SECTOR 3 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.4 (2008 = 1.5) 3.11 The state/public broadcaster offers as much diverse and creative local content as economically achievable. One of the main objectives of the MBC is to promote local productions. MBC itself produces programmes which focus on local communities and chart their successes in projects and activities. It carries a weekly programme highlighting women from all walks of life. The MBC is in a position to pay for independently produced material, and offers a variety of locally produced soap operas which are very popular with Mauritians. But the MBC also tends to fall prisoner to social cultural organisations and to its commitment to diversity. There is intense pressure from socio-cultural groups, who will demand the removal of a DG if they are unhappy with the programming on MBC. Every year, there is a meeting with the management of the MBC and a representative of the socio-cultural organisation, in which the two parties will negotiate the number of hours allocated to religious and cultural events. The MBC has also had success with local competition shows, but when it first held a singing competition in Hindi, it was pressured to offer the same programme and competition in Urdu, Tamil, Sega, French and English. It took a year to broadcast. There are large corporations that assist in the promotion of local productions by sponsoring programmes and shows. However, these funds have been mismanaged on occasion. During a parliamentary Question and Answer session, for example, a question was raised around Pepsi Hungama – a Hindi singing competition. News then broke out that funds could not be accounted for, so a high ranking MBC employee and the Director General at the time were fired. Panellists felt local productions could be more creative. 48 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010