Radio Television Brunei

Radio Television Brunei (RTB) is Brunei's national public broadcaster and the country's principal provider of free-to-air television and domestic radio. It operates as a government broadcaster serving the national audience from its headquarters in Bandar Seri Begawan, with additional district branches and broadcasting facilities. Its services combine Malay-language and other programming with news, current affairs, educational, religious, cultural, entertainment and national-event coverage. RTB's origins date to Radio Brunei's first broadcast on 2 May 1957. The initial service was small: a single studio transmitted an evening programme for less than an hour and reached only the capital and nearby areas. The radio network expanded during the late 1950s and subsequent decades, eventually developing multiple transmission sites and near-national coverage. Television was introduced through test transmissions in February 1975, followed by regular service from 1 March 1975. On 9 July 1975, the radio and television operations were formally brought together under the name Radio Television Brunei. The broadcaster played an important role in documenting Brunei's constitutional and national development, including the declaration of independence at the end of 1983 and the first National Day Parade in 1984. It also developed technical and professional capabilities through training relationships with broadcasters in Singapore and through the acquisition and exchange of external programming. Satellite distribution later enabled RTB to reach Bruneians and Malay-speaking audiences beyond the country, while internet streaming extended access to its domestic services. RTB historically held a monopoly over Brunei's free-to-air television and, until the launch of Kristal FM in 1999, over radio as well. Its television portfolio expanded from the original service to include channels associated with entertainment, Islamic programming and international distribution. In 2017, the television network was reorganised into RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka and RTB Sukmaindera. This restructuring supported the broadcaster's transition from analogue transmission to digital high-definition broadcasting and reduced duplication among the former channels. Today, RTB operates three television channels, five radio stations and RTB Go, an over-the-top service for computers, mobile devices and compatible television platforms. Its radio portfolio includes Nasional FM, Pilihan FM, Pelangi FM, Harmoni FM and Nur Islam FM, each serving a distinct language, demographic or editorial purpose. RTB Go brings together most of the broadcaster's radio and television output, although availability varies by service and territory. An Android TV version was introduced in December 2023. RTB remains closely associated with Brunei's national identity and public-information system. In addition to regular broadcasting, it provides coverage of royal, religious and civic occasions, produces local programmes and supports educational and creative-media initiatives. In 2020 it relocated its headquarters to the Secretariat Building and signed a partnership memorandum with Universiti Teknologi Brunei concerning creative media. In 2021 it added educational programming intended to provide supplementary learning support during school days. In 2025, RTB introduced a new television visual presentation alongside the renaming of Studio 4 as the Golden Jubilee TV Studio.

