Media in ARGENTINA

Argentina is one of South America's leading media markets. The country has well over 150 daily newspapers, many hundreds of commercial radio stations, dozens of TV stations and one of the world's highest take-up rates for cable TV.

Large media conglomerates have emerged. Public broadcasting plays a minor role. Television is the dominant medium. The main national free-to-air networks - Telefe, America, Canal 9 and Canal 13 - are privately-owned.

Argentine readers are among Latin America's most voracious newspaper consumers. Clarin and La Nacion are the best-selling national dailies.

Media freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. However, Reporters Without Borders maintained in 2008 that "direct attacks on the media and obstacles to press freedom... remained high". It said former President Nestor Kirchner had shown "great hostility" to the media - and particularly the conservative La Nacion daily - while in office.

By December 2008, Argentina had 16 million internet users, comprising nearly 40% of the population (Internetworldstats.com) and giving the country the second-highest number of surfers on the continent, after Brazil.

The press

· Clarín - popular daily

· La Nación - respected conservative daily

· Crónica - tabloid daily

· El Cronista - business

· La Prensa - Argentina's oldest newspaper

· Pagina 12 - left-wing daily

· Buenos Aires Herald - English-language daily

Television

· Telefe (Canal 11) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Telefe

· Canal 13 (El Trece) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Clarin

· Canal 9 - popular national network

· America (Canal 2) - popular network

· Todo Noticias - cable/satellite news channel owned by Grupo Clarin

· Canal 7 - state-run cultural, educational network

Radio

· Radio Mitre - private, speech-based, operated by Grupo Clarin

· Radio Nacional - state-run, cultural

· Radio America - private, news

· Radio Continental - private AM (mediumwave) speech-based network

· Los 40 Principales - private FM music network

News agencies

· Diarios y Noticias (DYN) - partly owned by Grupo Clarin

· TELAM - state-run

· Noticias Argentinas - set up by privately-owned newspapers

Check out more info on BBC News Argentina.