Honduras - Media

The government owns and operates postal, telephone, and telegraph services. Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are linked by a multiplex radio relay network. The Tropical Radio Co. provides international radiotelegraph and radiotelephone service. In 1997, there were 234,100 mainline telephones in use and 14,427 cellular phones. As of 1998, Honduras had 241 AM and 53 FM radio stations. In 1997, there were 11 television stations. In 2000, there were 412 radios and 96 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were eight Internet service providers serving 40,000 subscribers.

The country's principal newspapers (with 2002 circulation) were La Tribuna (45,000), El Heraldo (45,000), and Tiempo (35,000), all published in Tegucigalpa, and La Prensa (62,000), published in San Pedro Sula. La Tribuna is owned by President Flores.

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government is said to generally respect these rights. The media itself, however, is said to be subject to a high degree of politicization and corruption.