Laos - A View of the Television Market

Synopsis

The small developing nation of Laos continues to work to strengthen its economy. Its communist government maintains a strong overall grip on the country. Its media, in particular – both electronic and print – is closely controlled. Not surprisingly, television offers some especially serious challenges for the country. The government espouses a strong commitment to the protection of Lao culture and to national security. It is these aims, however, that provide the rationale for tight control of the media, including television. At the same time, the government has been allowing the television industry to grow somewhat haphazardly. This report presents an overview of the Lao television market.