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53 channels
Bulgarian television is shaped by a dual public-commercial system, with Bulgarian National Television (BNT) serving as the state broadcaster and bTV and Nova TV dominating the private landscape. The 57 channels in the directory reflect a small but resilient market where general entertainment, movies, and music lead. News culture is serious: evening bulletins around 20:00 on BNT are measured, while commercial outlets like Nova News often go for punchier, headline-driven formats. Dubbing is near-universal for foreign content-kids' cartoons, Hollywood films, and Turkish dramas are all voiced over in Bulgarian, with subtitles rare except on niche documentary or arts channels. Russian-language channels also have a presence, a legacy of Soviet-era media ties and the sizable Russian-speaking community. Sports are a major draw, especially football (the local Parva Liga and international leagues), volleyball, and wrestling-live broadcasts on channels like Diema Sport and Max Sport command dedicated audiences. Prime time starts around 20:00, later than Western Europe, and often features talk shows or long-running reality formats. Music channels remain popular, with Planeta and Folklor TV showcasing the distinctive Bulgarian pop-folk and chalga genres that permeate nightlife. The market differs from neighbors like Romania or Greece by its stronger reliance on domestic dubbing and a smaller but fiercely loyal viewership for local productions.