“As a state broadcaster, its funding is already infiltrated. The state is adequately funding the state broadcaster, so it has control over it, including its editorial content. This funding does not protect it from arbitrary political interference.” It is common knowledge that “government can stop or delay the news bulletin to serve its own interests”, although an advertiser would not have this kind of control. Other panellists felt that the state was not funding the state broadcaster adequately since BTV, for example, is failing to meet its quota of airing 60 percent local content. Some programmes aired on the national television station are sponsored by commercial companies, such as the business programme First Issues on BTV, which is sponsored by First National Bank. In this instance, news about other banks would not be covered in this programme, so it could be said that the broadcaster’s content is interfered with through commercial pressure. “Sometimes what comes to the viewer as ‘news’ is actually paid-for advertorial, although it is not presented to the viewers as such.” “...government can stop or delay the news bulletin to serve its own interests.” At an individual level, there are incidents of corruption and commercial pressure, whereby radio or television presenters are paid to promote certain products and services. 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: 1.8 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a; 2009 =1.1) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2011 45