MNB
MNB is Mongolia's principal national public television channel and the flagship television service of the Mongolian National Broadcaster.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
MNB is the principal national television channel operated by the Mongolian National Broadcaster, Mongolia's official state-funded public broadcaster. Its formal designation is Mongolian National Public Television 1, commonly abbreviated in Mongolian as МҮОНТ-1. The MNB name is used as the channel's onscreen and public-facing brand, while the wider Mongolian National Broadcaster operates the broader broadcasting organization. The service traces its institutional origins to the construction of a television station in 1948 through joint Soviet and Mongolian funding. Regular Mongolian national television broadcasting began on 14 March 1953. The service was discontinued in 1964 and restored in 1967, initially reaching Ulaanbaatar and then expanding through a relay in Darkhan. Satellite distribution through the Soviet Orbita system began in 1970, creating the technical basis for national coverage. In its early decades, the channel operated for only a few hours per day and many programs were transmitted live. A major production improvement came in December 1971, when Mongolian television studios began operating. Studio production enabled documentaries and short films to be recorded in advance and allowed the schedule to become more varied. During the 1980s, the broadcaster introduced newer equipment from Japan, France, and the Soviet Union. A new television center helped the service move toward color broadcasting, with the transition completed in December 1988. During Mongolia's communist period, the national television service functioned as a state propaganda outlet and held a broadcasting monopoly. Its schedule and reach were limited compared with later standards. Until the early 1990s, the service did not broadcast every day of the week, while viewers with access to the Orbita and Intersputnik systems could receive programming from other socialist countries and Cuba. Political and technological changes associated with democratization, perestroika, and glasnost contributed to the emergence of new formats, including more children's and youth programming. Satellite distribution expanded again in 1991 when the service began broadcasting through AsiaSat. This allowed programs to reach remote parts of Mongolia and supported the development of a national audience. By the 2000s, the channel remained a relatively conservative public broadcaster even as Mongolia's media system became more pluralistic and private television services challenged its former monopoly. The channel's programming included news, public affairs, cultural material, entertainment, and other general-interest programming. The political discussion program Forum was described in 2006 as one of the country's largest political talk shows and received support from the Open Society Foundations. In October 2000, the evening news program Tsagiin Hürd, or The Wheel of Time, was moved from 21:00 to 20:00, in part to coincide with the newscast of Eagle TV. The change formed part of a broader schedule and news-service revision that also introduced a morning news program. On 27 January 2005, Mongolian National Television was reorganized as the Mongolian National Broadcaster, and the principal television channel adopted the MNB identity. MNB currently operates as a national public television service. It broadcasts an average of approximately 17 hours per day, from 07:00 to midnight, and its signal can be accessed internationally through the broadcaster's website. The channel remains associated with Mongolia's national public-service broadcasting infrastructure and is reported to reach a substantial majority of the country's population.
History
MNB developed from Mongolia's first national television service. A television station was constructed in 1948 with financial and technical support from both the Soviet Union and Mongolia. Regular national television broadcasts began on 14 March 1953. The service stopped broadcasting in 1964 but was restored in 1967, initially serving Ulaanbaatar and later adding a relay station in Darkhan. The broadcaster's reach expanded through satellite technology. In 1970 it joined the Soviet Orbita satellite system, enabling its programming to be distributed more widely across Mongolia. At that stage, the service broadcast for roughly three hours per day and relied heavily on live programming. The opening of television studios in December 1971 made it possible to prerecord documentaries and short films, improving production quality and broadening the schedule. During the 1980s, the organization introduced equipment manufactured in Japan, France, and the Soviet Union. The commissioning of a new television center supported longer schedules, improved facilities, and the transition from black-and-white to color television. Color conversion was completed in December 1988. Radio relay lines also helped extend reception to more of the population, although television access remained limited for much of the earlier period. Under communist rule, Mongolian television was a state monopoly and served as a propaganda instrument. It presented an officially approved image of Mongolia and did not broadcast on every day of the week until the later period. Viewers with Orbita and Intersputnik access could receive programming from other socialist countries, while the domestic national service had a shorter schedule. Political liberalization, perestroika, and glasnost contributed to the appearance of new program types, particularly children's and youth content. In 1991, the service began satellite transmission through AsiaSat. This was an important step in reaching remote areas and establishing a more genuinely national audience. The introduction of democracy and private broadcasters in the early 1990s ended the channel's monopoly. Even after the arrival of commercial competitors, the national service retained a conservative public-broadcasting role and continued to provide news, public affairs, cultural programming, and general-interest content. The channel underwent a schedule and news-format revision in October 2000. Its evening news program Tsagiin Hürd was moved from 21:00 to 20:00, matching the time used by a newscast on Eagle TV, and a morning news service was added. The political discussion program Forum was later identified as a major political talk show and received financing from the Open Society Foundations, reflecting the growing role of externally supported public-interest media in Mongolia's post-socialist environment. On 27 January 2005, Mongolian National Television was reorganized into the Mongolian National Broadcaster. The principal television service subsequently used the MNB brand and is formally known as Mongolian National Public Television 1. The channel now operates as the flagship television service of the state-funded Mongolian National Broadcaster, with an average schedule of about 17 hours per day, from 07:00 to midnight. Its programming is available in Mongolia and worldwide through the broadcaster's website.
