Media in Maldives

Maldives is made up of a chain of 1190 small coral islands that are grouped into 26 atolsThe major daily newspaper in Maldives is Haveeru.com.mv which also has online (North Side) in Male with a circulation of 2,500. Aafathis, another daily in Dhivehi and English, has a circulation of 300. Maldives also has a number of weekly and monthly publications as well as several news agencies and publishers.
Censorship exists in Maldives although on a smaller scale than before President Gayoom took office in 1978. Nevertheless, open dissent against the government is not tolerated. For example, in early 1990 the Consultative Council discussed freedom of speech in the press. But when publications critical of the government appeared in the spring of 1990, all publications that lacked government sanction were banned. Also, leading writers and publishers have been arrested.
Hindi-language films, newspapers, and magazines from India are popular. For eleven hours each day, the government radio station Voice of Maldives, established in 1962, broadcasts to the entire country in Dhivehi and English. Maldivians in 1990 had 27,848 radio receivers to pick up such broadcasts. In 1978 government-run Television Maldives was established. During the week, its one channel broadcasts for five hours a day, with an extended weekend service. However, it can only be received (by the 6,591 Maldivians with television sets in 1992) within a thirty-kilometer radius of Male. Maldives also receives broadcasts by the British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Australia, and Radio Beijing.
Given the censorship that exists, the media play only a limited role in promoting greater democracy. A major question facing Maldives is the way in which democracy will be defined in view of the contrast between a South Asian kinship system and its egalitarian Western-style parliamentary elections.
Constitution
Government organization is based on the 1968 constitution, as revised in 1970, 1972, and 1975. The document provides the basis for a highly centralized, presidential form of government. Its philosophical frame of reference is derived from Islam; thus the distinction between secular and religious authority is often academic. The constitution vests final authority for the propagation of Islam in the president, who in turn is empowered to appoint all judges who interpret and apply the sharia in the adjudication of civil and criminal cases. In Maldives, therefore, the courts are not independent of the executive branch, but rather are under the minister of justice, who is appointed by the president.
Constitutional provisions regarding the basic rights of the people are broadly phrased. They refer to freedom of speech and assembly, equality before the law, and the right to own property, but these rights are to be exercised within the framework of the sharia. In 1990 younger members of the recently expanded president's Consultative Council called for the repeal or amendment of Article 38 in the penal code, which allows the jailing or banishment "for any gesture, speech or action that instills malice or disobedience in the minds of Maldivians against lawfully formed government."
The president is elected for a renewable five-year term by the Majlis, or legislature. The election must be formalized through confirmation in a popular referendum. The chief executive is assisted by a cabinet, or Council of Ministers, whose members serve at his pleasure. The post of prime minister, which had existed under the sultan and in the early years of the republic, was eliminated in 1975 by President Ibrahim Nasir because of abuses of the office. Cabinet ministers need not be members of the Majlis. The legislature is unicameral, with members elected for five-year terms by citizens aged twenty-one and above, or appointed by the president. Eight of its forty-eight members are appointed by the president, and the rest are chosen popularly, two from Male and two from each of the nineteen administrative atolls.
Media
Television Maldives
http://www.tvm.gov.mv
The national television channel, TVM, broadcasts nationally, covering news, current affairs and variety of entertainment programs. The second channel, TVM Plus, which Television Maldives started providing in 1994, is a special entertainment channel and is receivable through registered decoders. TVM transmit 18 hours and TVM Plus transmits for 10 hours every day.

