Sector 2: The media landscape is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability. 2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print, broadcasting, internet) is available and affordable to citizens. ANALYSIS: Radio is the most accessible and affordable source of information for most people in Swaziland. There are two domestic stations - the state broadcaster, Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS), and the religious station, Voice of the Church (VOC), established by Transworld International. SBIS has two channels – SBIS 1 (siSwati) and SBIS 2 (English) – which cover approximately 95% of the country. VOC reaches about 70% of the country. VOC is becoming increasingly popular and has recently introduced non-religious content, creating real competition for SBIS. Listeners are not restricted to the local stations because South African radio floods the market and is very popular. There is no community radio in Swaziland. The choice of local television stations is limited. There are just two domestic channels: Swazi TV and Channel Swazi. The smaller of the two, Channel Swazi, (privately owned “on behalf of His Majesty”) is not available in most parts of the country, even in the major towns, due to lack of transmitters. Swazi TV, the state broadcaster, has a reach of 75%, but is not popular. Those who do watch it “don’t have a choice.” Those with choice watch South African television channels accessible through satellite decoders, which cost between E800-1,200. Decoders enable viewers to receive SABC 1, 2, 3 and eTV. The satellite television service, DSTV, is available, but at a minimum of E350 a month it is unaffordable for most of the population. There are two national daily newspapers, the Times of Swaziland (private) and the Swazi Observer (owned by the king through a royal conglomerate). Both are published in English. The Times has an average daily print run of 26,000 and an estimated readership of 100,000. The Observer averages 15,000 prints a day with an estimated readership of 85,000. At E2.20 a copy, newspapers are affordable even for many rural communities (a loaf of bread costs E4.00). The only siSwati newspaper, Tikhatsi TeMaswati, a translation of the Times, ceased publication in November 2006, as it was no longer commercially viable. But according to the Times, rural readers have been demanding its return. It was suggested that had Tikhatsi provided original siSwati content, it might have been successful. However, its main obstacle was attracting advertisers who assume people reading siSwati are poor and are, therefore, not worth advertising to. There has been one new entrant into the newspaper industry, Ligoli, a privately owned weekly sports newspaper. A new player in the magazine industry brings the numbers up to three monthly publications - The Nation, Youth Connexion and the newly established Business World. The Nation has the largest circulation at 3,500-4,000 per month. Youth Connexion has a print run of 2,000. The majority of Swazis cannot afford magazines which average E10.00 per copy. There are a wide variety of imported newspapers and magazines available in urban centres. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -231- Media Institute of Southern Africa