SECTOR 3 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 (2006= n/a, 2008 = n/a, 2010 = 1.0) 3.3 The body, which regulates broadcasting services and licences, does so in the public interest and ensures fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing society at large. The regulating body for broadcasting services and licenses in Madagascar is the Malagasy Office of Telecommunication Studies and Regulation (OMERT). According to the rule, the Minister of Communications issues licences after consultation with OMERT. The Minister of Communications, in effect, takes on the role of the broadcasting regulator and licences regulating body. The panellists believe that the actions taken by the Minister are not in the public’s best interest.The licensing criteria are considered discriminatory and lack transparency. Granting licenses has been suspended since 2009, even though stations were shut down continuously, particularly Free FM, which had a radio licence and had been accused of wanting to do TV without a license and Radio Platine in 2011. 94 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR