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: 1.8 3.7 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference through its budget and from commercial pressure. Ethiopian Radio and Television is mainly – and adequately – funded by the government, with some additional revenue from advertisements. As the broadcaster itself is committed to promoting government policy, the government does not need to arbitrarily interfere in the affairs of the broadcaster through funding. companies “beg them [state broadcaster]” to give them air time With the development of private broadcasting still in its infancy and television still the exclusive domain of government, Ethiopian Radio and Television is in a very privileged position when it comes to potential commercial pressure: companies “beg them” to give them air time rather than being in a position to exert any kind of pressure. The panel was divided in its assessment of this state of affairs. Some held the view that all of this was evidence of the absence of any political or commercial pressures. Others argued that the fact that the broadcaster acts as government wishes, even without direct interference, is to be judged negatively. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ETHIOPIA 2010 43