The Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA)—formerly known as the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) and earlier as the Broadcasting Services of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (BSKSA)—is the principal state broadcaster of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Operating under the direct authority of the government, the SBA oversees a vast majority of radio and television services across the country, making it the central pillar of the nation’s official media landscape.
Media assets
Television: Al Saudiya, Al Ekhbariya, AlRiyadiya, SBC, Sunnah TV, Quran TV, Thikrayat TV
Radio: Ryiadh Radio, Jeddah Radio, Holy Quran Radio, Saudi Radio, Radio Call of Islam, Al-Ekhbariya Radio
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
The SBA functions as a government entity under the supervision of the Ministry of Media. Its governance structure is anchored in a board of directors, whose members are appointed by ministerial decree. The Minister of Media chairs the board, cementing the organization’s close institutional ties to the state apparatus.
Mohammed Fahad Al‑Harthi has served as the CEO of SBA since August 2020. A seasoned journalist and media strategist, he also chairs the Arab States Broadcasting Union.
While the SBA nominally presents itself as a public service broadcaster, its mandate and decision-making processes are tightly bound to state policy objectives. The lack of an independent board or multi-stakeholder oversight body further underscores its status as a government-controlled entity rather than an autonomous media institution.
Source of funding and budget
As of June 2025, no official or audited financial statements have been made publicly available that would shed light on the SBA’s annual operating budget or revenue streams. However, based on interviews conducted in May 2024 with three independent journalists and media analysts familiar with Saudi Arabia’s media environment, the SBA is fully financed by the Saudi government. Its operations are included as part of the state’s media and cultural expenditures, with allocations determined by the Ministry of Finance in coordination with the Ministry of Media.
Editorial independence
The editorial output of the SBA is subject to extensive state oversight and conforms closely to the kingdom’s official messaging. Media content produced by SBA outlets adheres to strict regulatory and censorship frameworks, as delineated by government authorities. Coverage routinely avoids criticism of the ruling family, national policies, or Saudi Arabia’s strategic partners, and instead prioritizes narratives that align with Vision 2030 and the broader modernization image promoted by the Crown Prince.
There is currently no statutory framework, independent regulator, or ombudsman that provides assurance of editorial autonomy for the SBA. Consequently, the organization cannot be considered editorially independent under any recognized international standards for public service broadcasting.
July 2025