{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] --> The '''mass media in Turkmenistan''' are among the world's most tightly controlled. The press is controlled by the government, which funds nearly all [[newspapers]], criticism of the [[President of Turkmenistan|president]] is forbidden, and state licensing policy effectively eliminates all outlets not reflecting official views. To avoid reprisal, domestic and foreign [[journalists]] engage in [[self-censorship]].

The only domestic news agency is the [[Turkmenistan State News Agency|State News Agency of Turkmenistan]]. The [[Anadolu Agency]] of Turkey maintains an office in [[Ashgabat]], and [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation|TRT]] has a representative there. [[Agence France Press]], [[Associated Press]], [[Reuters]], and [[ITAR-TASS]] receive reports from [[Stringer (journalism)|stringers]]. 57 correspondents of foreign media, accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.<ref>[https://mfa.gov.tm/ru/articles/686?breadcrumbs=no СПИСОК корреспондентов зарубежных СМИ, аккредитованных при МИД Туркменистана]</ref>

[[Broadcasting]] is under the full control of the Turkmenistan Television Broadcasting Center, which operates seven national television channels. Little recent information on [[radio stations]] is available.<ref name=cp>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Turkmenistan.pdf Turkmenistan country profile]. [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (February 2007). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609233835/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Turkmenistan.pdf|date=9 June 2007}}. ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref>

[[Reporters Without Borders]]' 2022 [[Press Freedom Index]] ranked Turkmenistan 177th out of 180 countries surveyed, ahead of [[Mass media in Iran|Iran]], [[Mass media in Eritrea|Eritrea]], and [[Mass media in North Korea|the DPRK]].<ref>[https://rsf.org/en/index World Press Freedom Index 2022], Reporters Without Borders.</ref> It has consistently ranked at or near the bottom of most measures of press freedom since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

==Newspapers and magazines== Twenty-two newspapers (2 privately owned) and 14 magazines (none privately owned) are published in Turkmenistan. Content of the state-owned newspapers differs little to not at all, consisting of republishing of copy from the state-owned news agency. They are very expensive by Turkmen standards, with the most expensive newspaper costing $0.50. A one-year subscription equals one month minimum wage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azathabar.com/a/27199219.html|title=Merkezi Aziýanyň we Türkmenistanyň neşirleri|website=Azatlyk Radiosy|date=20 August 2015 }}</ref> Some domestic online newspapers have been founded, notably Turkmenportal and Orient.<ref>[http://orient.tm/ Orient website]</ref><ref>[http://www.Turkmenportal.com.tm Turkmenportal News website]</ref> Russian magazines and Uzbek newspapers are sold in some kiosks.

=== National newspapers === Electronic copies of most state-published newspapers may be downloaded from [https://metbugat.gov.tm/subnewspapers the website of the State Printing Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529084724/https://metbugat.gov.tm/subnewspapers |date=2022-05-29 }}.

*''[[Neytralny Turkmenistan]]'' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Neutral Turkmenistan – published six days per week in [[Russian language|Russian]], the main Russian-medium newspaper of Turkmenistan. Founded in 1924, during the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] period called ''Turkmenskaya Iskra'' ({{langx|ru|Turkmen Spark}}) *''Turkmenistan'' – the main Turkmen-medium newspaper of Turkmenistan, published in [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]] six times per week since 1920. *''Watan'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Homeland) – Published three times per week, during the Soviet period called ''Yash Kommunistler'' ({{langx|tk|Young Communists}}). *''Nesil'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Generation) – Owned and published by [[Magtymguly Youth Organization]] three times per week. *''Adalat'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Justice) – Owned and published by [[Ministry of Justice (Turkmenistan)|Ministry of Justice]] weekly. *''Rysgal'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Welfare) – Owned and published weekly by the [[Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan]]; the country's first and only private newspaper.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.azathabar.com/a/2161139.html|title=Hususy gazet çap edilip başlandy|website=Azatlyk Radiosy|date=18 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/|title=Turkish News – Latest News from Turkey|website=Hürriyet Daily News}}</ref> *''Türkmen Sporty'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Turkmen Sports) – Owned and published weekly by the State Sports and Youth Committee of Turkmenistan. *''Nebit-Gaz'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Oil and Gas) – Owned and published by [[Türkmengaz]] state concern, now an electronic newspaper. Previously published, starting in 2011, by the now-defunct [[Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources (Turkmenistan)|Ministry of Oil and Gas]]. *''Mugallymlar Gazeti'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Pedagogical Newspaper) – Owned and published three times per week by [[Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan]]. *''Habarlar'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: News) – Owned and published by the [[Economic Editorial Association]] three times per week, mainly economic and commercial news, classified advertising, since 1975. *''Zaman Turkmenistan'' – Owned and published by Turkish newspaper [[Zaman (newspaper)|Zaman]]. It was published weekly in Turkmen. It was closed by the government after a coup attempt in [[Turkey]]. *''Edebiyat we Sungat'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Literature and Art) – Owned and published weekly since 1958 by the [[Ministry of Culture (Turkmenistan)|Ministry of Culture]]. *''Bereketli Toprak'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Fertile Soil) – Owned and published weekly since 2008 [[Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Turkmenistan]]. *''Türkmen Dünýäsi'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Turkmen World.) – Owned and published twice monthly since 1991 by the [[Humanitarian Association of World Turkmens]]. *''Türkmeniň Ýüpek Ýoly'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Turkmen Silk Road) – Owned and published weekly by the [[Railways Agency of Turkmenistan]]. Published since 1936. *''Esger'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Soldier) – Owned and published weekly since 1993 by the [[Ministry of Defence of Turkmenistan]]. *''Biznes Reklama'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Business Advertising) – Owned and published by the [[Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations]]. *''Galkynysh'' ([[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]: Renaissance) – Owned and published weekly since 1997 by the [[Democratic Party of Turkmenistan]].

