The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) serves as the official broadcaster of the Palestinian Authority. It comprises two principal outlets: the Voice of Palestine radio network and the Palestinian Satellite Channel. The latter, known colloquially as Palestine TV, commenced satellite transmissions from Gaza in 1996. Over the years, the broadcaster has drawn criticism and, at times, direct attacks from Israeli forces, which have accused it of airing content deemed incendiary or propagandistic.
Media assets
Television: Palestine TV, Palestine Satellite Channel
Radio: Voice of Palestine
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
PBC traces its roots to the Palestine Radio and TV Corporation, established in 1993 under the leadership of the late President Yasser Arafat. Initially conceived as a state broadcaster, the organization was formally restructured in 2010 under Presidential Decree No. 2/2010, which rebranded it as the Palestine Public Broadcasting Corporation. Despite this nominal shift toward a public service model, PBC remains institutionally subordinate to the office of the President of the Palestinian Authority. The decree outlines the broadcaster’s mission and structure but notably lacks enforceable provisions safeguarding editorial autonomy.
Source of funding and budget
There is no public disclosure of PBC’s detailed financial accounts. However, interviews with local media experts and journalists in June 2024 reaffirm that the broadcaster receives its entire funding from the Palestinian Authority. This has also been corroborated by regional media coverage.
Amid the Gaza conflict, Israeli airstrikes and military operations have directly damaged media infrastructure. Broadcasters, including Voice of Palestine and Palestine TV, have reported intermittent blackouts and studio closures due to safety concerns.
Editorial independence
While the 2010 decree articulated an intent to develop PBC into a public service media institution, that aspiration has yet to materialize in practice. The broadcaster is widely perceived as an arm of government communication, tasked with echoing official narratives and amplifying state policies rather than serving as a platform for pluralistic or critical journalism.
Crucially, the existing regulatory framework does not enshrine editorial independence, nor is there any independent oversight mechanism in place to monitor or enforce it. In effect, PBC continues to function as a government-controlled media outlet, with little to no institutional insulation from political influence.
July 2025