Benin media guide
- Published
Benin has a diverse media sector
Benin's constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and print outlets express a wide variety of viewpoints.
However, media outlets have encountered new scrutiny and restrictions under the President Talon, says the US-based NGO Freedom House and media outlets critical of the government "have increasingly risked suspension".
Freedom House says major television broadcasters have been closed by Benin's media regulator, which also banned all "unauthorized" online news outlets in 2020.
Radio is the main source of information, particularly in rural areas. Outlets broadcast in local languages and phone-in programmes are particularly popular.
The BBC World Service (101.7) and Radio France Internationale are available on FM in Cotonou.
There were 3.8 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 30% of the population. Facebook is the leading social platform with 1.6 million users ((Internetworldstats.com).
Access to the internet and social media was cut during parliamentary elections in April 2019, according to online freedom organisation NetBlocks.
Press
La Nouvelle Tribune, external - private, daily
La Nation, external - government daily
L'Evenement Precis, external - private, daily
Matin Libre, external - private, daily
Fraternite, external - private, daily
Television
Television Nationale, external - operated by state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB)
Canal 3 - private
Golfe TV - private
Carrefour TV
Radio
Radio Nationale, external - run by state broadcaster ORTB, which also operates regional networks Radio Parakou and Atlantic FM
CAPP FM, external - private, Cotonou
Radio Tokpa, external - private, Cotonou
Golfe FM - private, Cotonou
Radio Immaculee Conception, external - Catholic station
News agency/online
24 Heures Au Benin, external - news website
Banouto, external - news website
Benin Web TV, external - news website
The state-run Agence Benin-Presse (ABP) was closed down by the government in 2022