The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) (, NUK; German: Namibische Rundfunkgesellschaft, NRG) is the public broadcaster of Namibia. It was established in 1979, under the name South West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC) or Suidwes-Afrikaanse Uitsaaikorporasie (SWAUK). In March 2026, Menesia Muinjo was appointed director-general of the corporation.
History Radio was originally broadcast in English and Afrikaans via shortwave from the South African Broadcasting Corporation's facilities in South Africa. The SABC established a local FM transmitter network in November 1969, relaying Radio South Africa, Radio Suid-Afrika, and Springbok Radio, and establishing a number of services in native languages, including Radio Ovambo, broadcasting in the Kwanyama and Ndonga languages, Radio Herero and Radio Damara Nama.Developmental radio broadcasting in Namibia and Tanzania: a comparative study, Johannes Ndeshihala Amupala University of Tampere, Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication, 1989, page 18 The introduction of Radio Kavango along the northeastern border with Angola followed in February 1976 in the Kwangali, Mbukushu and Gciriku languages.Annual Report, Department of National Education, 1976, page 77
In 1965, the pro-independence movement, the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), began broadcasting a one-hour radio programme from Tanzania on short wave known as The Namibian Hour.It is No More a Cry: Namibian Poetry in Exile and Essays on Literature in Resistance and Nation Building, Henning Melber, Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 2004, page 86 It later started broadcasting from Zambia.Namibia's Long Walk to Freedom: The Role of Constitution Making in the Creation of an Independent Namibia, Marinus Weichers, Framing the State in Times of Transition: Case Studies in Constitution Making, Laurel E. Miller, Louis Aucoin US Institute of Peace Press, 2010, page 98 In 1974, it was renamed Voice of Namibia.Encyclopedia of international media and communications, Volume 3, Donald H. Johnston Academic Press, 2003, page 158 By 1986, it was broadcasting from Angola, Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe, as well as from Tanzania and Zambia.Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa, Issues 7322-7373, BBC Monitoring Service, 1986
From SABC to SWABC
In May 1979 the SABC relinquished control of broadcasting services in the territory, and a new broadcaster was established in its place.SWA/Namibia Today, The Service, 1980, page 105 This was known as the South West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC), in Afrikaans as Suidwes-Afrikaanse Uitsaaikorporasie (SWAUK), came into being.The Laws of South West Africa, J. Meibert, 1979 However, 70 per cent of the SWABC's technical personnel were on secondment from the SABC.Southern Africa Political & Economic Monthly, Volume 2, SAPES Publications Project, 1988, page 16 In addition, a number of its programmes were prepared at the SABC's studios in Johannesburg before being dispatched to Windhoek for transmission.Sub-Saharan Africa Report, Issues 80-86, Foreign Broadcast Information Service., 1985, page 40
Under the authority of the South African-appointed Administrator General, the SWABC operated nine "ethnic" radio stations in English, Afrikaans, German, Owambo, Herero, Lozi, Tswana and Damara/Nama, with the national service broadcast only in English and Afrikaans.Public Broadcasting for the 21st Century, Marc Raboy University of Luton Press, 1995, page 230 By March 1985, 85 per cent of the population had FM radio service over 31 transmitting stations.On Record, Issues 12-20, SWA/Namibia Information Service, 1985, page 6
The SWABC's television service was introduced in October 1981, serving 50 per cent of the population,SWA/Namibia Today, Section Liaison Services, Department of Governmental Affairs, 1988, page 98 via 11 transmitters. This comprised a mix of programming in English, Afrikaans and German, 90 per cent of which came from or via the SABC.Economic development strategies for independent Namibia, Harbans Singh, Wilfred W. Asombang, United Nations Institute for Namibia, 1989, page 26 Programmes were shown locally a week after South Africa.International TV & Video Guide, Richard Paterson, Tantivy Press, 1986, pages 181-183 The SWABC received SABC TV programming (which it recorded, edited and rebroadcast) first by using a microwave link, and later via an Intelsat satellite link.Namibia Review, Volume 11, Directorate of Production and Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 2002, page 16
However, Walvis Bay, an enclave of South Africa in Namibia until 1994, received the SABC's TV1 on a low-power transmitter, which was broadcast live via Intelsat from 1986.
