Broadcasting Licences Still Up in the Air

Recently, the Ministry retracted its promise to grant permits to private broadcasters, which were scheduled to be issue at the end of last October.

In an explanation of its action, the government said that before transmission could begin an act of parliament governing private broadcasting would be needed. They said this was due to the “negative effects of unconditional press freedom”.

The government made this decision despite telling Haveeru Daily two weeks prior that privately owned broadcast media would be able to obtain licences “quickly”.