The NBC was established in line with the Namibian Broadcasting Act, Act 9 of 1991. In terms of this act the NBC is a juristic person. Its main source of funding is an annual state subsidy. Other sources of income are the sale of air time and programs, the issuing of yearly television licenses and the renting out of transmitters.

Being a recipient of state subsidies, the NBC is accountable in the first instance, to its line Ministry, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, and in the second instance to the Namibian Parliament, which in turn represents the Namibian people. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology tables and accounts for the NBC’s budget in Parliament.

In accordance with the Broadcasting Act, the NBC has to submit its financial statements and accounts for auditing by the office of the Auditor-General on a yearly basis. In addition, each year before the tabling of the budget in the National Assembly the NBC Board has to furnish its line ministry with a report on its work during the previous financial year, together with a balance sheet and a complete statement of its revenue and expenditure for the preceding financial year.

The affairs of the NBC are supervised and controlled by the NBC Board of Directors. This board is appointed by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology for a period of five years.

The NBC Board, in turn, appoints a Director General. This Director General, the chief executive officer, is a member of the Board; he is, however, not entitled to exercise a vote at board meetings. The Director General, as per the Broadcasting Act, exercises control and supervision over the other officers and employees of the NBC and performs the duties and functions assigned to him/her by the NBC Board.