=== Regional newspapers === *''Ashgabat'' *''Maru-Şahu-Jahan'' – [[Mary Region|Mary Velayat]], published since 1931, in Turkmen, three times per week. *''Ahal Durmuşy'' (Ahal Life) – [[Ahal Region|Ahal Velayat]], published in Turkmen three times in a week. *''Daşoguz Habarlary'' (Dashoguz News) – [[Daşoguz Region|Dashoguz Velayat]], published in Turkmen three times in a week. *''Türkmen Gündogary'' (Turkmen Orient) – [[Lebap Region|Lebap Velayat]], published in Turkmen three times in a week. *[[Balkan (newspaper)|''Balkan'']] – [[Balkan Welayaty|Balkan Velayat]], published in Turkmen three times in a week.

=== Online newspapers ===

*[https://arzuw.news/ Arzuw News] – independent, private news agency. *[https://gorogly.com/ Gorogly.com] – Technology news and updates website *[http://www.azathabar.com Azatlyk Radiosy] – ([[Radio Free Europe]] Turkmen Service). *[https://bb.com.tm Biz barde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521005851/https://bb.com.tm/ |date=2022-05-21 }} – independent, private outlet social network. *[https://business.com.tm Business Turkmenistan] – independent, business news and information service. *[https://www.hronikatm.com/ Chronicles of Turkmenistan] – foreign-based independent media outlet. *[http://gundogar-news.com/ Gundogar News] – state-controlled, of unknown ownership. *[http://gundogar.org/ Gundogar.org] – foreign-based independent media outlet. *[https://ashgabat.in/ InAshgabat] – independent, private news outlet and internet portal focused on Ashgabat local news. *[https://www.infoabad.com/tmnews Infoabad] – independent, private news outlet and internet portal. *[https://orient.tm/en/o-nas Orient] – independent, private information agency owned by «Media Turkmen», founded in 2017. *[https://www.parahat.info/ Parahat Info] – news aggregator. *Türkiýe-Türkmenistan{{Citation needed|date=December 2021|reason=URL needed for this online newspaper, which cannot be found via search engines.}} *[https://www.turkmenhabar.com/ Türkmen Habar] *[https://turkmen.news/ Turkmen News] – foreign-based independent media outlet, formerly known as "Alternative News of Turkmenistan". *[https://turkmenyurt.tv/ru/home/ Turkmen Yurt TV] – foreign-based independent media *Türkmen Inform{{Citation needed|date=May 2022|reason=URL needed for this online newspaper, which cannot be found via search engines.}} *[http://tdh.gov.tm/en/ Turkmenistan Today] – ([[Turkmenistan State News Agency|TDH]] official website) – state-owned. *[http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/ Turkmenistan: Golden Age] – service of [[Neytralny Turkmenistan]], state-owned. *[http://www.turkmenistan.ru Turkmenistan.ru] – foreign-based independent media outlet. *[https://turkmenportal.com/ Turkmenportal] – news aggregator and internet portal.