Radio broadcasting in Brunei began on 2 May 1957 under the name Radio Brunei. The inaugural transmission included an Eid al-Fitr message from Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. At first, the service operated from one studio and transmitted for approximately 45 minutes each evening. Its low-powered transmitter reached only Brunei Town and nearby areas. Following an initial testing period, the service expanded to around six hours per day by September 1958. The original radio service later became associated with Nasional FM. During the following decades, Radio Brunei expanded its transmission infrastructure and professional capacity. By 1974, it had 171 employees and three transmission sites that provided almost complete coverage of Brunei and some areas beyond the country. Television development followed. Staff were sent to Radio Television Singapore for training in preparation for the new medium, and test television broadcasts began on 1 February 1975. Regular television service started on 1 March from Brunei-Muara District. The radio and television services were formally merged on 9 July 1975, when the name Radio Television Brunei came into use. The television operation initially shared facilities with the radio studios. A later phase used a multipurpose studio complex that was fully commissioned by 1980. A second television transmitter entered service in March 1976, and the first outside broadcast covered the Sultan's birthday parade from the Town Padang. FM stereo radio service began in 1977, alongside higher-power medium-wave transmissions for the Malay-language service. RTB continued to develop its skills through international training. Sixteen staff members received on-the-job training at Singapore Broadcasting Corporation in 1980, followed by another group in 1982. In the same period, RTB acquired a substantial proportion of programmes produced by the Singapore broadcaster. Its own Training Unit also prepared staff for Brunei's independence celebrations. RTB carried a joint radio and television simulcast of the independence declaration ceremony on New Year's Eve 1983 and covered the first National Day Parade in 1984. The network broadened during the 1990s. Pilihan FM began in 1995, followed by youth-oriented Pelangi FM and family-oriented Harmoni FM in 1996, and Islamic service Nur Islam FM in 1997. The launch of Kristal FM in 1999 ended RTB's exclusive position in radio. RTB started its NetRadio internet streaming service in 2001, making its radio stations available online. It also examined digital broadcasting technology through a consultancy project in 2002. RTB developed an international television presence through satellite distribution. A one-hour satellite service using the Indonesian Palapa B2P satellite was introduced at the end of 1993 and scheduled for wider service from January 1994. Its programming targeted Bruneians across the Malay Archipelago and included news, current affairs and documentaries. The international television service RTB4 International began 24-hour transmission on 9 July 2003. Additional domestic channels, including an HD entertainment channel and an Islamic channel, were subsequently introduced, initially with limited daily transmission. The broadcaster's digital transformation accelerated in the late 2000s and 2010s. HD trials began in 2008 using a low-power transmitter at the Subok earth station. RTB also participated in regional content arrangements, including a 2015 agreement with Bomanbridge Media for factual environmental programming in high definition. The RTB4 satellite service ended on 28 February 2017. On 11 April 2017, RTB consolidated its television portfolio into RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka and RTB Sukmaindera. The restructuring was intended to reflect viewing patterns and support the transition from analogue television to digital broadcasting. RTB completed the move to digital HD service in January 2018. In the 2020s, RTB continued to combine conventional broadcasting with digital distribution and public-service initiatives. It moved its headquarters to the Secretariat Building in 2020, partnered with Universiti Teknologi Brunei in creative media, and introduced educational programming in 2021. Its RTB Go streaming service provides access across computers, tablets, smartphones and compatible television devices. The Android TV application was launched in December 2023. In July 2025, RTB refreshed its television visual presentation and renamed Studio 4 as the Golden Jubilee TV Studio.

1. 2023RTB Go Android TV application

   An Android TV version of RTB Go became available.

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2. 2018Digital HD transition

   RTB migrated its television service from analogue transmission to digital HD broadcasting.

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3. 2017Television channel consolidation

   RTB reorganised its channels into RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka and RTB Sukmaindera.

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4. 2003RTB4 International begins 24-hour service

   The international television channel began round-the-clock transmission.

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5. 2001NetRadio begins internet streaming

   RTB made its radio stations available through its NetRadio online service.

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6. 1997Nur Islam FM launches

   RTB launched its Islamic radio service, Nur Islam FM.

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7. 1996Pelangi FM and Harmoni FM launch

   RTB added youth-oriented Pelangi FM and family-oriented Harmoni FM.

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8. 1995Pilihan FM launches

   RTB expanded its radio portfolio with the launch of Pilihan FM.

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9. 1994Satellite service introduced

   RTB began satellite distribution aimed at Bruneians and Malay-speaking audiences in the wider region.

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10. 1977FM stereo service begins

    RTB introduced FM stereo radio service in Brunei-Muara District.

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11. 1975Television service and RTB merger

    Pilot television transmissions began in February, regular service followed in March, and the radio and television services adopted the RTB identity in July.

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12. 1957First Radio Brunei broadcast

    Radio Brunei began broadcasting on 2 May with a short evening service from a single studio.

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A national public-service broadcaster focused on universal coverage, Bruneian identity, Malay-language and local programming, public information, education, religion, culture and national events.

• RTB PerdanaTelevision channel2017

  RTB's principal television channel, created in 2017 through the merger of RTB1 and RTB5. It forms part of the broadcaster's core domestic television service and carries general-interest programming, including news, public affairs, entertainment and national coverage.

