Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Mali
Encyclopedia
The Office of Radio and Television of Mali (Office de radiodiffusion et de télévision du Mali, ORTM) is the national broadcaster of the West African state of Mali
.
. From its headquarters in Bamako, ORTM produces two radio networks (RTM and Chiffre II), a national television network (RTM), and directs the work of a number of regional RTM radio stations.
Considered one of the freest news markets in Africa, although government office holders threaten (and sometimes resort to) prosecution of broadcasters under Mali's strict anti-libel laws. In 2001, the head of OTRM was threatened with jail after the government attempted to prosceute RTM for an interview in which the mayor of Bamako accused the Malian judiciary of corruption. Since 1992, broadcasting is no longer a state monopoly. There are two large private multi-channel television providers, and numerous private radio stations. Mali is also considered a world leader in community radio development, with ORTM helping to set up the Union des Radios et Televisions Libres (URTEL)
, a network of over a hundred independently locally operated stations. OTRM also partners with other government and international organisations in education and development programs throughout Mali.
programming, as well as regional broadcasting in other languages. Emission Hebdomadaire d'Information, the weekly ORTM news magazine, has been broadcasting each Sunday at noon since 1998, and is anchored by Manga Dembélé and Youssouf Touré. A daily news program is broadcast twice daily. Chiffre II radio network is simulcast on the OTRM website, while television broadcasts are carried on regional satellite. ORTM television regularly broadcasts local sport, mostly Malien Première Division
football matches, to an eager audience at least three days a week.
, then administrative center of the French colony
of French Soudan. After independence in 1960, Radio Nationale du Mali (Radio-Mali) began broadcasting from la maison de la Radio dans in the Bozola neighborhood of Bamako. Technical abilities were bolstered with Czech
transmitters ranging from 18 to 30 kilowatts in 1962.
In 1970, the Chinese government constructed four 50 kW radio transmitters near seven km from Bamako, towards Kati, enabling Radio Mali to reach much of West Africa. In 1983, a Libyan
financed television broadcast center was opened in Bamako, enabling RTM to broadcast one channel of color television. French and German grant programs between 1984 and 1990 enabled news and reporting to expand, with regional stations opening in Ségou
(1986), Koulikoro
(1989), Sikasso
(1990) and Mopti
(1993). In 1992, a second national broadcast radio network (Chiffre II) was added.
On 5 October 1992, the Malian government split off the RTM according to "Law 92-021", from direct government control, becoming a publicly financed, independently run entity (an "Etablissement Public à Caractère Administratif (EPA)"). This was part of the national liberalisation process, moving the nation to the "Third Malian Republic". Private broadcasters were legalised, and RTM was reorganised as the ORTM on 1 January 1993.
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
.
Current output
In 2002 ORTM, had 35 local radio and/or television broadcast points or repeaters, with TV/radio broadcast points in all eight Regions of MaliRegions of Mali
||Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district. Each of the regions bears the name of its principal city. The regions are divided into 49 cercles. The cercles and the capital district are divided into 703 communes....
. From its headquarters in Bamako, ORTM produces two radio networks (RTM and Chiffre II), a national television network (RTM), and directs the work of a number of regional RTM radio stations.
Considered one of the freest news markets in Africa, although government office holders threaten (and sometimes resort to) prosecution of broadcasters under Mali's strict anti-libel laws. In 2001, the head of OTRM was threatened with jail after the government attempted to prosceute RTM for an interview in which the mayor of Bamako accused the Malian judiciary of corruption. Since 1992, broadcasting is no longer a state monopoly. There are two large private multi-channel television providers, and numerous private radio stations. Mali is also considered a world leader in community radio development, with ORTM helping to set up the Union des Radios et Televisions Libres (URTEL)
URTEL
URTEL is an acronym for Union des Radios et Televisions Libres du Mali, the agency responsible for regulating television and radio transmission operations in Mali.-Operations:...