Transition to independence During the transition to independence in 1989, the SWABC was accused by the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) of bias in its news coverage, portraying the pro-independence SWAPO party as well as UNTAG in a negative light, while being uncritical of press releases from the Administrator General's office, the police force, and anti-SWAPO parties.UN Peacekeeping in Action: The Namibian Experience, Roger Hearn, Nova Publishers, 1999, page 85 It was accused of particular bias towards the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, with disproportionate coverage given to its press conferences and rallies.An investigation into the extent of impartiality of the South West African Broadcasting Corporation (radio and television news), Namibia Peace Plan 435 (Group), 1989, page 7
In addition, in July 1989, the Administrator General was given three times as much airtime on SWABC TV as UNTAG.Peacekeeping and Public Information: Caught in the Crossfire, Ingrid A. Lehmann, Psychology Press, 1999, page 49 However, while the SWABC had offered UNTAG five minutes of radio airtime daily and a ten-minute daily television slot in May 1989, UNTAG was unable to produce adequate broadcasts and failed to benefit from its allotted airtime until late June.Initiating the "second Generation" of United Nations Operations: UNTAG in Namibia, Randall Harbour, Graduate Institute of International Studies, 1998, page 61
Post-independence
Following independence in 1990, the new government made the decision to make English the sole language on NBC television, while the existing English-language national radio service was made the main channel for news, sport, public affairs and other programmes.Namibia's information policy, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1991, page 22 Three months after independence, NBC television began broadcasting entirely in English, while broadcasting hours for radio services in other languages were reduced.The role of English in Namibia: A sociocultural and linguistic account, Brian Harlech-Jones in Discrimination Through Language in Africa?: Perspectives on the Namibian Experience, Martin Pütz, Walter de Gruyter, 1995, page 199
Under the pre-independence agreements, most SWABC staff were able to keep their jobs at the new broadcaster, but they were joined by SWAPO journalists who had previously worked for the Voice of Namibia, leading to accusations of bias and favouritism from both sides.From Revolutionary to Regime Radio: Three Decades of Nationalist Broadcasting in Southern Africa, Lebona Mosia, Charles Riddle, Jim Zaffiro in Africa Media Review, Volume 8, Issue 1, African Council for Communication Education, 1994
The NBC was also accused by opposition politicians of favouring SWAPO, with Nora Schimming-Chase, vice-president of the Congress of Democrats, calling it the "Nujoma Broadcasting Corporation", a reference to Namibia's then President, Sam Nujoma.NBC no show delays CoD Congress start, The Namibian, 2 August 2004 The DTA of Namibia, formerly the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, has also accused the NBC of giving coverage of political rallies that favour SWAPO at the expense of its rivals., New Era, 15 October 2014
On 6 July 1996, two NBC TV cameras were damaged beyond repair and one was stolen, after a jazz concert failed to appear at the scheduled time. Members of the crew were also injured. The damaged cameras cost N$1.5 million."Namibian TV crew attacked", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 10, August–October 1996
From 2000, more local languages were added to NBC's television news, after consideration that more than 80% of its viewers did not understand English."NBC air in more languages", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 26, August-October 2000 Shortly afterwards, it was announced that NBC would start television news in Afrikaans. The delays were due to budget constraints and that all content in the language was sponsored by private companies."Afrikaans to be introduced in Namibia", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 28, February-April 2001
The broadcaster announced an increase in licensing fees in October 2001, scheduled to be set at 13%."Namibia: NBC ups licence fees", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 32, February-April 2002
NBC's public image was diminishing by the 2000s, when locals noticed that the channel was closely associated with the ruling SWAPO party. Some journalists left to join One Africa Television, its commercial competitor.Toutes les télés du monde, Angola, ARTE France and Point du Jour, 2006
Services
Radio The NBC operates one 24-hour radio station in English (NBC National Radio, renamed National FM in 2017) and nine so-called Language Services that broadcast between 10 and 15 hours per day in Oshiwambo (Ovambo and Kwanyama; established 1969), Damara/Nama (1969) renamed "Kaisamed FM", Otjiherero (1969), Rukavango (1975), Afrikaans (1979 Afrikaanse Radio Diens, renamed Hartklop FM in 2017), German (1979 Deutsches Hörfunkprogramm, renamed Funkhaus Namibia in 2017), Setswana (1981/98), Silozi (1986) and San (ǃHa Radio, 2003).Media System and News Selection in Namibia, Andreas Rothe, 2010, p.41-53
The majority of radio stations are broadcast from radio studios in Pettenkofer Street, Windhoek, but many Oshiwambo programmes emanate from the studios in Oshakati,"As Long as They Don't Bury Me Here": Social Relations of Poverty in a Namibian Shantytown, Inge Tvedten, Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 2011, page 59 the Rukavango service is broadcast from the studios in Rundu, the SiLozi service from Katima Mulilo and ǃHa Radio from Tsumkwe, although these are now available nationwide via digital terrestrial television.New radio habits in Namibia , SIGNIS, December 15, 2015
Television NBC continued the television service of the SWABC introduced in 1981. Since the launch of digital terrestrial television in 2013 there are three television channels (NBC1, NBC2 and NBC3, respectively), primarily in English, but with some programming in Afrikaans, German and indigenous languages (Monday–Thursday, 17:00–17:30 on NBC1). A number of Deutsche Welle programmes also are relayed by NBC on radio and television.Southern Africa , Deutsche Welle, 18 June 2015
NBC1 is also available on the DStv satellite television platform. NBC2 and NBC3, however, can only be accessed by the aerial television network through proprietary decoders currently being sold throughout Namibia.Namibia: NBC goes digital nationwide, GOtv on the field , Balancing Act Africa, 24 October 2013 There was some discussion regarding the cost of these digital decoders., Robin Tyson, The Namibian, 20 January 2013
It had a monopoly on free-to-air television in Namibia until 2008, when the competitor One Africa Television, a new privately owned television station was launched.
NBC1 A free to air channel that broadcast current affairs, children's programs, telenovelas, dramas and news.
NBC2 A free to air channel that broadcast news channels and Eye on SADC.
NBC3 A pay television that airs dramas, telenovelas, sports and movies. Programs Current Imported shows Animated shows Angel's Friends Blaze and the Monster Machines Dora and Friends: Into the City! Dora the Explorer Fireman Sam Julius Jr. Kate and Mim Mim Max Steel Monsters vs. Aliens