=== Magazines === *Altyn Asyr Ykdysadyýeti (Turkmen: The Golden Age Economy) – Owned and published monthly since 2000 by [[Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan]]. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=31 Diýar] (Turkmen: The Land) – Owned and published monthly since 1992 by [[Cabinet of Ministers (Turkmenistan)]]. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=33 Dünya Edebiýaty] (Turkmen: World Literature) – Owned and published monthly by [[Turkmen State Publishing Service]]. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=32 Garagum] (Turkmen: Karakum) – Owned and published monthly by [[Turkmen State Publishing Service]]. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=35 Güneş] (Turkmen: Sun) – Owned and published monthly by [[Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan]]. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=37 Saglyk] (Turkmen: Health) – Owned and published semimonthly since 1990 by [[Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan]]. * Türkmenistan Sport<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/24113/vyshel-chetvertyi-nomer-mezhdunarodnogo-zhurnala-turkmenistan-sport Вышел четвёртый номер международного журнала «Туркменистан спорт»]</ref> *Türkmenistanda Ylym we Tehnika (Turkmen: Science and Technology in Turkmenistan) – Published semimonthly. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=38 Türkmenistanyň lukmançylygy] (Turkmen: Turkmenistan's Medicine) *Täze Oba (Turkmen: New Village) – Owned and published monthly since 1929 by [[Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Turkmenistan]]. *Возрождение (Vozrozhdeniye, ''Renaissance'' in Russian) – Owned and published monthly by the [[Democratic Party of Turkmenistan]]. Published since 1937, previously by the Turkmen Communist Party. *[https://metbugat.gov.tm/magazines?id=34 Zenan Kalby] (Turkmen: Woman's Heart) – Owned and published monthly by [[Women's Union of Turkmenistan]]. Published since 1931.

==Television== In Turkmenistan, [[satellite TV]] from [[Russia]], [[Turkey]] and [[Uzbekistan]] is popular. Viewers subscribe to [[Cable television|Cable TV]] and [[IPTV]], which are generally available for a monthly fee of 10 manat per month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://agts.tv/iptv|title = IPTV &#124; AŞTU – Aşgabat şäher telefon ulgamy}}</ref>

Turkmenistan broadcasts 8 public television channels (7 of them on the territory of the whole country, and 1 only in [[Ashgabat]]). All broadcast in the [[Turkmen language]] with the exception of the Turkmenistan news channel, which broadcasts in 7 languages. They do not differ from each other in news content. These sources of information are an ideological mouthpiece of the ruling regime in the country. Any opinion or idea that differs from that of the President of Turkmenistan cannot be broadcast, nor can criticism of the country (except if the criticism is made by the president himself). The channels also present informative and entertaining domestic programs and movies, as well as sports events in which Turkmen athletes participate. Sometimes ''Altyn Asyr'' broadcasts popular movies dubbed in Turkmen in the evenings. ''Turkmenistan Sport'' regularly broadcasts [[Formula 1]],<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/catalog/14682 Трансляция Гран-при Бразилии на телеканале «Türkmenistan Sport»]</ref> football matches of [[Serie A]], [[La Liga]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/24098/telekanal-turkmenistan-sport-pokazhet-katalonskoe-derbi-v-pryamom-efire|title=Телеканал «Türkmenistan Sport» покажет «Каталонское дерби» в прямом эфире &#124; Спорт}}</ref> [[Bundesliga]] and other sports thanks to an agreement with the Irish company [[Setanta Sports]].<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/20561/turkmenistan-sport-dogovorilsya-o-translyacii-mezhdunarodnyh-versii-telekanalov-setanta-sports «Turkmenistan Sport» договорился о трансляции международных версий телеканалов «Setanta Sports»]</ref> Only state companies and institutions advertise on Turkmen television.

=== TV channels === *[[Altyn Asyr (TV channel)|Altyn Asyr]] (formerly TMT-1; English: Golden Age) – The main channel of the country.<ref name="turkmenistan.ru">{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/articles/35681.html|title=На туркменском телевидении появится шестой канал – Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru}}</ref> *[[Ýaşlyk]] (formerly TMT-2; English: Youth) – Channel catering to the youth of Turkmenistan.<ref name="turkmenistan.ru"/> *[[Miras (TV channel)|Miras]] (formerly TMT-3; English: Heritage) – TV channel about the culture and heritage of the Turkmen people<ref name="turkmenistan.ru"/> *[[Turkmenistan (TV channel)|Türkmenistan]] (formerly TMT-4) – international channel broadcast in seven different languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/node/15788|title=НОВЫЙ СПУТНИКОВЫЙ КАНАЛ ТУРКМЕНСКОГО ТЕЛЕВИДЕНИЯ БУДЕТ ВЕЩАТЬ НА СЕМИ ЯЗЫКАХ – Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru}}</ref> *[[Türkmen Owazy]] (English: Turkmen Voice) – Turkmen music channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/node/26301|title=Российский спутник "Ямал-201" начал трансляцию программ нового телеканала "Туркмен овазы" – Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru}}</ref> *Aşgabat – TV channel broadcasting programs about Ashgabat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=500|title=Золотой век|website=www.turkmenistan.gov.tm}}</ref> *[[Sport (Turkmen TV channel)|Türkmenistan Sport]] – sports channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/articles/36803.html|title=С 1 января в Туркменистане начнет круглосуточное вещание телеканал "Спорт" – Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru}}</ref> * Arkadag — TV channel broadcasting programs about the city of [[Arkadag]].