, a network of over a hundred independently locally operated stations. OTRM also partners with other government and international organisations in education and development programs throughout Mali.
Programming
RTM Radio and television broadcast news and information programming, light entertainment (both foreign and domestic), music and sport. Most national broadcasts are in French, with several hours of Bambara languageBambara language
Bambara, more correctly known as Bamanankan , its designation in the language itself , is a language spoken in Mali by as many as six million people...
programming, as well as regional broadcasting in other languages. Emission Hebdomadaire d'Information, the weekly ORTM news magazine, has been broadcasting each Sunday at noon since 1998, and is anchored by Manga Dembélé and Youssouf Touré. A daily news program is broadcast twice daily. Chiffre II radio network is simulcast on the OTRM website, while television broadcasts are carried on regional satellite. ORTM television regularly broadcasts local sport, mostly Malien Première Division
Malien Première Division
Malian Première Division is the top division of football in Mali. Having been created in 1966, it is governed by the Fédération Malienne de Football. The league has been professional since 2004....
football matches, to an eager audience at least three days a week.
History
Malian broadcasting began in 1957 as a one kilowatt radio station called Radio Soudan in BamakoBamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
, then administrative center of the French colony
French colonial empires
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
of French Soudan. After independence in 1960, Radio Nationale du Mali (Radio-Mali) began broadcasting from la maison de la Radio dans in the Bozola neighborhood of Bamako. Technical abilities were bolstered with Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
transmitters ranging from 18 to 30 kilowatts in 1962.
In 1970, the Chinese government constructed four 50 kW radio transmitters near seven km from Bamako, towards Kati, enabling Radio Mali to reach much of West Africa. In 1983, a Libyan
Libyan
A Libyan is a person or thing of, from, or related to Libya in North Africa.The term Libyan may also refer to:* A person from Libya, or of Libyan descent. For information about the Libyan people, see Demographics of Libya and Culture of Libya. For specific persons, see List of Libyans.* Libyan...
financed television broadcast center was opened in Bamako, enabling RTM to broadcast one channel of color television. French and German grant programs between 1984 and 1990 enabled news and reporting to expand, with regional stations opening in Ségou
Ségou
Ségou is a city in south-central Mali, lying northeast of Bamako on the River Niger, in the region of Ségou. It was founded by the Bozo people, on a site about from the present town...
(1986), Koulikoro
Koulikoro
Koulikoro is a city in Mali. The capital of the Koulikoro Region, Koulikoro is located on banks of the Niger River, from Mali's capital Bamako....
(1989), Sikasso
Sikasso
Sikasso is a city in the south of Mali and the capital of the Sikasso Region. With 130,700 residents, Sikasso recently passed Ségou to become Mali's second-largest city.-Geography:...
(1990) and Mopti
Mopti
Mopti is a city at the confluence of the Niger and the Bani in Mali, between Timbuktu and Ségou. The city lies on three islands linked by dykes: the New Town, the Old Town and Medina Coura. As a result it is sometimes known as the "Venice of Mali".-History:The city of Mopti derives its name from...
(1993). In 1992, a second national broadcast radio network (Chiffre II) was added.
On 5 October 1992, the Malian government split off the RTM according to "Law 92-021", from direct government control, becoming a publicly financed, independently run entity (an "Etablissement Public à Caractère Administratif (EPA)"). This was part of the national liberalisation process, moving the nation to the "Third Malian Republic". Private broadcasters were legalised, and RTM was reorganised as the ORTM on 1 January 1993.
See also
- Communications in MaliCommunications in MaliMali, a large, landlocked, multicultural country in West Africa, consistently ranks low in the Human Development Index. The infrastructure of Communications in Mali, while underdeveloped, is crucial to the nation.-History:...
- Television in MaliTelevision in MaliTelevision in Mali was introduced in 1983.The following is a list of television channels broadcast in Mali.- Main channels :...