National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s state-owned national television and radio broadcasting organization.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan, commonly abbreviated NTRC or MTRK, is Uzbekistan’s national state broadcaster. It operates television and radio services serving the country’s general audience, alongside specialist services devoted to sport, culture, education, youth programming, regional coverage and international broadcasting. Its principal function is to produce and distribute news, public-affairs, cultural, educational and entertainment content through terrestrial, radio and related broadcasting infrastructure. The organization is the product of a long institutional evolution rather than a single private-sector brand launch. Uzbek radio began broadcasting in 1927, when the Uzbek Radio service transmitted programs in the Uzbek language from Tashkent. During the Soviet period, broadcasting was administered through successive state committees and ministries, while television expanded from the Tashkent television studio and television center into a republic-wide system. By the 1960s, Tashkent was generating more than one television service and relaying programming to other cities in the Uzbek SSR. Regional radio and television structures were subsequently established in several parts of the republic. Following Uzbekistan’s independence, the former State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company was reorganized as the State Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan in 1992. In the 1990s it operated several television and radio networks, inherited or replaced Soviet-era services, and developed regional broadcasting. Channel identities were later reorganized around names including Oʻzbekiston, Yoshlar, Toshkent and Sport. The Yoshlar television and radio identity was introduced in 1998 as part of this restructuring. On 8 November 2005, the Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan was reorganized into the present National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan. The restructuring placed key services into separate television-and-radio channel enterprises and reorganized technical and production institutions, including the Republican Television Center, the Republican House of Radio Broadcasting and Sound Recording, and Uzbektelefilm. The arrangement combined national channels with specialized production and transmission bodies under a state broadcasting framework. The company’s television portfolio has included the national Uzbekistan service, youth-oriented programming, the Tashkent service and sports broadcasting. In 2013, it added Madaniyat va Maʼrifat, focused on culture and enlightenment, and Dunyo boʻylab, oriented toward international and travel-related content. Four additional channels were also launched during 2013 using frequencies previously associated with private channels that had been prohibited by Uzbek authorities, according to the referenced account. NTRC operates in a media environment in which broadcasting has historically been closely connected to government policy and public information. It has faced competition from private local television services, but remains the country’s central state broadcasting institution. Its functions extend beyond channel programming to include news gathering, radio production, television production, regional broadcasting, foreign-language or foreign-directed services, cultural ensembles and technical transmission facilities. The organization’s historical record therefore spans both the development of Uzbek broadcasting and the institutional consolidation of a modern national broadcaster.
History
The institutional history of Uzbekistan’s national broadcaster begins with the creation of Uzbek Radio in 1927. On 11 February of that year, the service transmitted its first Uzbek-language program, “Tashkent Speaks,” a date subsequently treated as the beginning of Uzbek radio. Early programming combined news, concerts, lectures and interviews. Radio services were progressively extended beyond Tashkent, including regional stations and broadcasting structures in areas such as Bukhara, Namangan, Andijan, Khorezm and Surkhandarya. In 1933, the Soviet Uzbek administration established a Committee of Radiofication and Radio Broadcasting. This body and its regional counterparts managed the expansion and administration of radio during the Soviet period. From 1947, Radio Tashkent also transmitted on shortwave to audiences outside the Soviet republic, giving Uzbek broadcasting an international dimension. The institutional structure changed in 1952, when the radio committee was reorganized as the Main Directorate of Radio Information of the Ministry of Culture of the Uzbek SSR. Television development accelerated in the middle of the decade. A Tashkent television studio was created in 1956 with editorial departments covering social and political affairs, literature and drama, music, and children and youth programming. A television center and hardware-studio facilities supported the new service. In 1957, responsibility moved to the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the Uzbek SSR on Television and Radio Broadcasting. The committee was renamed several times as the Soviet administrative system changed. Television studios were added in Khorezm and Nukus in 1964, while the Tashkent television center was transferred to the state broadcasting committee in 1969 and renamed the Republican Television Center. A television-film production editorial office was established in 1970 and produced works under the Uzbektelefilm identity. Further technical expansion followed in 1977 with a larger hardware-studio complex. After Uzbekistan became independent, the former Soviet republican broadcaster was reorganized. In 1992 it became the State Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan. It operated four television networks and four radio networks, while also carrying selected programming from Russian and other Central Asian services during the early post-Soviet period. The 1990s brought the growth of regional state television and stronger competition from private local channels. In 1996, the organization was renamed the Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan. Its structure included national television and radio departments, foreign broadcasting, technical units, Uzbektelefilm and regional television and radio companies. Channel identities were gradually standardized. The first Uzbek radio service became Oʻzbekiston, while other radio services took the names Yoshlar, Toshkent and Mahalla. The principal television identities became Oʻzbekiston, Yoshlar, Toshkent and Sport. The Yoshlar television and radio brand was created in 1998, reflecting a more differentiated service structure. On 8 November 2005, the Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan was reorganized as the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan. The reform created or consolidated specialized operating units for the Uzbekistan, Sport, Toshkent and Yoshlar services, while technical and production organizations were reorganized under separate state enterprises. Uzbektelefilm was also reorganized as a state unitary enterprise. Later development included the launch of Madaniyat va Maʼrifat and Dunyo boʻylab in 2013 and the continued expansion of the broadcaster’s channel portfolio. Today NTRC remains Uzbekistan’s principal state broadcasting organization, combining national television, radio, regional services, production capacity and transmission infrastructure.
