Media assets

Television: MNB1, MNB News, MNB Sport, MNB World

Radio: Mongolian Radio, P3 FM, Voice of Mongolia

State Media Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Under the Public Radio and Television Law of 2005, MNB functions as a non‑profit public service broadcaster. Its top governing body is the 15‑member National Council, appointed jointly by the President, the Parliament (Great State Hural), and the Government. A Director‑General, chosen by the Council, oversees day‑to‑day operations.

Source of funding and budget

Historically, MNB has been funded through a blend of state subsidies and household license fees. In 2018, state funding represented just over 58 percent of MNB’s MNT 18.7 billion (approx. US $7.8 million) budget; the remainder came from license fees and limited additional income. Later sources indicate a more balanced split: about 50 percent from the state and 48 percent from license fees, with a modest remainder from social advertising and grants. Households in Ulaanbaatar currently pay around MNT 1,100 (US$ 0.30) per month, with rural areas paying slightly less. No publicly available financial reports have emerged post‑2019, so the precise current budget remains a well‑guarded secret.

Editorial independence

Although the law enshrines editorial independence for MNB’s journalists and content creators, in reality the broadcaster is often accused of being heavily politicized. Political sway extends to appointments within the National Council and senior management, calling into question its autonomy.

During the 2024 parliamentary elections, MNB provided free airtime for candidates, yet monitoring revealed a skewed presentation that favored the ruling party, raising concerns about impartiality, according to the OSCE.

As of mid‑2025, no independent oversight framework has been established to safeguard or assess its editorial independence.

August 2025

Media assets

News agency: Montsame

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Montsame remains firmly under state control: its director is appointed directly by the Prime Minister. This governance structure was affirmed by local media professionals and journalists in interviews conducted for this report in May 2023, June 2024 and May 2025. Montsame’s general director is Sodontogos Erdenetsogt, a communications specialist and international affairs expert with a public service career.

Source of funding and budget

The agency’s operations are fully underwritten by allocations from the national budget, according to the same cohort of local experts. There is no publicly available information that addresses financial figures like revenue, income, or profit for recent years.

Editorial independence

Montsame is widely regarded as operating under tight government oversight. Editorial priorities are typically skewed toward coverage of official activities and policy initiatives. No domestic law or independent mechanism exists to formally affirm its editorial independence to date.

August 2025