a formal title and was later named Ninde. Following the start of television broadcasting in 1984, the program was also aired on television and remained part of RTNB's identified programming.
Kirundi news
Amakuru
RTNB's Kirundi-language news program, listed among the broadcaster's regular news offerings.
French-language news
Journal
RTNB's French-language news program. It forms part of the broadcaster's multilingual news output alongside Kirundi- and English-language news.
Cultural programming
Burundi Bwacu
A cultural program identified among RTNB's television and radio programming. Its inclusion reflects the broadcaster's role in presenting Burundian cultural material.
Brand decisions
2017
Introduce a new station identOtherBackground
RTNB's previous ident had been used from 2008 through 2017 and featured a mountain landscape and the Burundian flag within the RTNB logo lettering.
Action taken
After 2017, RTNB introduced a new ident incorporating the day's broadcast schedule and upcoming programming.
Aftermath
The newer presentation linked station branding more directly to the broadcaster's daily schedule, including programs, advertising, documentaries, and news.
2016
Launch digital broadcasting in BujumburaProduct launchBackground
The national digital television transition had been delayed after the original timetable was disrupted by Burundi's 2015 unrest.
Action taken
President Pierre Nkurunziza officially launched digital broadcasting in December, starting with Bujumbura and providing for gradual expansion nationwide.
Aftermath
The transition continued through 2017, but later descriptions indicated that the digital system remained not fully operational.
2013
Begin analogue-to-digital television migrationStrategyBackground
Burundi sought to modernize its television transmission infrastructure and initially planned to complete the transition by the end of 2014.
Action taken
RTNB and the national broadcasting system began moving television transmission from analogue technology to digital technology.
Aftermath
The timetable was delayed by the 2015 unrest. Digital broadcasting was later launched in Bujumbura in December 2016, and the migration was reported as completed in 2017, although the system was still not fully operational in mid-2023.
Sources1 sources
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