SECTOR 2 2.5 Adequate competition legislation/regulation seeks to prevent media concentration and monopolies The law tries to restrict media concentrations and monopolies in the private sector. The Social Communication law of 1990 states that a publisher cannot own more than three titles. A prime minister’s decree of 2000 regulating private broadcasting, states that no individual or company can own shares in more than one broadcasting corporation. However, the decree allows print media publishers to own shares in broadcasting companies – but limits their ownership to a maximum of one. The law appears to be more lenient to horizontal concentration than to vertical concentration. In addition, the law restricts shareholding to media companies and not media outlets. In practice, the law is largely ignored. At least two media concentrations are well-known. The Anecdote Group owns Vision 4 TV, Satellite FM and L’Anecdote newspaper, while La Nouvelle Expression, Equinoxe TV and Radio Equinoxe belong to the same owner. 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: ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ 4.3 (2008 = 2.3; 2011 = 4.5; 2014 = 3.8) 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets A diverse media landscape has emerged in Cameroon over the last decade, mainly due to the ease with which newspapers can be created, as well as lax implementation of the regulations on creating broadcast outlets. Beyond setting out conditions for creating and running media organisations, panellists did not think the government plays a role in promoting a diverse media landscape. The same applied to the promotion of economically sustainable and independent media outlets. In one panellist’s assessment, authorities allow the existence of numerous news outlets to give the impression of a thriving industry. In reality, news organisations are struggling at best. Most private newspapers do not own their own printing presses and broadcasters lack the means to purchase equipment to run their facilities. 27 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2018