Mass media in Brunei

News coverage is largely limited to police reports, lifestyle features, and community events, with minimal representation of diverse viewpoints.

Additionally, the liberal democracy watchdog Freedom House categorizes Brunei's media as "not free."

The privately-owned Brunei Press Sdn Bhd, which publishes the Borneo Bulletin, is controlled by the Sultan's family.

This English weekly publication was printed in Kuala Belait by the Brunei Press Company, which was established in October 1953.

Circulation rose to approximately 10,000 copies by 1957 but declined to around 6,000 by 1970 due to Sarawak and Sabah being incorporated into Malaysia.

The inaugural issue featured a speech by His Majesty Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi Waddien to mark the launch of the newspaper.

However, the newly renamed Berita Borneo lasted only five editions, with the final issue published in December 1958.

The editor cited a drop in advertisements from Malaysia and Singapore as the main reason for its closure.

Suara Bakti, a publication by a former political party, was launched in October 1961 as the sixth newspaper in Brunei.

It was published every Friday and dubbed itself "the largest weekly newspaper in North Kalimantan," selling for 20 cents per copy.

The seventh publication, Bintang Harian and The Daily Star, was first published in March 1966 in both Malay and English.

More than 10,000 copies were printed daily, as it was distributed not only in Brunei but also in Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia, and Singapore.

Meanwhile, there was also one defunct newspaper: An English-language broadsheet daily, published from 2006 to 2016,[2] it had a more international outlook compared to the Borneo Bulletin, which focused on community news.

KRISTALfm is operated by KRISTAL Media Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the DataStream Technology DevCo Group, which is currently headquartered at Jalan Tungku Link.

Malaysian TV and radio stations can be tuned in Brunei via the Bukit Mas and Bukit Lambir transmitters, including: Bandar Seri Begawan and Bangar Tutong, Kuala Belait and Seria There appear to be no restrictions on internet use in Brunei, although Freedom House reports that the local forum BruneiTalk was blocked in 2003 after contributors discussed the business dealings of senior officials.