Uzbekistan media guide

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, TV is the most popular medium

Uzbekistan has one of Central Asia's biggest media markets. TV is the most popular medium and the state broadcaster operates the main national networks. Russian TV is widely watched.

Media freedom has declined after some limited improvement following the death in 2016 of former President Islam Karimov.

The run-up to the 2021 presidential election saw tightened controls over internet content and increased pressure on critical voices.

News is mainly consumed online, especially by younger Uzbeks, but sensitive content is often blocked. Opposition and other critical websites are based abroad.

There were 26.7 million internet users by January 2023, comprising 76% of the population (Datareportal.com).

Press

  • (People's Word) - state-run daily in Uzbek; its sister title in Russian is
  • (Truth of the East) - state-owned, Russian-language daily
  • (Freedom) - weekly, describes itself as independent

Television

  • - state-run, operates multiple national and regional networks including flagship Ozbekistan and Uzbekistan 24 news TV
  • - private news channel

Radio

  • - state-run, services include flagship network Ozbekiston, youth network Yoshlar
  • - private
  • - private
  • - private

News agencies/internet

  • - state-run, pages in English
  • - private news agency
  • - news site
  • - news site
  • - business news, pages in English