• RTB AnekaTelevision channel2017

  A general entertainment and varied-content channel formed in 2017 through the combination of RTB2 and RTB3. Its programming portfolio reflects the channel's broad-format role within RTB's domestic television lineup.

• RTB SukmainderaTelevision channel2003

  RTB's channel associated with the broadcaster's earlier satellite and international service. It carries locally produced and regional-interest programming, including news, current affairs and documentaries, and forms one of RTB's three principal television services.

• RTB GoOver-the-top streaming service

  RTB's digital streaming platform provides access across computers, tablets, smartphones and compatible television devices. It aggregates the broadcaster's radio stations and television streams, subject to service and geographic restrictions. An Android TV application was added in December 2023.

• Nasional FMRadio station1957

  The successor identity of RTB's original Radio Brunei service and a core national radio outlet.

• Pilihan FMRadio station1995

  A radio service added to RTB's expanding station portfolio in the mid-1990s.

• Pelangi FMRadio station1996

  A youth-oriented radio service launched as part of RTB's audience-segmented radio expansion.

• Harmoni FMRadio station1996

  A family-oriented RTB radio service introduced during the broadcaster's 1990s network expansion.

• Nur Islam FMRadio station1997

  RTB's Islamic radio service, launched to provide religious programming within its national radio portfolio.

• Rampai PagiTelevision programme

  A long-running breakfast television programme presented in a talk-show format. It is broadcast on RTB Perdana and RTB Sukmaindera.

• 2020Creative-media partnership with Universiti Teknologi BruneiStrategy

  RTB sought to support development of the local creative-media sector while moving its headquarters to a new central facility.

  What changed. RTB signed a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Teknologi Brunei for mutual cooperation in creative media.

  Aftermath. The agreement connected the national broadcaster with a local university for industry and creative-media collaboration.

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• 2018Migration to digital HD televisionGeneration change

  RTB had conducted HD trials and was modernising its analogue television infrastructure.

  What changed. The broadcaster migrated its television transmission to digital high-definition service from 1 January 2018.

  Aftermath. RTB entered its digital television phase with HD broadcasting as the core technical standard.

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• 2017Consolidation of television channelsStrategy

  RTB had operated several television identities, while the broadcaster was preparing for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

  What changed. RTB merged RTB1 and RTB5 into RTB Perdana, combined RTB2 and RTB3 as RTB Aneka, and renamed RTB4 as RTB Sukmaindera.

  Aftermath. The revised three-channel structure became the basis of RTB's digital-era television offering.

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• 2025RTB launches new television visual presentation

  RTB introduced a new visual presentation for its television services on 9 July 2025, concurrently presenting Studio 4 under the Golden Jubilee TV Studio name.

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• 2021RTB adds educational programming for school-day support

  RTB began broadcasting educational programmes intended to provide additional learning support during school days.

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• 2020RTB moves headquarters and expands creative-media cooperation

  RTB moved its headquarters from Jalan Stoney to the Secretariat Building and entered a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Teknologi Brunei to support cooperation in creative media.

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• 2018RTB completes migration to digital high-definition broadcasting

  Following the analogue transition, RTB migrated its television service to digital HD broadcasting from 1 January 2018.

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• 2017RTB reorganises its television channels

  RTB merged RTB1 with RTB5 to create RTB Perdana, combined RTB2 and RTB3 as RTB Aneka, and renamed RTB4 as RTB Sukmaindera. The changes were linked to audience preferences and the move toward digital television.

  Product generation
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• 1994RTB launches international satellite television service

  RTB introduced a satellite-distributed service aimed primarily at Bruneians in the Malay Archipelago. The service carried news, current affairs and documentaries and later provided the foundation for the RTB Sukmaindera television identity.

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• 1975RTB begins regular television broadcasting

  After pilot transmissions in February, RTB began regular television service on 1 March 1975. The television operation was formally opened later that year, when Radio Brunei and Television Brunei were consolidated under the RTB name.

  Product launch
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1. Radio Television Brunei