SECTOR 3

Broadcasting regulation is transparent
and independent; the state broadcaster
is transformed into a truly public
broadcaster.
3.1
Broadcasting legislation has been passed
and is implemented that provides for a conducive
environment for public, commercial and community
broadcasting.
Decree N°92-337/P-CTSP of May 14, 1992, authorising the establishment of
private broadcasting services, specifies the conditions necessary for the allocation
of channels. According to statistics, 498 authorisations have been issued and
about 300 radios are actively broadcasting in Mali. Although the legislation and
regulation exist, they are incomplete in that they do not allow for the creation of
private television stations. Private radio stations began to take root in 1991, before
the legislation came into being in 1992.
Private television services are also governed by similar provisions. They are, among
others Decree N°92-037/P-CTSP of May 14, 1992, authorising the creation
of private broadcasting services; Decree N°92-156/PM-RM of May 14, 1992,
defining the conditions and procedures to follow in order to obtain, suspend or
retrieve the authorisation required to create private broadcasting services; and
the inter-ministerial Order N°94-7166/MCC-MATS of February 16, 1994,
which determines specifications for private broadcasting services. Despite these
regulations, there are no private television stations in Mali.
Furthermore, the law categorises radio stations in an unfavourable way. Decree
N°02-227/P-RM of May 10, 2002 divides private radio stations into two
categories: associative (those with a not-for-gain community or religious objective)
and commercial. Eager to gain resources to survive, community radios are obliged
to violate the rules.
Community radios often do not meet the requirements for the creation, installation,
exploitation and other conditions for the programming and technical installation
to which all radio broadcasters are bound. Equally, the State does not play its part
in terms of accompanying measures in favour of these radio stations. In addition,
the state television and radio stations do not fully meet the requirements of a
modern public service.

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALI 2010

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