Swaziland
Decoders enable viewers to receive SABC 1, 2, 3 and eTV.
The satellite television service, DSTV, is available, but at a minimum
of E350 a month it is unaffordable for most of the population.
There are two national daily newspapers, the Times of Swaziland
(private) and the Swazi Observer (owned by the king through a royal
conglomerate). Both are published in English. The Times has an
average daily print run of 26,000 and an estimated readership of
100,000. The Observer averages 15,000 prints a day with an estimated readership of 85,000. At E2.20 a copy, newspapers are
affordable even for many rural communities (a loaf of bread costs
E4.00).
The only siSwati newspaper, Tikhatsi TeMaswati, a translation of the
Times, ceased publication in November 2006, as it was no longer commercially viable. But according to the Times, rural readers
have been demanding its return. It was suggested that had Tikhatsi
provided original siSwati content, it might have been successful.
However, its main obstacle was attracting advertisers who assume
people reading siSwati are poor and are, therefore, not worth advertising to.
There has been one new entrant into the newspaper industry, Ligoli,
a privately owned weekly sports newspaper. A new player in the
magazine industry brings the numbers up to three monthly publications - The Nation, Youth Connexion and the newly established Business World. The Nation has the largest circulation at 3,500-4,000
per month. Youth Connexion has a print run of 2,000. The majority
of Swazis cannot afford magazines which average E10.00 per copy.
There are a wide variety of imported newspapers and magazines
available in urban centres.
Internet is still unaffordable for most Swazis and is limited to the
African Media Barometer - Swaziland 2007

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