- 2005
MNB identity adopted
[1]The national television organization was reorganized as the Mongolian National Broadcaster on 27 January, with its main television service using the MNB identity.
- 2000
News schedule revised
[1]Tsagiin Hürd moved to an 20:00 slot and a morning news service was introduced as part of a broader channel revamp.
- 1991
AsiaSat distribution begins
[1]Satellite transmission via AsiaSat expanded the service's availability, including in remote parts of Mongolia.
- 1988
Color broadcasting completed
[1]The transition to color television was completed in December following infrastructure and equipment upgrades.
- 1971
Television studios open
[1]The opening of studios in December enabled prerecorded documentaries and short films and supported a more varied schedule.
- 1970
Orbita satellite distribution begins
[1]Joining the Orbita satellite system enabled the national television service to expand its reach across Mongolia.
- 1967
Service restored
[1]Mongolian television resumed operations, initially covering Ulaanbaatar and subsequently extending coverage to Darkhan.
- 1964
Broadcasting suspended
[1]The television service ceased broadcasting.
- 1953
Regular national television begins
[1]Mongolian National Television began regular broadcasts on 14 March.
- 1948
Television station constructed
[1]A television station was built with joint Soviet and Mongolian funding, establishing the infrastructure from which Mongolia's national television service developed.
Products and positioning
Mongolia's national public-service television channel, combining news, public affairs, cultural programming, documentaries, entertainment, and civic information with nationwide terrestrial and satellite reach.
Public television channel · 1953
MNB main television service
The flagship television service of the Mongolian National Broadcaster, formally designated Mongolian National Public Television 1. It carries national news, current affairs, cultural and documentary programming, children's and youth content, entertainment, and other general-interest programs. The channel broadcasts for approximately 17 hours per day and is distributed through domestic broadcast infrastructure as well as the broadcaster's online service.
News program
Tsagiin Hürd
MNB's established evening news program, also translated as The Wheel of Time. In 2000 its scheduled broadcast was moved from 21:00 to 20:00 during a wider revision of the channel's news and programming structure.
Political talk show
Forum
A political discussion program associated with MNB's public-affairs output. It was described in 2006 as one of Mongolia's major political talk shows and received support from the Open Society Foundations.
Brand decisions
2005
Reorganize the national television service under MNBStrategyBackground
Mongolia's national television organization was being restructured within the country's public broadcasting system.
Action taken
On 27 January, Mongolian National Television was reorganized into the Mongolian National Broadcaster, and the main television channel adopted the MNB identity.
Aftermath
MNB became the public-facing brand for the broadcaster's principal national television service, formally known as Mongolian National Public Television 1.
2000
Revise the news schedule and strengthen daily programmingStrategyBackground
The national television service faced a more competitive media environment as private broadcasters emerged after the end of its former monopoly. Its evening news schedule was also being positioned against Eagle TV.
Action taken
Tsagiin Hürd was moved from 21:00 to 20:00, and a morning news program was added as part of a broader channel revamp.
Aftermath
The change marked an effort to modernize the schedule and maintain the national service's relevance in a more pluralistic television market.
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