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33 channels
Uzbekistan's television landscape is a study in contrasts, shaped by post-Soviet infrastructure and a dual-language reality. The state remains the dominant player, the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan (MTRK) runs several channels, including Oʻzbekiston, Yoshlar, and Madaniyat va Maʼrifat. These carry the official line: polished evening news bulletins in literary Uzbek, patriotic documentaries, and state-approved entertainment. But the commercial sector has grown, particularly in music and general entertainment, where private channels like Sevimli TV and Zoʻr TV compete for younger viewers with Uzbek pop, Turkish dramas dubbed into Uzbek, and Russian-language content. Russian is everywhere. Many Uzbeks watch Russian channels via cable or satellite, Perviy Kanal, Rossiya 1, and NTV are common in homes and cafes, and local broadcasters often schedule Russian-language films and series in prime time. The result is a bilingual viewing habit: a family might watch the state news in Uzbek at 20:00, then flip to a Russian crime drama. Dubbing is standard for foreign content; subtitles are rare except on premium cable. Primetime runs roughly from 19:00 to 23:00, with the 21:00 hour typically reserved for either a domestic drama or a major imported series. Music channels are plentiful, around a quarter of the 34 listed channels, reflecting the enduring popularity of Uzbek and Russian pop, and the tradition of live musical performances on TV. Children's programming is almost entirely dubbed, with Uzbek voice actors localising everything from Peppa Pig to anime. Live sports matter, but football (the domestic league and European matches) is split between state-owned Sport and private channels. Uzbekistan's TV market differs from its Central Asian neighbors in its relative openness to Russian content; Kazakhstan is similar, but Uzbekistan has maintained stronger state control over news while allowing entertainment to flourish commercially.