==== TV programs ====

* [[Watan Habarlary]], national news program broadcasting on all channels at once.

=== IPTV === *[[AŞTU]] (''Aşgabat şäher telefon ulgamy'', [[English language|English]]: Ashgabat City Telephone System) – the company announced that it had 104,062 subscribers in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agts.tv/about|title=О нас|website=AŞTU}}</ref> Viewers have access to 136 local and foreign TV channels, including those in HD quality.<ref>{{Cite web | title=В плей-листе IP TV теперь доступно почти 140 телеканалов | url=https://turkmenportal.com/compositions/145 | access-date=2025-06-29 | website=turkmenportal.com}}</ref>

=== Satellite television === Private company Alem TV<ref>{{Cite web | title=ÄLEM TV | url=https://www.tmalem.tv/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118065120/https://www.tmalem.tv/ | access-date=2025-06-29 | archive-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> offers 125<ref>{{Cite web | title=Оператор спутникового телевидения Älem TV предлагает туркменским зрителям 125 каналов {{!}} Общество | url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/45968/alem-tv-hemra-we-onlayn-telewideniye-operatory-turkmen-tomashachylaryna-125-yaylym-hodurleyar | access-date=2025-06-29 | website=turkmenportal.com}}</ref> international pay-per-view satellite TV channels for Android smart TVs.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Новости {{!}} КЭ "Туркментелеком" | url=https://telecom.tm/ru/news/48/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101150106/https://telecom.tm/ru/news/48/ | access-date=2025-06-29 | archive-date=2022-11-01}}</ref>

=== Cable television === The [[state-owned]] enterprise [[Turkmentelecom|Turkmen Telekom]] operates cable TV activities in the country. The service is not a brand.

==Radio== There are four radio stations in Turkmenistan: * TR1 [http://radio.garden/listen/tr1-watan-radio/S53M97qW Radio Watan] (279&nbsp;kHz & 102.7&nbsp;MHz) * TR2 [http://radio.garden/listen/car-tarapdan-fm-103-9/PFazcIqH Radio Çar-Tarapdan] (69.68&nbsp;MHz) * TR3 [http://radio.garden/listen/miras-fm-103-9/qJiOPMif Radio Miras] (103.9&nbsp;MHz) * TR4 [http://radio.garden/listen/owaz-fm-101-3/gZ_yeXY5 Radio Owazy] (101.3 & 104.4&nbsp;MHz)

TR1 broadcasts on [[longwave]], [[medium wave]], [[FM_broadcast_band#OIRT_bandplan|OIRT FM]], and [[FM_broadcast_band#CCIR_bandplan|CCIR FM]]; TR2 and TR3 broadcast on medium wave and OIRT & CCIR FM; and TR4 broadcasts on CCIR FM. All four stations also broadcast on [[Digital_Audio_Broadcasting#DAB+|DAB+]] in Ashgabat and can be heard online globally via [[Radio Garden]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.online.tm/en/node/82 |title=Радио &#124; Интернет Провайдер Туркменистана |access-date=2016-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119175843/http://www.online.tm/en/node/82 |archive-date=2016-01-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldradiomap.com/tm |title=Aşgabatda radiostantsiýalar, Türkmenistan / Radio stations in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — World Radio Map |publisher=Worldradiomap.com |date=1927-12-20 |accessdate=2019-04-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://radio.garden/visit/ashgabat/W4mXVHFZ |title=Stations in Ashgabat | publisher=Radio Garden |accessdate=2022-05-12}}</ref> There are no local or regional radio stations in the country.

==See also== *[[Communications in Turkmenistan]]

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://metbugat.gov.tm/subnewspapers Newspapers in PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518062303/http://metbugat.gov.tm/subnewspapers |date=2020-05-18 }} * [https://tv.online.tm/ Online TV and radio]

{{Asia topic|Media of}}

[[Category:Mass media in Turkmenistan| ]] [[Category:Mass media by country|Turkmenistan]] [[Category:Mass media in Asia by country|Turkmenistan]]