SECTOR 2 ‘Their subscription revenue is so massive that they could take the entire advertising pie without breaking the law and so they can operate as a monopoly with the full blessing of the state. The laws are clearly not adequate in this regard as there is no proper protection to prevent commercial monopolies.’ 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: ✓ ✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓ 2.7 (2013: 2.5; 2010: 2.6; 2008: 4.7; 2006: 3.0) 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets There is no evidence that the government promotes independent media. While the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) exists ostensibly to promote a diverse media landscape, panellists felt this was not happening in practice. The MDDA was described by panellists as being ‘in shambles’. ICASA, they noted, is also a ‘toothless entity’ and does little to promote diversity or economic sustainability. ‘The relationship between the state and the media is usually quite difficult. While they are not actively shutting down media enterprises, they are also definitely not promoting them.’ ‘The government creates the space for various media to operate, in terms of providing broadcasting licences and allowing publishers to publish print media, but they are not doing anything to actively assist with it.’ Mention was made of government, through the Department of Communications, having promised to assist community broadcasters, but that ‘nothing had been done for more than a year’.4 Concern was raised that many municipalities around the country are ‘stealthily taking over’ community broadcasters by offering to provide them with operating 4 26 Note: see Indicator 3.1 with regard to the state. Through Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Sentech, the National Community Radio Forum, MDDA and ICASA seeking a solution for the high costs community broadcasters must pay to be on air and how the Minister’s intervention allowed more than 30 indebted community stations to continue broadcasting. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2018