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.
There is a veritable arsenal of legal instruments related to the broadcasting
sector: Law 92-02 of 6 June 1992 establishing the national company named
Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RST); Decree no. 2004-837 of 2 July 2004
setting the fees for the allocation of radio frequencies; Law no. 2006-04 of 4
January 2006 establishing the National Audiovisual Regulatory Board (CNRA); etc.
To these should be added the law relating to the status of the RTS, as well as
the conditions for the operation of private commercial radio stations, associative
radio stations and private commercial television stations.
In the specific case of the RTS, one of the panellists points out that the law is
completely mute on the operating revenue of the company. That is the reason,
according to this speaker, why the Senegalese Radio-Television (RTS) siphons off
practically the bulk of the advertising market on television, without this sufficing
to cover the organisation’s financing needs. Meanwhile, the private sector is
deprived of such vital resources.
According to part of the panel, the state should – by law – cover all the needs of
the RTS in this regard, so as to ensure proper financing of the public broadcasting
sector and free up new resources for the private sector.
Concerning the community audiovisual media sector, the conditions for the
operation of associative radio stations prohibit such stations from handling any
form of commercial advertising. The Union of Associative and Community Radio
(URAC) has been conducting an urgent advocacy campaign for several years.
In the words of a panellist, “URAC made an urgent appeal to the Minister of
Communications on this point” at a seminar organised on 7 May 2013.
On the other hand, community radio receives the state press subsidy, although
the sum allocated remains trivial in relation to real funding needs, the number of
stations and the total aid amount. Furthermore, a draft fund exclusively aimed

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013

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