SECTOR 2 population is very small and is estimated to be 1.8 million people in 2009. The print and some of the broadcast media is mostly centralised around Gaborone as the costs of distribution and transmission across the entire country are very high. Another fact that reduces Batswana’s accessibility to the print media is that it is published in English. A Setswana newspaper called Mokgosi folded after three years in 2005 as it failed to generate sufficient advertising revenue. The government radio and television stations, however, broadcast in English and Setswana. English is the official language of Botswana, although the national language is Setswana and an estimated 78 per cent of Batswana speak Setswana as a home language. English is spoken by two per cent of the population as a home language, Kalanga eight per cent, Sekgalagadi three per cent, and the remainder made up of other languages.14 “Batswana who speak English have a greater advantage [than the rest of the population] when it comes to accessing the media.” Broadcasting There are six radio stations broadcasting in Botswana: the government-owned Radio Botswana 1 and 2 (the latter has more of a commercial focus), and the private and commercial stations Duma FM, Gabz FM, Ya Rona FM and Voice of America. Duma FM started broadcasting last year and although it was granted a national broadcasting license, its transmission network does not yet cover the whole country, as is the case with other private radio and television broadcasters. Botswana television audiences can access two local TV stations, the state-owned Botswana Television (BTV) and the private Gaborone Broadcasting Company (GBC), which is transmitted within a 25km radius of the capital city. Viewers can also subscribe to the South African satellite subscription service, DSTV, through Multi-Choice Botswana. There is still no community media – print or broadcasting – in Botswana. Media ownership Government owns the biggest media companies in Botswana and has the widest distribution in the country, and thus is most accessible to Batswana. The Daily News, is a free publication, is widely distributed to most areas in the country and has the largest circulation of any print publications in Botswana. In rural areas, this is often the only print media available, although it is sometimes up to a week late. 14 2001 Population and Housing Census, Botswana (Central Statistics Office, Republic of Botswana) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009 27