Radio Television Brunei
Brunei's national public broadcaster, operating television, radio and digital streaming services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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.
- 2023
RTB Go Android TV application
[1]An Android TV version of RTB Go became available.
- 2018
Digital HD transition
[1]RTB migrated its television service from analogue transmission to digital HD broadcasting.
- 2017
Television channel consolidation
[1]RTB reorganised its channels into RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka and RTB Sukmaindera.
- 2003
RTB4 International begins 24-hour service
[1]The international television channel began round-the-clock transmission.
- 2001
NetRadio begins internet streaming
[1]RTB made its radio stations available through its NetRadio online service.
- 1997
Nur Islam FM launches
[1]RTB launched its Islamic radio service, Nur Islam FM.
- 1996
Pelangi FM and Harmoni FM launch
[1]RTB added youth-oriented Pelangi FM and family-oriented Harmoni FM.
- 1995
Pilihan FM launches
[1]RTB expanded its radio portfolio with the launch of Pilihan FM.
- 1994
Satellite service introduced
[1]RTB began satellite distribution aimed at Bruneians and Malay-speaking audiences in the wider region.
- 1977
FM stereo service begins
[1]RTB introduced FM stereo radio service in Brunei-Muara District.
Products and positioning
A national public-service broadcaster focused on universal coverage, Bruneian identity, Malay-language and local programming, public information, education, religion, culture and national events.
Television channel · 2017
RTB Perdana
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.
Television channel · 2017
RTB Aneka
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.
Television channel · 2003
RTB Sukmaindera
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.
Over-the-top streaming service
RTB Go
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.
Radio station · 1957
Nasional FM
The successor identity of RTB's original Radio Brunei service and a core national radio outlet.
Radio station · 1995
Pilihan FM
A radio service added to RTB's expanding station portfolio in the mid-1990s.
Radio station · 1996
Pelangi FM
A youth-oriented radio service launched as part of RTB's audience-segmented radio expansion.
Radio station · 1996
Harmoni FM
A family-oriented RTB radio service introduced during the broadcaster's 1990s network expansion.
Radio station · 1997
Nur Islam FM
RTB's Islamic radio service, launched to provide religious programming within its national radio portfolio.
Television programme
Rampai Pagi
A long-running breakfast television programme presented in a talk-show format. It is broadcast on RTB Perdana and RTB Sukmaindera.
Brand decisions
2020
Creative-media partnership with Universiti Teknologi BruneiStrategyBackground
RTB sought to support development of the local creative-media sector while moving its headquarters to a new central facility.
Action taken
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.
2018
Migration to digital HD televisionGeneration changeBackground
RTB had conducted HD trials and was modernising its analogue television infrastructure.
Action taken
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.
2017
Consolidation of television channelsStrategyBackground
RTB had operated several television identities, while the broadcaster was preparing for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Action taken
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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