Ecuador profile
Relations between the media and political leaders have been strained
Ecuador presents a hostile environment for journalists and the media, international media freedom organisations say.
It is characterised by "self-censorship, intimidation, and legal sanctions", US-based Freedom House reports. The NGO says President Correa and other officials have targeted journalists and media outlets with aggressive rhetoric.
Defamation is a criminal offence. A 2013 Communications Law provides for regulation of editorial content and gives officials the power to sanction media outlets.
Most media outlets are privately-run. Ownership is highly concentrated.
Radio is a key medium; there are hundreds of stations, some broadcasting in indigenous languages. Soap operas and US series are staple fare on TV.
There were 7 million internet users by 2016 (Internetlivestats.com). The government has attempted to force the removal of critical social media content on copyright grounds, says Freedom House.
The press
- El Comercio - daily
- El Tiempo - daily
- La Hora - evening daily, regional editions
- El Telegrafo - daily
- El Universo - Guayaquil-based daily
- Expreso - Guayaquil-based daily
Television
- TC Television - private
- Ecuavisa - private
- Telesistema - private
- Gamavision - private
- Teleamazonas - private
- Telerama - private
- Ecuador TV (ECTV) - public
Radio
- Radio Vision - private, Quito and Guayaquil
- Radio Quito - private, mediumwave (AM)
- Cadena Radial Ecuatoriana (CRE) - private, Guayaquil-based network
- Radio Centro - private
- Radio Sucre - private, national mediumwave (AM) news network
- Radio Publica (RPE) - public
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