SECTOR 3 Soon after coming into power in May 2012, the newly appointed government openly told the Democratic Congress (DC) that their rallies would not be covered and the state broadcaster complied with this pronouncement. This was followed by an outcry from civil societies who did not want the DC shut out, alleging that the government did not have the right to take such a step. The government did not back down. But since then there has been a change of heart and the state media is once again covering the DC. What is clear is that the state media takes positions according to who is in power, because the sitting government uses the state media to advance their own agenda. 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: 1.0 (2010 = 1.0; 2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a) 3.7 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference through its budget and from all commercial pressure. The state broadcaster draws up its own budget which is discussed at ministerial level, then at national level and the money is allocated through parliament. The allocation that parliament approves is based upon the decision made by the budget comptroller who will determine what amount is feasible. In many instances, the state broadcaster will put in a supplementary budget for costs which could not or were not anticipated. When these requests are denied, it makes it difficult for the state broadcaster to extend adequate coverage. Pressure is often put on the state broadcaster but may not always be direct. Two weeks prior to the Parliamentary elections in 2012, the director of LTV announced that state media would no longer be covering any political parties during the campaign until the elections. When asked why, he explained that LTV was 44 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2012