Bulgaria was one of the last east European countries to pass a broadcasting law in July 1996, after some six years of preparation. The delay had an adverse effect on the expansion of commercial broadcasting and the development of public broadcasting.

National radio and TV were given the status of public services and granted independence.

In May 2000 Balkan News Corporation - part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation - launched bTV, Bulgaria's first national commercial channel. Several privately-owned regional television stations are on the air. Bids were invited in 2003 for a second national commercial TV licence.

Many of Bulgaria's newspapers are linked to a political party, or interests such as trade unions or a government ministry.