What media services are available in Cabo Verde, and how do press, broadcasting, streaming and social media differ?

Cabo Verde has print and online news, radio, television, community radio, streaming and IPTV services, as well as social platforms. The press and editorial media are subject to stronger formal rules, while private social-media posts are mainly informal.

Which body supervises the press, radio, television and editorial online media in Cabo Verde?

The ARC supervises these media sectors as well as advertising, polls and audiovisual on-demand services. Frequency matters also fall within ARME’s responsibilities, while child protection involves ICCA, among others.

How do media access and costs differ between islands and places of residence in Cabo Verde?

Terrestrial broadcasting depends on technical coverage, while cable, satellite, IPTV and streaming require a provider, a connection and suitable devices. In 2024, 68.7 percent of households in Cabo Verde had internet at home; the share was 71.8 percent in cities and 58.9 percent in rural areas.

How can a false media report be corrected in Cabo Verde?

Affected people can make a documented request to the medium for a response, denial or correction. If the request is rejected, a complaint to the ARC or court proceedings may follow; a justified correction should appear with equal prominence.

What rules protect children in television and online media in Cabo Verde?

Teleshopping is prohibited during a children’s programme and during the 15 minutes before and after it; split-screen advertising images may also not appear during the programme. There is no reliably documented nationwide age limit or complete usage statistic for social media.

How can people in Cabo Verde participate in media and fact-checking?

Participation is possible through complaints to the ARC, rights of reply, media rights such as access to broadcasting and political reply, and the ARC advisory board. The iVerify platform of the University of Cabo Verde has offered free checking of submitted links, screenshots, videos, audio and messages since 2026.

Media in Cabo Verde

The media landscape in Cabo Verde includes newspapers, online news, radio, television, streaming services and social platforms. Access depends on the island, place of residence, internet connection, provider and device. Freedom of information and expression exists alongside rules protecting privacy, reputation, children and journalistic standards.

byMaria&Jose

Newspapers and news portals appear as daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly publications. Well-known outlets include A Nação, Expresso das Ilhas, Terra Nova, A Semana, Mindel Insite, Santiago Magazine and Balai; Inforpress and Lusa operate as news agencies. Publications must be registered with the Social Communication Regulatory Authority (Autoridade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social (ARC)) and must disclose, among other things, their owners and editorial principles. The ARC oversees the press, radio, television, editorial online content, advertising, polls and audiovisual on-demand services. Broadcasting includes the publicly licensed RTC services TCV, TCV Internacional, RCV and RCV+, alongside private, regional and international providers. The ARC lists nine television services, twelve national radio stations, six regional radio stations and twelve community radio stations. Reception is possible terrestrially, by cable, satellite, IPTV or internet; technical coverage and available services differ between islands and between urban and rural areas. RTC also provides programmes, news, audio and video content online and generally does not require registration. Streaming is available in Cabo Verde but is more fragmented than traditional broadcasting. The ARC has also registered on-demand and distribution services, as well as services that broadcast exclusively online. In 2024, 33.1 percent of households had a television subscription or a cable, satellite or IPTV service. Prices, available content, geoblocking and required devices depend on the provider; global platforms have no single local tariff or dedicated national market. Social media is used mainly informally for private posts, forwarding news and participation. In 2024, 68.7 percent of households had internet at home, compared with 71.8 percent in cities and 58.9 percent in rural areas. Among connected households, mobile internet was the most common form of access at 88.2 percent; data prices and network coverage affect actual use. The ARC does not generally supervise every private post, but it may have responsibility for editorially produced and coherently organised online content. Journalists need a professional journalist card (Carteira Profissional de Jornalista) issued by the responsible commission. Eligibility requires adulthood and a higher-education degree; the internship lasts six months for people with a communications degree and twelve months otherwise. Journalistic work requires, among other things, accuracy, impartiality, independence and an opportunity for a reply. The ARC continues to report registration, programming and professional-standard problems, particularly at community radio stations and in remote regions. Media may exercise freedom of opinion and information but must respect honour, reputation, privacy, image, dignity and safety. Affected people may request a right of response (resposta), a denial (desmentido) or a correction (rectificação); a justified correction must generally be published with equal prominence. If the request is rejected, a complaint to the ARC or court proceedings may be considered. Media must identify and separate advertising; political advertising and advertising for pornographic or harmful health products are subject to additional restrictions. Children’s programmes receive special protection. Teleshopping may not be broadcast during a children’s programme or during the 15 minutes before and after it, and split-screen advertising images are prohibited during such programmes. TCV offers a children’s programme; reliable nationwide rules on minors’ use of social media and nationwide usage figures are not available. Schools, families, smartphones and mobile data shape actual access, while media and disinformation literacy are becoming increasingly important. Participation takes place institutionally through the ARC advisory board, complaints, the right of reply and rights such as the right of access to broadcasting (direito de antena) and political reply (réplica política). In addition, the iVerify platform, based at the University of Cabo Verde (Universidade de Cabo Verde) since 2026, offers free fact-checking. Users can submit links, screenshots, videos, audio or messages through its website, WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook; their identity is protected. For television applications, the ARC lists a form fee of 10,000 ECV, while other costs depend on the provider, service, frequency, device and procedure.

VivAVia can make mistakes. Check important information.