Media in Botswana

Botswana has an established media system with state, private, commercial, nonprofit, and digital offerings. State offerings include the government newspaper (DailyNews), Radio Botswana with RB1 and RB2, Botswana Television, and news and information services from Botswana Press Agency and the Department of Information Services. DailyNews is published in English and the local language (Setswana). Independent print and online media complement these offerings, while the small advertising and readership market and the importance of government advertising influence the economic conditions. The Botswana communications regulator (Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority), known as BOCRA, licenses and supervises broadcasting, retransmission, subscription services, electronic communications, and frequencies. It also handles consumer complaints and carries out type approvals for certain devices. Commercial radio programs include Duma FM, Gabz FM, and Yarona FM. UB Radio is a nonprofit campus radio station with reach in Gaborone, Francistown, and Maun. Radio Botswana broadcasts nationwide. According to government information, Botswana Television reaches more than 90 percent of the population; for commercial FM licenses, coverage figures reported in a BOCRA annual report were approximately 87.78, 84.77, and 78.91 percent. Television and audio services are also distributed terrestrially, by satellite, through free-to-air systems, digital terrestrial television, and subscription services. Named providers and programs include eBotswana, YTV, On Air News, Maru TV, Ovy Network, MultiChoice Botswana, as well as Star Times and Urban TV. Licensing status, technical coverage, and availability can change and should be checked before a specific use. A standalone Botswana streaming service with a national OTT function is not substantiated. Streaming mainly takes place through global platforms, IPTV, broadcasters' websites, and social video services. This requires a sufficient internet connection, a suitable device, data volume, and, where applicable, a subscription. According to the 2024 ICT survey, 68.9 percent of households had internet access. Of these households, 86.1 percent used mobile broadband through a mobile phone. Internet access was 79.2 percent in urban areas and 20.8 percent in rural areas. The survey also reported radio access in 51.8 percent of households, television access in 54.8 percent, and mobile-phone access in 91.0 percent. Device prices, charges for data and services, lack of digital skills, electricity supply, and network coverage limit access. The reach of radio and print media therefore cannot be equated with online reach. Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X serve as global distribution and audience platforms. A national platform functioning as a central gatekeeper is not substantiated. Platforms can spread information quickly, but they are subject to their own contractual terms and moderation rules. Disinformation, fraud, harassment, doxxing, privacy violations, copyright infringements, and political manipulation are practical risks. Journalistic work is carried out by state, private, and purely digital newsrooms. The media advocacy organization (MISA Botswana) and the Botswana Editors Forum support advocacy, professionalization, consultation, and self-regulation. A draft or consultation on a Media Bill from 2025 does not replace applicable law; its adoption and commencement must be checked against current official sources. The Constitution protects, under section 12, the freedom to receive and communicate ideas and information, but allows statutory restrictions under section 12(2). The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority Act and the Broadcasting Act, together with their regulations, form parts of the framework for providers, content, and licensing. The Data Protection Act 2024, Act 18/2024, took effect under the stated commencement instrument SI 4/2025 and regulates, among other matters, lawfulness, purpose limitation, data minimization, and security; responsibility lies with the data protection authority (Information and Data Protection Commission). The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act protects protected content and enables licensing and remuneration, including through the copyright licensing and royalties organization (COSBOTS). The Access to Information Act 2024, Act 16/2024, concerns access to information held by public bodies and contains procedures and exemptions. The current application of individual provisions should be checked against the applicable e-Laws before making a legal decision. Providers must comply with their license conditions, data protection duties, copyright rules, requirements concerning defamation and privacy, cybercrime and cybersecurity rules, and the protection of minors. Depending on the offering, users incur costs for devices, data volume, print editions, subscriptions, pay television, or platform services. A general media fee for end users is not substantiated. BOCRA fees and license periods mainly concern providers and depend on the respective procedure. According to the 2024 ICT survey, children used the internet in 45.9 percent of households with children under 15, where the household reported internet access. YouTube, search engines, and TikTok were among the leading services. Grooming, sexual exploitation, and the misuse of images and data can create protection and criminal risks. BOCRA, UNICEF, and the Botswana Police participate in awareness-raising on online safety and cybersecurity. Platform age limits, parental consent, and data processing are additionally governed by the respective terms of use and data protection law. Complaints about a communications or media service can be submitted to BOCRA when sufficient evidence is available. Requests for information from public bodies follow the applicable access-to-information law. For media coverage at events, citizens and non-citizens can submit a request to the responsible government offices; where all requirements are met, a response concerning coverage is stated to be provided within approximately two days. Comments on social networks and users' own online content enable participation, but do not automatically give a contribution the status of an editorially verified news report. The researched position is as of 6 September 2026; provider lists, coverage, prices, platform availability, and the legal status of new regulations should be checked again before specific use.