urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
======================================================================
@2213
Field Listing :: Broadcast media
This entry provides information on the approximate number of public
and private TV and radio stations in a country, as well as basic
information on the availability of satellite and cable TV services.
Country
Broadcast media
Afghanistan
state-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan
(RTA), operates a series of radio and television stations in Kabul
and the provinces; an estimated 50 private radio stations, 8 TV
networks, and about a dozen international broadcasters are
available; more than 30 community-based radio stations broadcasting
(2007)
Akrotiri
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts
to the Akrotiri Sovereign Base (2009)
Albania
2 public television networks, one of which transmits by
satellite to Albanian-language communities in neighboring countries;
more than 60 private television stations operating; many viewers can
pick up Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception;
cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly
50 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are
available (2008)
Algeria
state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast
media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and
French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access
to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates
several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations
(2007)
American Samoa
3 television stations broadcasting; multi-channel
pay-per-view television services are available; about a dozen radio
stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)
Andorra
1 public television station and 2 public radio stations; a
few commercial radio stations operating; good reception of radio and
TV broadcasts from stations in France and Spain (2008)
Angola
state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach;
state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial
TV service on 2 channels; a third TPA channel is available via cable
and satellite; TV subscription services are available; state-owned
Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations; about a
half dozen private radio stations broadcast locally (2008)
Anguilla
1 private television station; multi-channel cable TV
subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of
which is government-owned (2007)
Antigua and Barbuda
state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda
Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel
cable TV subscription services are available; 1 radio station
operated by ABS; roughly 15 radio stations, some broadcasting on
multiple frequencies (2007)
Argentina
government owns a TV station and a radio network; more
than 2 dozen TV stations and hundreds of privately-owned radio
stations; high rate of cable TV subscription usage (2007)
Armenia
2 public television networks operating alongside more than
40 privately-owned television stations that provide local to near
nationwide coverage; major Russian broadcast stations are widely
available; subscription cable TV services are available in most
regions; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast
network that operates alongside about 20 privately-owned radio
stations; several major international broadcasters are available
(2008)
Aruba
2 commercial television stations; cable TV subscription
service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial
radio stations broadcast (2007)
Australia
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs
multiple national and local radio networks and TV stations, as well
as Australia Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the
Asia-Pacific region and is the main public broadcaster; Special
Broadcasting Service (SBS), a second large public broadcaster,
operates radio and TV networks broadcasting in multiple languages;
several large national commercial TV networks, a large number of
local commercial TV stations, and hundreds of commercial radio
stations are accessible; cable and satellite systems are available
(2008)
Austria
Austria's public broadcaster, ORF, was the main broadcast
source until commercial radio and television service was introduced
in the 1990s; cable and satellite TV are available, including German
TV stations (2008)
Azerbaijan
1 state-run and 1 public television channel; 4 domestic
commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; Turkish,
Russian, and Iranian TV and radio broadcasts are available,
especially in border regions; cable TV services are available in
Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small
number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM
relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities;
local relays of several international broadcasters had been
available until late 2008 when their broadcasts were banned from FM
frequencies (2008)
Bahamas, The
2 television stations operated by government-owned,
commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB);
multi-channel cable TV subscription service is available; about 15
radio stations operating with BCB operating a multi-channel radio
broadcasting network alongside privately-owned radio stations (2007)
Bahrain
state-run broadcast media; Bahrain Radio and Television
Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks; satellite TV
systems provide access to international broadcasts; state-run BRTC
broadcasts over several radio stations; 1 private FM station directs
broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from
countries in the region are available (2007)
Bangladesh
state-owned broadcaster (BTV) operates 1 terrestrial TV
station, 3 radio networks, and about 10 local stations; 8 private
satellite TV stations and 3 private radio stations also
broadcasting; foreign satellite TV stations are gaining audience
share in the large cities; several international radio broadcasters
are available (2007)
Barbados
government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
operates the lone terrestrial television station; CBC also operates
a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen radio
stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network alongside
privately-owned radio stations, in operation (2007)
Belarus
4 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian
TV broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian
Radio operates 3 national networks and an external service; Russian
and Polish radio broadcasts are available (2007)
Belgium
a segmented market with the three major communities
(Flemish, French, and German-speaking) each having responsibility
for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each
community; additionally, in excess of 90% of households are
connected to cable and can access broadcasts of TV stations from
neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network
co-existing with private broadcasters (2007)
Belize
8 privately-owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV
provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations
broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio
was privatized in 1998 (2007)
Benin
state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin
(ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it a wide
broadcast reach; several privately-owned TV stations broadcast from
Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned
radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented
by a number of regional stations; substantial number of
privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few
international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2007)
Bermuda
3 television stations; cable and satellite TV subscription
services are available; roughly 10 radio stations operating (2007)
Bhutan
state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service
offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first
radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 1
private radio station began operations in 2006 (2007)
Bolivia
large number of radio and television broadcasting stations
with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio
and television stations generally operating freely, although both
pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media
outlets in response to their reporting (2007)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and
Serb Republic Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations;
2 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent
TV stations broadcasting; 3 large public radio broadcasters and a
large number of private radio stations (2007)
Botswana
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned;
privately-owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2
state-owned national radio stations; 3 privately-owned radio
stations broadcast locally (2007)
Brazil
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a television
network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV
channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership
highly concentrated (2007)
British Indian Ocean Territory
Armed Forces Radio and Television
Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3 separate frequencies for US and UK
military personnel stationed on the islands (2009)
British Virgin Islands
1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is
available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a
half dozen private radio stations operating (2007)
Brunei
state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 4
channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV
broadcasts are available via satellite and cable systems; RTB
operates 5 radio networks broadcasting on multiple frequencies;
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides radio broadcasts on
2 FM stations; some radio broadcast stations from Malaysia are
available via repeaters (2009)
Bulgaria
4 national terrestrial television stations with 1
state-owned and 3 privately-owned; a vast array of TV stations are
available from cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned
national radio broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private
radio stations broadcasting, especially in urban areas (2007)
Burkina Faso
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned;
state-owned radio runs a national and regional network; substantial
number of privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of
several international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)
Burma
government controls all domestic broadcast media; 3
state-controlled television stations with 1 of the stations
controlled by the armed forces; a fourth TV channel, a pay-TV
station, is a joint state-private venture; access to satellite TV is
limited with residents required to register and pay a fee for all
satellite television receivers; 2 state-controlled domestic radio
stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are
available in Burma; the opposition-backed station Democratic Voice
of Burma broadcasts into Burma via shortwave (2009)
Burundi
state-controlled La Radiodiffusion et Television Nationale
de Burundi (RTNB) operates the lone TV broadcast station and the
only national radio network; about 10 privately-owned radio
broadcast stations; transmissions of several international
broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2007)
Cambodia
mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and
privately-owned broadcast media; 9 TV broadcast stations with most
operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station
broadcasting from multiple locations, 6 stations either jointly
operated or privately-owned with some broadcasting from several
locations, and 2 TV relay stations - one relaying a French
television station and the other relaying a Vietnamese television
station; multi-channel cable and satellite systems are available;
roughly 50 radio broadcast stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with
multiple stations and a large mixture of public and private
broadcasters; several international broadcasters are available (2009)
Cameroon
government maintains tight control over broadcast media;
state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a
television and radio network, was the only officially recognized and
fully licensed broadcaster until August 2007 when the government
finally issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private
radio broadcaster; about 70 privately-owned unlicensed radio
stations operating but are subject to closure at any time; foreign
news services required to partner with state-owned national station
(2007)
Canada
2 public television broadcasting networks each with a large
number of network affilates; several private-commercial networks
also with multiple network affiliates; overall, about 150 TV
stations; multi-channel satellite and cable systems provide access
to a wide range of stations including US stations; mix of public and
commercial radio broadcasters with the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (CBC), the public radio broadcaster, operating 4 radio
networks, Radio Canada International, and radio services to
indigenous populations in the north; roughly 2,000 licensed radio
stations in Canada (2008)
Cape Verde
state-run TV and radio broadcast network plus a growing
number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio
services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few
international broadcasters are obtainable (2007)
Cayman Islands
4 television stations; cable and satellite
subscription services offer a variety of international programming;
government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5
stations; 10 privately-owned radio stations operate alongside Radio
Cayman (2007)
Central African Republic
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion
Television Centrafricaine, provides domestic TV broadcasting;
licenses for 2 private TV stations are pending; state-owned radio
network is supplemented by a small number of privately-owned
broadcast stations as well as a few community radio stations;
transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Chad
1 state-owned TV broadcast station; state-owned radio network,
Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and
regional stations; about 10 private radio stations; some stations
rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2007)
Chile
national and local terrestrial television channels, coupled
with extensive cable TV networks; the state-owned Television
Nacional de Chile (TVN) network is self-financed through commercial
advertising revenues and is not under direct government control;
large number of privately-owned TV stations; about 250 radio
stations (2007)
China
all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the
Communist Party of China or a government agency; no privately-owned
television or radio stations with state-run Chinese Central TV,
provincial, and municipal stations offering more than 2,000
