Telephone lines are both state and privately owned, but long-distance service is a state monopoly. In 1997 there were 2.8 million main line telephones in use with an additional 2.1 million mobile cellular phones. Broadcasting is run by Oy Yleisradio Ab, a joint-stock company of which the government owns over 90%, and MTV, a commercial company. Regular television transmission began in 1958. As of 1999 there were 6 AM and 105 FM radio stations and 120 television stations. In 2000, the number of radios was estimated at 1,623 per 1,000 people and the number of television sets at 692. The same year, there were about 396 personal computers for every 1,000 people, with 23 Internet service providers servings 2.27 million customers.
In 2001, there were about 256 newspapers, with 56 dailies. Major newspapers and their daily circulation in 2002 were the following:
NEWSPAPER | ORIENTATION | CIRCULATION |
Helsingen Sanomat (Helsinki) | Independent | 472,600 |
Ilta-Sanomat (Helsinki) | Independent | 218,100 |
Aamulehti (Tampere) | Conservative | 132,900 |
Turun Sanomat (Turku) | Independent | 113,400 |
Iltalehti (Helsinki) | NA | 101,980 |
Kaleva (Oulu) | Independent | 83,800 |
Kauppalehti (Helsinki) | NA | 80,000 |
Keskisuomalainen (Jyväskylä) | Center Party | 79,200 |
Hufvudstadbladet (Helsinki; Swedish) | Independent | 59,200 |
Satakunnan Kansa (Pori) | Conservative | 58,000 |
Kansan Uutiset (Helsinki) | Finn. People's | |
Democratic League | 42,400 |
The leading weekly journals in 1995 were Seura (circulation 276,000) and Apu (254,000).
The broadcast and print media enjoy independence and support from the government, which abides by legally provided free speech and press.
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