SECTOR 2 2.5 Adequate competition legislation/regulation seeks to prevent media concentration and monopolies. No legislation exists regarding competition in the media. The Communication Code in its version prior to June 2016 has raised the necessity to put specific regulations into place, but this proposal has raised a lot of reluctance. The proposal that business owners are not allowed to own television channels, newspapers nor radio stations, was 8 immediately abandoned. Although approved by the Senate and discussed by the National Assembly, monopolies in the media industry are counter to freedom and the absence of any regulation is dangerous, the panel warns. This situation negatively affects the content and threatens media plurality. 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: 1.3 (2012 = 1.6, 2010 = 1.5, 2008 = 1.8, 2006 = 2.0 ) 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets. At present, there are only two media enterprises in Madagascar, which are economically viable. Diversity is thus under threat. The government is not making any specific efforts to develop diversity, rather preferring media alignment. The State also receives income tax on profits made by the print media, which is set to increase. The cost of advertising signs is reaching exorbitant levels that fill State coffers. On the other hand, certain announcements made by the government in the media remain unpaid, especially radio announcements. Thus, according to general opinion, the State does not provide favourable conditions for the establishment of a diversified and economically viable press. 8 This proposal encountered the same reluctance in the old versions of the Communication Code, although it has been retained in the Code of June 2016. Please refer to the notes on the Communication Code in the Introduction AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 2016 79