SECTOR 3 3.5 The editorial independence of the state/public broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by law and practised to ensure balanced and fair news and current affairs programmes. Article 36 of Ordinance 92-039 stipulates that: “The government may at any time disseminate and transmit through public service enterprises, radio and television, all statements or communications that it judges necessary. These broadcasts are reported as from Government and are free to lead to analysis and commentary”. It is felt that this law is an obstacle to editorial independence. The panel is of the opinion that editors’ desks had more independence during the 1991 transition. For instance, the employees at TVM participated in a strike when information of prime importance was squashed and they were able to announce their claims live on the airwaves. Back then, the government in power and members of the opposition divided the airtime awarded during elections equally. Today, this is no longer the case. Thus, TVM is at present mostly considered as an instrument in the hands of those in power. 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: 1.1 (2012 = n/a, 2010 = n/a, 2008 = n/a, 2006 = n/a ) 3.6 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from political interference through its budget and from commercial pressure. “Correctly financed is a euphemism!” Maintenance work is financed through advertising revenues, which, once collected, disappear in the hands of the State. During the transition period, these receipts were transferred directly to the Treasury and the Minister of Communications’ signature was sufficient to unblock these funds. Today, public media enterprises lack everything: furniture, 92 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 2016