SECTOR 2 2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print, broadcasting, internet, mobile phones) is accessible and affordable to the public Numerically, the media landscape in Tanzania is diverse and vibrant. In 2018, it was estimated that the Mainland had 156 radio stations, 48 TV channels and 216 newspapers, while Zanzibar had 25 radio stations and 12 TV channels.17 To the best of panellists’ recollection, the newest newspaper, Tanzanite, hit the stands in 2015. Two broadcasting services, EFM and eTV also began broadcasting during the same year. Panellists said traditional media outlets have enjoyed steady growth, particularly during the last decade. However, costs are rising, reducing accessibility for mostly poor rural members of the public. For example, changes in TV broadcasting technology now requires that households either switch to more modern TV sets or purchase decoders to capture free-to-air signals. At 1000 TZS (less than half a dollar), newspapers cost as much as a loaf of bread. In the view of panellists, when a choice must be made, most people would opt to buy the bread. Digital technology has expanded the range of sources of information. Online multimedia content is easily the fastest growing source of news and the most accessible. In addition to digital natives, most newspapers, radio stations and TV channels are present online and use social media to reach more people. M-Papers, a digital newsstand, allows members of the public to subscribe to electronic versions of newspapers and magazines. A study on the media landscape concluded that ‘the country was witnessing a paradigm shift in the internet space’.18 The report noted that: For the last six years, internet penetration has increased from 17% in 2012 to 45% in 2017. By September 2018, some 22,995,109 Tanzanians had access to the internet, with the majority (19,006,223) accessing the internet via mobile wireless. This shift, though largely an urban phenomenon in the country, has a positive impact on public media consumption as citizens can access the media through various social networks and apps. Additionally, it provides opportunities for citizens to express their views on various discussions and the growth of online and citizen journalism. (Spurk & Katunzi, 2018) Accessing information via the internet is only limited by the cost of internet access. Even though users pay less than US$1 for a gigabyte of data, panellists said the cost was still high for most citizens. In a nutshell, Tanzania has a wide range of news sources, but access to these sources is usually restricted by cost, technology and infrastructure. 17 Ibid. 18 Ibid. 26 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019