Television Maldives
A Maldivian public-service television broadcaster established in 1978.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Television Maldives, commonly known as TVM, is a Maldivian public-service television broadcaster established on 29 March 1978. It began transmission from the capital, Malé, when television ownership was extremely limited: the initial service reached an audience associated with roughly 90 television sets. The station originally transmitted on VHF channel 7 with an effective radiated power of 1 kilowatt. TVM became the principal local television outlet in the Maldives for much of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. A subscription-oriented second service, TVM Plus, was introduced in 1994. By the 2000s, television ownership had expanded substantially across the country, with more than 60,000 sets reported and TVM Plus available in nearly 2,000 households. Until the arrival of DhiTV in 2008, TVM held a near-monopoly over locally produced television broadcasting. The broadcaster's programming historically combined news, public information, religious material, entertainment, sports and locally produced programs. Its local productions were regarded as a relative strength. At the same time, criticism of the service included inconsistent editing and censorship of imported material, limited production quality in some areas, and perceptions that its political coverage favored the government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during the period when the station operated as a dominant state broadcaster. Religious programming became particularly prominent during Ramadan, including a notable increase in 2006 that reduced entertainment output during the month. TVM's institutional identity changed repeatedly as Maldivian state media was reorganized. In 2009, management of TVM and the national radio service Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu was transferred to the newly created Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation, or MNBC. In 2010, TVM was rebranded as MNBC One, while the radio service became Raajje Radio. The transition generated a legal dispute concerning the ownership and use of state-media assets, employees and land after the establishment of the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation under a separate statutory framework. MNBC also introduced Youth TV in late 2009 as a half-day service aimed at teenagers and young adults; the channel later ceased broadcasting. Following the political crisis and resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed in February 2012, police officers and members of the public took control of the MNBC station under a court order. The broadcast feed was temporarily replaced by VTV's signal, and the channel was subsequently identified again as TVM, although the associated radio service retained the Raajje Radio name. On 8 February 2012, the station became a public-service broadcaster under the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation. In 2015, legislation was introduced to dissolve MBC and create Public Service Media, commonly abbreviated as PSM, as the country's state-media organization. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom ratified the Public Service Media Bill on 28 April 2015, and the new governing structure was initiated the following day. The broader TVM/PSM broadcasting portfolio has included television services such as Television Maldives, PSM News, Munnaaru TV, Yes TV Maldives, Maldives TV and TVM Qur'an, alongside radio services including Dhivehi Raajjege Adu, Dhivehi FM and Dheenuge Adu. Sports coverage has included domestic football competitions and selected international tournaments. Because the historical TVM identity has been rebranded, restored and incorporated into successor state-media structures at different times, its present status as a standalone brand is not fully clear from the available reference material.
History
Television Maldives was established on 29 March 1978 as the Maldives' first major television broadcaster. Its original service was small by international standards, reaching a limited number of television sets in Malé and transmitting on VHF channel 7 with 1 kilowatt of effective radiated power. As television ownership grew, the broadcaster became an important national institution and a primary source of local television content. In 1994, TVM expanded with TVM Plus, a subscription-based second channel. By the 2000s, the country reportedly had more than 60,000 television sets, while TVM Plus was available in almost 2,000 homes. The arrival of DhiTV in 2008 ended TVM's effective monopoly over local television. During its dominant period, TVM attracted criticism over production limitations, censorship of pirated foreign programs and political partiality, particularly in relation to coverage favorable to the government of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Its locally produced programs were nevertheless noted for their quality. Religious programming became more prominent during Ramadan, including in 2006. The organization entered a period of institutional restructuring in 2009, when management of TVM and the national radio service Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu was placed under the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation. TVM was renamed MNBC One in 2010, and the radio service was renamed Raajje Radio. The reorganization was contested legally by the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation, which sought control over assets, funds, employees and land associated with the former state-media services. MNBC also launched Youth TV in late 2009, targeting younger viewers with a half-day evening schedule; that service was later discontinued. Political upheaval in February 2012 produced another disruption. After President Mohamed Nasheed resigned, police and members of the public took control of the MNBC station under a court order. VTV's signal was carried temporarily, after which the channel was again identified as TVM while the radio service continued under the Raajje Radio name. On 8 February 2012, the station became a public-service broadcaster under the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation. The next major institutional change came in 2015. A bill presented to the People's Majlis on 30 March proposed dissolving MBC and creating Public Service Media, a state-media company intended to provide news, information, education, awareness and entertainment while maintaining nationwide coverage and editorial independence under statutory rules. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom ratified the bill on 28 April 2015, and members of the new governing board were nominated on 29 April. The available reference material describes a wider PSM portfolio containing several television and radio services. Since the TVM name has been used alongside successor brands such as MNBC One and PSM services, the status of Television Maldives as an independently operating current brand requires further verification.
