Radiodiffusion Télévision de Djibouti (RTD) is the national public broadcaster of Djibouti, and you can watch RTD live online on its official website or on YouTube. The channel also reaches viewers through terrestrial TV and satellite.
What RTD puts on air
RTD is owned by the state and answers to the Ministry of Communication and Culture. Radio came first in 1966, and a television station opened in Djibouti city in 1967 with help from France's ORTF.
The schedule is built around news. Bulletins run several times a day and cover politics, the economy, sport, health and education. Cultural programmes, series and variety shows fill the rest.
Language is the channel's signature. Broadcasts run in Arabic, French, Somali and Afar. On terrestrial TV the split is Chaine 1 in Arabic and French, Chaine 2 in Somali and Chaine 3 in Afar, each with its own news slots.
Who this channel suits
Anyone who wants Djibouti news from the official side will find RTD useful. Somali and Afar speakers get dedicated channels, so nobody has to follow along in a second language. Viewers interested in public policy, health or education can also follow the topic sections on the news site.
Satellite coverage over Badr-4 extends to North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. That makes RTD a practical pick if you live abroad and want to keep up with home.
Where and how to watch
The quickest route is the RTD website, which has a live section called "RTD en Direct" and a "Journal TV" library of past bulletins. The official YouTube channel, RTD DJIBOUTI, posts news in several languages on set afternoon and evening times. Facebook updates come through the INFOS.DJ page.
Stream quality will feel different from one viewer to the next, so a quick try is the best test.
Worth saving for later?
If you follow Djibouti or want a multilingual East African news source, RTD is an easy one to keep around. Bookmark the page so the live link is close at hand, and pass it along if someone else would use it.
