Namibian media environment 2010 Robin Tyson Lecturer: Media Studies University of Namibia
Jan 12, 2016
Namibian media environment 2010
Robin Tyson
Lecturer: Media Studies
University of Namibia
Population 2 million
• Windhoek: 350 000
• Large country – small, scattered population
Diverse population
• 10 languages
• Official language English
• Rich/Poor divide
Diverse print media
• Independent (and free tabloids)
• State
• Party
Diverse electronic media
• Public (NBC)
• Commercial
• Community
NAMIBIAN MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Print media - Daily newspapers
Allgemeine Zeitung – DMH group – Weekdays – N$3.00 - German
www.az.com.na
The Namibian – Free Press of Namibia – Weekdays – N$3.00 – English/Oshiwambo
www.namibian.com.na
Die Republikein – DMH Group – Weekdays – N$3.00 – Afrikaans/English
www.republikein.com.na
New Era – Ministry of Information and Broadcasting – Weekdays – N$3.00 – English and all other Namibian languages.
www.newera.com.na
Print: Weekly newspapers
Informanté – Trustco Group – Thursdays - free
www.informante.web.na
Namibia Economist – Weekly – Daniel Steinmann – N$3.00
www.economist.com.na
• Namibia Sun (DMH group) – Thursdays – N$2.00 - English
• Windhoek Observer (Paragon Investments) – Lazarus Jacobs – Fridays – N$5.00 – English
Regional paper
• www.namibtimes.net
Namibian TV Stations
TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
• Community licence
• Based in Swakopmund
• www.tbnnamibia.tv
One Africa Television
• Commercial Licence
• Windhoek and major towns
• www.oneafrica.tv
NBC TV
• Public Broadcaster (but Board appointed by Ministry of ICT)
• Government subsidy & advertising & annual licence fee
• Windhoek and major towns
• WWW.NBC.COM.NA
Electronic media: Public Radio
• NBC– National Radio– Afrikaans– Damara/Nama– German– Oshiwambo– Otjiherero– Rukwangali– Setswana– Silozi– !Ha (Tsumkwe)
Electronic media – Commercial Radio
Omulunga Radio
• www.omulunga.com
Fresh FM
• www.freshfm.com.na
Radio Wave
• www.radiowave.com.na
Radio Energy
• www.energy100fm.com
KOSMOS
Nam FM 99
• www.namfm99.com
Electronic media – community radio
BASE FM 106.2
• www.facebook.com
Channel 7 / Kanaal 7
• www.k7.com.na
Unam Radio 97.4
• www.unam.na
Political environment
• Tanzania
• “ “
• SWAPO dominance increasing
• No real differences in ideology
• Use of printed media (car dashboard scarves, party ‘trees’)
Politics and the media
• Fear of politics (commercial radios)
• Increased ruling party manipulation of the public broadcaster
• Increased government threats against the media
• Internet used to stir up calls to action