FOTP 2013 Full Report

issue, with around half of the network media market owned by four corporations: Bell, Shaw,Rogers, and Quebecor Media Inc. Bell Canada, the country’s largest telecommunicationscompany, has important stakes in many sectors, including television and radio broadcasting,wireless internet, and mobile service. In March 2012, Astral Media agreed to a C$3.38 billion(US$3.38 billion) takeover offer by Bell, which would have thereby acquired control over 42percent of the English-language television market and 33 percent of the French. However, theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) rejected the proposeddeal in October based on concerns related to competition, ownership concentration, and verticalintegration. Bell and Astral Media submitted a revised proposal in November that would giveBell control of 35 percent of the English-language television viewership and 23 percent of theFrench. The proposal was still being considered at year’s end.Internet use is widespread and unrestricted in general, with 87 percent of the populationaccessing the internet in 2012.Cape VerdeStatus: FreeLegal Environment: 6Political Environment: 9Economic Environment: 12Total Score: 27Survey Edition 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Total Score, Status 28,F 28,F 28,F 27,F 27,FCape Verde has historically been among the freest media environments in both Africa and thebroader Lusophone world, and it maintained this status in 2012. The constitution directlyprovides for freedom of the press as well as confidentiality of sources, access to information, andfreedom from arbitrary arrest. A 1999 constitutional amendment excludes the use of freedom ofexpression as a defense in defamation cases, but no such cases have been brought againstjournalists since 2002. The law requires broadcasters to obtain operating licenses, andgovernment approval is needed to establish new newspapers and other publications. In October2011, the parliament approved the creation of a Regulatory Authority for the Media, whose goalis to protect press freedom and ensure that a diversity of opinions can be expressed.The government consistently demonstrates its commitment to respect and protect mediafreedom. Prime Minister José Maria Neves proclaimed in 2011, with no visible dissent, thatwhen it comes to freedom of the press, “Cape Verde is a first-world country.” The governmentdoes not generally restrict access to or content on the media that it controls. Intimidation ofjournalists in Cape Verde is rare. In 2012 there were no attacks on journalists nor any reports ofintimidation. Self-censorship, a somewhat underdeveloped journalistic cadre, and an incompleteincorporation of local Creole dialects into the country’s media prevent Cape Verde from furtherimproving the freedom and diversity of its media environment.Many media outlets are state operated, although there are a growing number of privatepublications and broadcast outlets. The state runs the primary television channel, TCV, and aradio station, Radio Nacional de Cabo Verde. About a dozen independent and community-run114