Latin America & Caribbean

Argentina profile

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.

Argentinian newspapers
Over 150 dailies are published

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. Outlets tend to be polarised over their support for, or opposition to, President Fernandez de Kirchner.

US-based Freedom House says poor relations between the government and the media are an obstacle to journalism.

In particular, it cites "open hostility" towards the media giant, Grupo Clarin. Tactics used to "silence" the group have included blocking newspaper distribution and interfering with newsprint supplies.

By December 2011, Argentina had 28 million internet users, comprising 67% of the population ( and giving the country the second-highest number of surfers on the continent, after Brazil.

The press



News agencies/internet