[2] French and German grant programmes between 1984 and 1990 enabled news and reporting to expand, with regional stations opening in Ségou (1986), Koulikoro (1989), Sikasso (1990) and Mopti (1993).

Considered one of the freest news markets in Africa,[5] although government office holders threaten (and sometimes resort to) prosecution of broadcasters under Mali's strict anti-libel laws.

In 2001, the head of OTRM was threatened with jail after the government attempted to prosecute RTM for an interview in which the mayor of Bamako accused the Malian judiciary of corruption.

Emission Hebdomadaire d'Information, the weekly ORTM news magazine, has been broadcasting each Sunday at noon since 1998, and is anchored by Manga Dembélé and Youssouf Touré.

ORTM television regularly broadcasts local sport, mostly Maliann Première Division football matches, to an eager audience at least three days a week.