channels; the Central Propaganda Department lists subjects that are
off limits to domestic broadcast media with the government
maintaining authority to approve all programming; foreign-made TV
programs must be approved prior to broadcast (2008)
Christmas Island
1 community radio station; broadcasts of several
Australian radio and television stations are received via satellite
(2009)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
1 local radio station staffed by community
volunteers; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations
are received via satellite (2009)
Colombia
combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast
media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and large number
of national, regional, and local TV stations (2007)
Comoros
national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by
Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional
governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate
a radio station; a few independent and small community radio
stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and
these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV (2007)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
state-owned TV broadcast station
with near national coverage; more than a dozen privately-owned TV
stations with 2 having near national coverage; 2 state-owned radio
stations are supplemented by more than 100 private radio stations;
transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Congo, Republic of the
1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio
stations; several privately-owned TV and radio stations; satellite
TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international
broadcasters are available (2007)
Cook Islands
1 privately-owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga
providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs; a
satellite program package is available; 6 radio stations broadcast
with 1 reportedly reaching all of the islands (2009)
Costa Rica
multiple privately-owned television stations and 1
publicly-owned television station; cable network services are widely
available; more than 100 privately-owned radio stations and a public
radio network (2007)
Cote d'Ivoire
state-owned television operates 2 stations; no private
terrestrial TV stations, but satellite TV subscription service is
available; state-owned radio operates 2 stations; some private radio
stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are
available (2007)
Croatia
the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian
Radiotelevision (HRT), operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, a
satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living
abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate
national terrestrial networks; about 15 privately-owned regional TV
stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services
are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 3 national
radio networks and a number of regional radio stations; 2
privately-owned national radio networks and a large number of
regional, county, city, and community radio stations (2007)
Cuba
government owns and controls all broadcast media with private
ownership of electronic media prohibited; government operates 4
national TV networks and many local TV stations; government operates
6 national radio networks, an international station, and many local
radio stations; Radio-TV Marti is beamed from the US (2007)
Cyprus
mixture of state and privately-run television and radio
services; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio
stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services
including telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private
radio stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish
Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations,
and privately-owned TV and radio broadcast stations (2007)
Czech Republic
roughly 130 television broadcasters operating some
350 television channels with 4 publicly operated and the remainder
in private hands; 13 television stations have national coverage with
4 being publicly operated; cable and satellite TV subscription
services are available; about 70 radio broadcasters are registered
operating roughly 85 radio stations with 15 stations publicly
operated; 16 radio stations provide national coverage with the
remainder local or regional (2008)
Denmark
strong public-sector television presence with state-owned
Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 4 channels and publicly-owned TV2
operating roughly a half dozen channels; broadcasts of
privately-owned stations are available via satellite and cable feed;
DR operates 4 nationwide FM radio stations, 15 digital audio
broadcasting stations, and about 15 web-based radio stations;
approximately 250 commercial and community radio stations are
operational (2007)
Dhekelia
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts
to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base (2009)
Djibouti
maintains restrictions on the licensing and operation of
broadcast media; state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti
(RTD) operates the sole terrestrial TV station as well as the only 2
domestic radio networks; no private TV or radio stations;
transmissions of several international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Dominica
no terrestrial television service available; subscription
cable TV provider offers some locally produced programming plus
channels from the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean;
state-operated radio broadcasts on 6 stations; privately-owned radio
broadcasts on about 15 stations (2007)
Dominican Republic
combination of state-owned and privately-owned
broadcast media; 1 state-owned television network and a number of
private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals
throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately-owned
radio stations; more than 300 radio stations operating (2007)
Ecuador
private broadcast media dominate; all stations are
privately-owned except for 1 government-controlled station; multiple
television networks, a number of national TV channels, and a large
number of local channels; more than 400 radio stations; broadcast
media required by law to give the government free air time to
broadcast programs produced by the state (2007)
Egypt
mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV
operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a
few satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a
large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via
subscription; state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging
to 8 networks; 2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)
El Salvador
multiple privately-owned national terrestrial television
networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international
channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1
government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)
Equatorial Guinea
state maintains control of broadcast media with
domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1
state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the
president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible
(2007)
Eritrea
government controls broadcast media with private ownership
prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2
networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to
international broadcast media are permitted (2007)