- 2015
Public Service Media established
[1]The Public Service Media Bill is ratified, creating a new statutory framework for Maldivian state media.
- 2012
Public-service broadcaster designation
[1]The station becomes a public-service broadcaster under the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation on 8 February.
- 2010
Rebranding as MNBC One
[1]TVM is rebranded as MNBC One during the restructuring of state media.
- 2009
Management moves to MNBC
[1]The newly created Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation assumes management of TVM and the national radio service.
- 2008
DhiTV enters the market
[1]The launch of DhiTV ends TVM's effective monopoly over local television broadcasting.
- 1994
TVM Plus is introduced
[1]A second, subscription-based television channel is added to the TVM offering.
- 1978
Television Maldives begins broadcasting
[1]TVM launches on 29 March, initially broadcasting from Malé on VHF channel 7 with 1 kilowatt of effective radiated power.
Products and positioning
National public-service television broadcaster serving Maldivian audiences through news, information, entertainment, religious programming and sports coverage.
General television channel · 1978
Television Maldives
The core TVM service provided Maldivian audiences with a mix of news, public information, locally produced entertainment, religious programs, imported content and sports. It was historically the country's dominant local television outlet and later operated through changing state-media structures, including the MNBC One identity.
Subscription television channel · 1994
TVM Plus
TVM Plus was introduced in 1994 as a subscription-based second channel. It broadened the broadcaster's offer during the period before commercial and private television competition became established in the Maldives.
Youth television channel · 2009
Youth TV
Youth TV was an evening, half-day service launched by MNBC in late 2009 for teenagers and younger viewers. The channel is described in the reference material as no longer broadcasting.
Controversies
2012
Indian intelligence designation as a purported hate channel
In December 2012, an Indian intelligence review reportedly flagged Television Maldives as a channel alleged to have broadcast anti-India programming. The report included it among channels described as illegal. The available source does not establish a court finding or an independently verified determination of wrongdoing.
Brand decisions
2015
Transition to Public Service MediaStrategyBackground
The government proposed replacing the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation with a new state-media company intended to provide nationwide news, information, awareness and entertainment services.
Action taken
The Public Service Media Bill was ratified on 28 April 2015.
Aftermath
Public Service Media became the official state-media company, with a governing board nominated the following day.
2010
Rebranding as MNBC OneStrategyBackground
MNBC consolidated the identities of the state television and radio services.
Action taken
Television Maldives was renamed MNBC One.
Aftermath
The TVM identity was later used again during the political and institutional disruptions of 2012.
2009
Transfer of management to MNBCStrategyBackground
Maldivian state broadcasting was reorganized through the creation of the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation.
Action taken
Management of Television Maldives and the national radio service was transferred to MNBC.
Aftermath
The change led to rebranding and a legal dispute involving the ownership and use of state-media assets.
Recent events
- 2015
Public Service Media Bill ratified[1]
Regulation
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom ratified legislation establishing Public Service Media as the new state-media company after a bill had been sent to the People's Majlis to replace the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation.
- 2012
Station control changes during the 2012 political crisis[1]
Leadership change · Other
After President Mohamed Nasheed's resignation, police officers and members of the public took control of the MNBC station under a court order. A VTV feed was carried temporarily before the channel was again identified as TVM.
- 2012
Television Maldives becomes a public-service broadcaster[1]
Other
On 8 February, the station became a public-service broadcaster under the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation.
- 2010
TVM rebranded as MNBC One[1]
Other
MNBC changed the television service's name to MNBC One and renamed the associated radio service Raajje Radio.
- 2009
State-media management transferred to MNBC[1]
M&A
Management of Television Maldives and the national radio service Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu was transferred to the newly formed Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation.
- 2009
Youth TV introduced[1]
Product launch
MNBC launched Youth TV as an evening, half-day service designed for Maldivian teenagers and young adults. The channel later stopped broadcasting.
- 1994
TVM Plus launches as a subscription service[1]
Product launch
Television Maldives expanded its television offering with the introduction of TVM Plus, a subscription-based second channel.
- 1978
Television Maldives begins broadcasting[1]
Other
TVM began television transmission in the Maldives on 29 March, initially serving a very small audience in Malé through a VHF channel 7 signal.
Sources2 sources
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