SECTOR 3 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 (2010 = 2.3; 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. 60 to 70 percent of MBC funding comes from the government, with the remainder being supplemented by advertising. Viewers do not have to pay licence fees currently, although the Communications Act stipulates that this should be done. Panellists agreed that the amount of money given to the broadcaster by the state is insufficient. As a result of this inadequate funding, it faces pressure from both the state and the commercial sector, in terms of its editorial content. It is an unwritten rule at the MBC that critical reporting on the state or ruling party is not done, while dominant advertisers, such as mobile phone service providers, are also ‘hands-off’ in terms of negative reporting. “Perhaps it is time to restructure the MBC. It is such a large organisation and there are so many staff members, but the programming is poor, compared to that offered even by the small private radio station, Zodiak.” The amount of money government provides to the MBC is public information. “On paper, this amount is just enough to pay for staff salaries for one year, but does not cover operational costs, which must be funded by advertising. In practice, however, the MBC usually receives less than promised by the state. For example, in June 2012, it received K17 million out of K47million promised. The following month, this state subsidy was also too little and delayed.” “The money the MBC gets is not adequate but it does the best that it can with what it has.” 44 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALAWI 2012