VZCZCXRO2965
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHUM #0245/01 2400050
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280050Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2997
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2594
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3770
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3423
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ULAANBAATAR 000245 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C 
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PROP KPAL PGOV OPRC MN
SUBJECT: MONGOLIA'S TOP MEDIA OUTLETS  AND THEIR AFFILIATIONS 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY.  Eighteen years after independence, Mongolia's 
major media outlets remain influenced by political parties and 
powerful patrons.  If not exactly a free press, a vibrant media 
scene has nonetheless emerged from amid the tangled web of 
interlocking ownership relations.  Among print media, the sheer 
number of papers ensures some degree of balance for educated readers 
in the diversity of voices.  Television remains the major medium for 
reaching the masses, from the capital through the provinces, and 
also offers a balance of voices across the political spectrum.  The 
Internet is also beginning to make headway, especially among 
Mongolian youth.  With penetration rates growing and access to 
Internet cafes plentiful in the capital and growing in the 
provinces, two leading news websites have emerged that bear 
watching.  Following is a rundown of the top Mongolian media outlets 
with commentary on their ownership, influences and political 
affiliations - all of which are well known as fact or rumor 
throughout Mongolian society.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Leading Newspapers - How the Elite Get Their News 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Mongolia's educated, mostly urban population, while also 
television watchers, read the non-tabloid newspapers during the week 
when most papers are available for (relatively expensive) 
subscription.  Mongolian readers describe needing to read at least 
two to three papers to get a balanced version of the news. 
Following is a list by estimated circulation of the twelve leading 
Ulaanbaatar municipal and national daily newspapers (out of an 
estimated 131 papers), with commentary on their political 
affiliation and ownership.  Estimated circulation is as reported in 
the annual "Mongolian Media Today 2009" survey published by The 
Press Institute, an independent media NGO that conducts research and 
trains journalists. 
 
Odriin Sonin/Daily News 
Founded in 1999. 
Estimated circulation: 10,093 
Claimed circulation: 15,000 
Party affiliation: Democratic Party (DP). 
Comment: "Daily News" is a well-respected and openly DP-supportive 
paper.  It is partially owned by current President Ts. Elbegdorj and 
reports positively on DP activities, reaching readers in Ulaanbaatar 
and throughout the aimags (provinces). 
 
Ogloonii Sonin/Morning News 
Founded in 2006. 
Estimated circulation: 7,973 
Claimed circulation: 6,000 - 8,000 
Party affiliation: Mongolia People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP). 
Comment: "Morning News" is a new Ulaanbaatar metro paper that is not 
well-regarded for its content.  However it is owned by the UB Print 
Company which owns two of the city's most popular weeklies and is 
headed by the Deputy Governor of Ulaanbaatar's most populated 
district, Songino Khairkhan.  The paper is aligned with former 
President Enkhbayar and the MPRP. 
 
Unooder/Today 
Founded in 1996. 
Estimated circulation: 7,687 
Claimed circulation:  10,000 - 11,000 
Party affiliation: MPRP/neutral 
Comment: "Today" is considered the most neutral and one of the best 
run of the national dailies operating in Mongolia.  Established 
immediately after the Free Press Law was passed in 1996, it was 
jointly owned by Ts. Baldorj, the well-respected journalist and 
writer who died two years ago, as well as former President and MPRP 
member N. Bagabandi and Su. Baldold, the now deceased General 
Director of the Erdenet Copper Mine.  Despite a natural MPRP slant 
due to ownership, the paper has managed to stay neutral, publishing 
balanced commentary and criticisms of MPRP Presidential candidates. 
The family business that Baldorj passed on when he died also owns 
the upscale Ulaanbaatar Hotel in the capital and UB-2 Hotel in 
Terelj National Park, in addition to its other news holdings: the 
English weekly "The UB Post," two other Mongolian weeklies and 
Channel 25.  "Today" has Mongolia's only female Editor-in-Chief, Ts. 
Nandintushig.  She is Baldorj's daughter and is in her early 30s. 
 
Zuuny Medee/Centennial News 
Founded in 1999 
Estimated circulation: 7,230 
Claimed circulation:  13,000 
Party affiliation: MPRP/Government 
Comment: Formerly a government run newspaper, "Centennial News" 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000245  002 OF 004 
 
 
became a purely personal political organ when the Editor-in-Chief 
and part-owner B. Ganbold broke with his two powerful partners, 
former President Enkhbayar and current Foreign Minister S. Batbold, 
leaving to form "The National Post."  The paper is now owned by 
Enkhbayar and his family.  (NOTE: Enkhbayar's wife is the head of 
Free Press, an NGO which was created in 2000 to take journalists and 
owners on expensive overseas trips, which was rumored to influence 
coverage of Enkhbayar in the run-up to his election in 2000. END 
NOTE.) 
 
Unen/Truth 
Founded in 1920 
Estimated circulation: 6,364 
Claimed circulation: 4,000 - 5,000 
Party affiliation: MPRP 
Comment: Mongolia's first and oldest paper, the former Communist 
Party organ.  Before Mongolian independence, subscription for party 
members was mandatory.  Now subscription supposedly serves as a mark 
of dedication to the MPRP.  It runs mostly MPRP news and 
perspectives and no longer has the status or influence it once had. 
The current Editor-in-Chief is a mid-level MPRP member. 
 
Undesnii Shuudan/The National Post 
Founded in 2007 
Estimated circulation: 4,567 
Claimed circulation: 9,000 - 10,000 
Party affiliation: DP/neutral 
Comment: "The National Post" is among Ulaanbaatar's most respected 
and more balanced papers.  Editor-in-Chief B. Gambolt broke with his 
two powerful partners at "Centennial News," former President 
Enkhbayar and current Foreign Minister S. Batbold, to form his own 
paper.  "The National Post" does not follow either main party's 
line.  Gambolt took some of Mongolia's best journalists with him 
when he left, paying them decent salaries. 
 
Niigmiin Toli/Social Mirror 
Founded in 2006 
Estimated circulation: 3,290 
Claimed circulation: 3,500 - 4,000 
Party affiliation: DP 
Comment: Relatively new and not very popular, "Social Mirror" is 
only distributed in Ulaanbaatar. 
 
Ardchilal/Democracy 
Founded in 1990 
Estimated circulation: 2,305 
Claimed circulation: 3,000 - 4,000 
Party affiliation: DP 
Comment: One of two papers along with "News of Mongolia" owned by 
the influential DP Member of Parliament and Minister of Roads, 
Construction and Infrastructure, Mr. Kh. Battulga.  Through his 
Genco holding company, Kh. Battulga owns mining operations, the 
upscale Bayangol Hotel in Ulaanbaatar, tourism companies and tourism 
sites (including the 131-foot Genghis Khan statue an hour outside of 
Ulaanbaatar) and TV channel C1. 
 
Onoodriin Mongol/Mongolia Today 
Founded in 2005 
Estimated circulation: 1,832 
Claimed circulation: 4,000 - 5,000 
Party affiliation: Newspaper of the small opposition parties. 
Comment: Not well known. 
 
Ardyn Erkh/People's Right 
Founded in 2005 
Estimated circulation: 1,732 
Claimed circulation: 3,000 
Party affiliation: DP/Citizen's Will Party 
Comment: Owned by Minister of Defense and DP Member of Parliament 
Lu. Bold.  "People's Right," despite its low circulation, is read by 
officials and elite interested in knowing the inside baseball of 
government news.  Lu. Bold's Bodi International company also owns 
www.news.mn, Mongolia's most frequently trafficked Internet news 
site (see below), which lends reporting from "People's Right" added 
importance. 
 
Mongoliin Medee/News of Mongolia 
Founded in 1998 
Estimated circulation: 1,172 
Claimed circulation: 2,000 - 3,000 
Party affiliation: DP 
Comment: Although low circulation, "News of Mongolia" is read mostly 
by younger elite who admire its more objective reporting.  Its 
owner, Erdenebat, who also owns the large Erel Cement and 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000245  003 OF 004 
 
 
Construction Company, was a Member of Parliament at the time of the 
paper's founding.  He lost his seat in 2004 and, after losing 
further influence, sold the paper in 2008.  Despite its name, "News 
of Mongolia" is only published and distributed in Ulaanbaatar. 
 
Niislel Times/Capital Times 
Founded in 2008. 
Estimated circulation: 587 
Claimed circulation: 3,000 - 6,000 
Party affiliation: MPRP 
Comment:  Due to its recent establishment, this paper is not well 
known.  It reports only on city administration and Ulaanbaatar news 
and is not distributed outside of the capital. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Leading National Television Broadcasters 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Television is the main source of information for the 
majority of the population.  Television licenses are difficult and 
expensive to obtain, leading to a good deal of corruption, 
bureaucracy and rumors surrounding ownership in the major channels. 
Mongolian elites thus take a skeptical view of the news they receive 
via television, although it does not stop them from watching.  No 
research on viewer numbers appears available, despite the 91 listed 
television stations that the Press Institute reported in existence 
in 2008. 
 
¶4. (SBU) "MNB" (Mongolian National Broadcaster) was established in 
1967 as the state-owned television station.  The law on public 
broadcast was passed in 2005 and MNB was rebranded as Mongolia's 
public television station.  The 15-member National Council 
consisting of representatives from the President and Prime 
Minister's offices, Parliament, NGOs and representatives from the 
Mongolian Journalists' Association supposedly direct its content. 
The station broadcasts political, social and financial news as well 
as entertainment and children's programming nationwide.  MNB has a 
high viewership and is especially popular in the countryside outside 
of Ulaanbaatar, serving as the main source of information for a 
great deal of the population.  However, the station's reputation 
suffered a major blow in 2008 during the four-day state of 
emergency.  Viewers who tuned in for objective coverage instead 
received broadcasts directed by the security services. 
 
