The Bulgarian National Television (BNT) is the public TV broadcaster in Bulgaria, established back in 1959.

According to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (University of Oxford) 2023 report, BNT has the highest brand trust score (59%) among the other media in Bulgaria.  BNT operates in compliance with the Radio and Television Act. It is directly supervised by an independent regulatory body, the Council for Electronic Media.

BNT has four regional TV centers in the towns of Blagoevgrad, Varna, Plovdiv and Ruse, covering the territory of Bulgaria.  

BNT is operating four TV channels:  BNT1 is the first national public TV channel dedicated to the general audience. It broadcasts 24/7 news, current affairs and entertainment programmes, documentaries, feature films, etc. in line with BNT’s public service remit, as defined by the law. BNT2 is a channel focused on culture and education. It is also a platform that brings together BNT’s four regional TV centers into one joint national network. BNT3 is a sports channel, producing and airing original sports programmes and broadcasting international and national sports events. BNT4 is a national public TV channel intended mainly for Bulgarians living abroad. BNT maintains its official webpage bnt.bg, as well as a news website bntnews.bg and a free mobile app BNTNews. In recent years, BNT stepped into podcast and videocast realm, introducing thematic series presented by prominent BNT journalists. BNT is an active member of EBU, COPEAM, CIRCOM Regional, ERNO and FIAT.

BNT is mainly funded by the state budget, having very limited commercial revenues due to the legal limitation to broadcast commercials (not more than 15’ within 24 hours and not more than 5’ in the prime time).

Bulgarian National Television

Basic information

Name
Bulgarian National Television
Country
Bulgaria
City
Sofia
Website

Supported projects

Eco-Journalism Investigations: Spotlight on the Black Sea & Danube

  • Environment

SOFIA / RUSE— This cross-border training project for environmental investigative journalists, organised by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) takes place between July and December 2024. It focuses on the ecological issues of the Black Sea region and the Danube River.