Voice of Maldives
http://www.vom.gov.mvAM
The Voice of Maldives, which is the National channel, started broadcasting on AM band at 1458 KHz, Medium wave on December 29, 1981 with a TBC, 05 Kilowatt transmitter from Australia? Now we have replaced the AM services with a state of the art technology transmitter by Harris, USA in July 1995. This development has increased our clear coverage to about 85% of the whole country; however the remaining 15% is covered will be covered via a Satellite downlink connected to low Power FM transmitters and re-broadcasting to the nearby Islands at selected locations nationwide. In this regard, we have already installed stereo FM transmitter at the southern most tips of Maldives, in Addu Atoll and Foahmulah. Now these transmitters are in service. Next in line is Haa dhaalu Kulhudufushi, for this project, we have already assembled the required FM transmitter and is now ready for Installation.
FM on 21 May 1985, Voice of Maldives started its FM broadcasting services in the capital Male, and nearby Islands using a 10 watt low powered mono FM Transmitter with the frequency 104 MHz given as a grant Aid by the UNESCO. The Voice of Maldives added a Power booster to increase the power to 100 Watt, which allowed more coverage area. In same period, Maldives was also becoming famous as a tourist destination, the radio felt the importance of tourism to the economic development of Maldives and began to play a major role in entertaining and providing useful information for foreigners and started expanding its English services which includes current affairs and more music. Currently we have an OMB, 1KW FM Stereo transmitter from Spain running the 89 MHz VOM FM service in Male and nearby islands.
Daily Newspapers
Haveeru Daily
http://www.haveeru.com.mv
Haveeru Daily is the longest serving daily newspaper in Maldives, which marked its 20th anniversary on 1 January 1999. Established on 1 January 1979, Haveeru has excelled with over two decades of journalistic experience.
Aafathis News
http://www.aafathisnews.com.mv
Miadhu News
http://www.miadhu.com

Communication
Dhiraagu
Dhiraagu offers a comprehensive range of fixed, mobile, Internet and data services throughout the Maldives including installation, maintenance and repair of all the services.
Fixed Line ServicesIn 1999, Dhiraagu successfully completed providing fixed line access to all 200 inhabited islands in the country, overcoming almost insurmountable geographical and logistical challenges. Today every inhabitant in the Maldives is within easy walking distance of a telephone. There are over 130 lines per 100 households in Male' and approximately 40 lines per 100 households in other islands with residential telephone service. This equates to 1 telephone per 9 of population nationally and 1 telephone for every 3 persons in the capital - the highest in South Asia.
GSM ServicesThe DhiMobile GSM service was introduced in October 1999. Originally available in the islands in the Male' area, coverage has since been extended to all 88 tourist resorts and more than 105 inhabited islands covering over 73% of the population .Today 1 in 2 adults in the country use a GSM phone.
Dhiraagu offers a number of value added services such as SMS, CallerID,Fixed Line Services GSM Services Fax and Data, Voicemail, FaxMail and Pre-Paid service. GSM International Roaming service is available with over 158 operators in more than 70 countries allowing over 75% of visitors to the Maldives to use their mobile phone in the Maldives.
Internet ServicesDhiraagu introduced Internet service to the Maldives in October 1996, initially via dial-up at up to 28.8kbps. Since then the service has been enhanced continuously, offering customers higher access speeds, multiple access options and reduced cost of Internet usage. Today our customers have a choice of high quality PSTN and ISDN dial-up,dedicated leased connections, ADSL broadband and two-way direct satellite access to suit their requirements and budgets. Public Internet access is available to over 40% of the population through CyberCafes directly operated by Dhiraagu across the country. On a further 60 islands, public Internet access is offered by private parties in partnership with Dhiraagu.
http://www.dhiraagu.com.mv
Wataniya Telecom Maldives
VoiceVoice services are available to all with no set up or monthly fees.
Messaging Voicemail, Text messaging (SMS), Picture messaging (MMS)
RoamingRoaming service allows you to use your mobile services when you travel abroad.
Mobile Internet Allows internet access on your mobile phone. It is an 'always on' service, so you are not paying for dial up connection and can stay connected for as long as you like.
Push to Talk TalkPlan and TalkBusiness customers can enjoy this new service. It's like using the phone as a 'walkie-talkie'. You get this service automatically and there's no setup fee.
http://www.wataniya.mv