¶4. (SBU)"TV9" belongs to Media Holding Co Ltd.  Responding to 
popular demand, during his time as Minister of Culture, in 2003 
former President N. Enkhbayar accepted TV equipment from a Japanese 
Buddhist organization on behalf of Hamba Lama Choijamts of the 
Gandan Monastery to establish a Buddhist television station to 
counter the rising influence of Christian-oriented Eagle TV (see 
below).  Enkhbayar, well-known as a Buddhist supporter, seems to 
have appropriated the equipment and started his own Buddhist and 
MPRP-supporting station.  The Board of Directors includes Foreign 
Minister Su. Batbold and Member of Parliament Ts. Munkh-Orgil.  The 
station is generally known as "Enkhbayar's TV station." 
 
¶5. (SBU) Nationwide broadcaster, "TV5," belongs to Gegeen Dalai Co. 
Ltd.  Allegedly, 50 percent is also controlled by a separate block 
of powerful shareholders, including Kh. Badamsuren, former director 
of Mongolrostsvetmet, and former Minister of Infrastructure U. 
Ulambayar.   It has been vigorously supportive of the MPRP, 
especially during the last election. 
 
¶6. (SBU) "UBS TV" is also broadcast nationwide.  Before 
privatization, it belonged to the Ulaanbaatar City Council. In 2004, 
UBD TV signed a three-year management contract with the city 
government.  In 2007, Ts. Balkhjav bought UBS TV from the 
Ulaanbaatar government.  Balkhjav is a wealthy businessman, MPRP 
member and well-known television personality and music composer. 
The station is pro-MPRP. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The first private TV station in Mongolia, "Channel 25" was 
established by several well-known Mongolian journalists and is 
broadcast nationwide.  Independent Member of Parliament Z. Altai was 
the director of Channel 25 until his election to Parliament in June 
2008, making him Parliament's only independent member.  The station 
is widely watched, well-liked and well-respected for its independent 
editorial content.  Despite investment from the MPRP-leaning owners 
of "Today" newspaper, Channel 25 slants either neutral or slightly 
DP in its reporting. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The Discovery Channel of Mongolia, "Bolovsrol Suvag" 
(Education TV) is a private broadcaster, sponsored by the Bodi 
Group, whose popularity has grown since it went national in 2008. 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000245  004 OF 004 
 
 
But as Education TV does not yet have its full broadcasting license, 
its content remains controlled by the government.  As a result, it 
does not broadcast any news or political programming and sticks to 
educational content.  Its lack of a political agenda and its 
documentaries on science, technology, the environment and learning 
foreign languages give it a broad-base appeal, especially in rural 
areas.  The Bodi Group also owns "People's Right" newspaper and 
leading news website, www.news.mn.  Its Board of Directors includes 
Member of Parliament and Minister of Defense Lu. Bold and former 
Citizen's Will Party member of Parliament M. Zorigt.  The 
Korean-based Lotte Group provided initial financial support to the 
Bodi Group. 
 
¶9. (SBU) "Eagle TV" was established in 1994 by South Dakota-based 
Christian organization Among, which is linked to the Church of 
Latter Day Saints.  It only broadcasts in Ulaanbaatar and 
surrounding areas but is generally regarded as having set the 
standard for best practices in Mongolian broadcast journalism, 
influencing news reporting on other channels.  Its news director is 
an American but all journalists and on-air reporters are Mongolians. 
 The station is well-known for its Christian-themed programs, but 
its slogan of "fast, clean, free" news has become the standard other 
news programs are judged by.  Eagle TV is seen as "American news" 
and there is a misconception among the general public that the 
station is somehow sponsored by or linked to the U.S. Embassy. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Mongolia's Two Top News Websites 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Online news is still in its infancy in Mongolia although 
Internet access is relatively available, especially through Internet 
cafes throughout Ulaanbaatar and in every town in the provinces. 
However, two sites have thus far emerged as the leading sources for 
Mongolia's young and well-educated readers to get their news. 
 
¶11. (SBU) www.news.mn belongs to the "People's Right" newspaper and 
is the most visited Mongolian website for news with 40,000 visitors 
per day.  According to news.mn's Editor, D. Narantuya, following the 
July 1, 2008 shutdown of all television due to the state of 
emergency following electoral violence, the number of visitors 
reached 60,000 - 70,000 establishing it as a credible alternative 
source for news.  The site also translates and publishes some of its 
stories in English, although there is a two to three day time lag. 
 
¶12. (U) www.olloo.mn is owned by Olloo Co. Ltd, established in 
spring 2004.  According to the company, the website has 70,000 - 
80,000 visitors a day.  They are planning to establish a TV studio 
and already have news and other broadcast programs streaming on 
their website. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) COMMENT: Journalism in Mongolia still has a long way to 
go  to provide the public with objective and impartial news free 
from pressure and the influence of political parties, special 
interest groups, and influential individuals.  Reporting on 
political and other sensitive developments in a timely manner also 
needs improvement.  This point was driven home by recent comments 
from an influential Mongolian Member of Parliament.  He suggested 
increasing the number of Mongolian journalists sent to the United 
States on exchange programs so they could better understand the role 
journalism plays in U.S. political dialogue and the ethical 
standards to which U.S. journalists are held.  END COMMENT. 
 
MINTON