- 2013
Specialist channels launched
[1]Madaniyat va Maʼrifat and Dunyo boʻylab were launched, alongside further channel expansion.
- 2005
NTRC created
[1]On 8 November, the Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan was reorganized into the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan.
- 1998
Yoshlar television and radio identity introduced
[1]The Yoshlar youth-oriented television and radio brand was established.
- 1992
Post-independence broadcasting reorganization
[1]The former republican Soviet broadcaster was reorganized as the State Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan.
- 1956
Tashkent television studio created
[1]A Tashkent television studio and associated technical facilities marked a major step in the development of Uzbek television.
- 1933
Soviet Uzbek radio committee established
[1]The Committee of Radiofication and Radio Broadcasting of the Uzbek SSR was created to administer radio broadcasting.
- 1927
Uzbek Radio begins broadcasting
[1]Uzbek Radio transmitted its first Uzbek-language program from Tashkent on 11 February, a date regarded as the birth of Uzbek radio.
Products and positioning
State national broadcaster and public-service media organization of Uzbekistan
Television and radio channel
Oʻzbekiston
The principal national service associated with Uzbekistan’s state broadcasting system. Its television and radio output has included national news, public-affairs coverage, cultural programming, educational material and general entertainment.
Youth television and radio channel · 1998
Yoshlar
A youth-oriented television and radio service established as a distinct identity in 1998. It forms part of NTRC’s specialized programming structure and is directed toward younger audiences and related cultural and educational content.
City television and radio channel
Toshkent
A television and radio service associated with Tashkent and urban programming. It developed from the broadcaster’s broader network of national and regional services.
Sports television channel
Sport
NTRC’s specialist sports service, created to carry sports news, events and related programming within the national broadcasting portfolio.
Cultural and educational television channel · 2013
Madaniyat va Maʼrifat
A specialist channel launched in 2013 with a focus on culture, enlightenment and educational programming.
International and travel television channel · 2013
Dunyo boʻylab
A specialist channel launched in 2013 with programming oriented toward the wider world, including international and travel-related themes.
Brand decisions
2013
Expansion into culture and international programmingProduct launchBackground
NTRC expanded its specialist channel portfolio during a period of continuing change in Uzbekistan’s television market.
Action taken
It launched Madaniyat va Maʼrifat and Dunyo boʻylab and introduced additional channels using frequencies previously associated with prohibited private broadcasters.
Aftermath
The broadcaster’s television offering became more differentiated by subject and audience.
2005
Reorganization into the National Television and Radio CompanyStrategyBackground
The existing Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan was restructured as part of the state broadcasting system.
Action taken
NTRC was established on 8 November 2005, with specialized channel entities and reorganized technical and production enterprises.
Aftermath
The reform consolidated national television, radio, production and transmission functions under the NTRC framework.
Recent events
- 2013
NTRC website hacked in politically motivated incident[1]
Other
The organization’s website was reportedly compromised in January 2013 by an actor using the handle @CloneSecurity. The incident was described as politically motivated.
- 2013
NTRC expands its television portfolio with culture and international channels[1]
Product launch
NTRC launched Madaniyat va Maʼrifat and Dunyo boʻylab, while additional channels were introduced during the same year through frequencies previously used by private broadcasters.
Sources1 sources
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