Bulgaria’s national assembly building in Sofia [Getty Images]
Television and internet media are the main sources of information with print media progressively losing influence.
Media freedom in Bulgaria, one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the European Union, is fragile and unstable, says the media rights group, Reporters Without Borders. The few independent voices in Bulgaria work under constant pressure.
International media group CME runs bTV, Bulgaria’s most-watched channel. Scandinavian company MTG operates national station Nova TV.
There are several private regional TVs and many private radio stations. Cable and satellite are the main distribution platforms. Media ownership is concentrated among a handful of individuals.
NGO Freedom House says that “even though the media sector remains pluralistic, many outlets are dependent on financial contributions from the state through advertising, effectively resulting in pressure to run government-friendly material.”
There were 5.5 million internet users by January 2024, comprising 84% of the population (Datareportal.com).
