SECTOR 2

The media landscape, including new
media, is characterised by diversity,
independence and sustainability.
2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print,
broadcasting, internet, mobile phones) is accessible
and affordable to citizens.
The context of the political and economic crisis, which has been raging since 2009,
was one of the contributing factors that triggered the proliferation of newspapers
in Madagascar. There are, indeed, a large range of sources of information today
with about 30 newspapers regularly being published in Antananarivo, of which
less than ten are sent to the other regions and some regional newspapers.
Some of these newspapers, such as Ino Vaovao, the Journal de Madagascar (JDM)
and the first issue of Viavy Tsara, are in fact free.
Besides newspapers focusing predominantly on political news, there are
specialised newspapers such as L’emploi de la Nation (employment), Santé hebdo
(health), and Viavy Tsara (fashion) targeting a fairly specific readership.
With regards to the broadcasting sector as well, new stations are broadcasting
from the province, with evangelical radio stations such as Radio Miara-manompo
and Radio Soleil in Fianarantsoa. Private radio stations Taratra and Free FM also
broadcast in the regions, as do state radios and private television stations TNTV
and Dreaming.
From the viewpoint of supply, listeners and readers have a fairly large range of
products to choose from paired with great accessibility to traditional media.
The average price for a newspaper, for example, amounts to 400 Malagasy Ariary
(MGA)3 (0.20US$), whereas a transistor radio (from China) costs 10 000 Ariary4
(5US$) and a television 100 000 Ariary (50 US$).
At present, close to 30% of all households own a television but pay TV remains
largely inaccessible given that at 80 000 Ariary5 (40 US$), a decoder, remains
mostly out of reach.
With regards to the Internet, quite high connection fees in Internet Cafes in
Manakara, 100 Ariary/per minute6 (0.05US$), for example, result in connections
3
4
5
6

80

0,2US$ (1US$ = 2000 Ariary)
0,5US$
40US$
0,05US$/per minute

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR

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