Media in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago has a mixed media system covering Trinidad and Tobago nationwide, with additional national, Trinidad-wide, Tobago-wide and niche coverage. In 2024, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, commonly called TATT, recorded 66 broadcasting concessions: 4 free-to-air television, 14 television services delivered by cable, 11 subscription television services and 37 free-to-air radio services. Broadcasting requires a concession from the responsible Minister and a Radiocommunications Licence from TATT. TATT also manages frequencies, monitors the market, publishes tariffs quarterly, handles complaints and can impose sanctions. Free-to-air radio and television can be received without a subscription through terrestrial signals, while cable and subscription television require a provider and package payment. In 2024, subscription television had about 209,900 subscribers and 99.3% of those subscriptions were digital. In the third quarter of 2025, subscription television revenue was TT$143 million, compared with TT$25.4 million for free-to-air radio, TT$8.3 million for free-to-air television and TT$1.8 million for cable television. Radio remains broadly available, but household costs, digital access, Tobago or niche coverage and service availability can create gaps. Digital terrestrial television, or DTT, uses digital broadcast transmission rather than older analogue signals. Trinidad and Tobago has used the ATSC 3.0 standard since 18 January 2023. DTT can support television, data services, e-learning and emergency alerts. Earlier plans referred to a 2025 switch-on and 2026 analogue shutdown, but TATT's current position is full implementation by 2027, so the earlier dates should not be treated as final. The main newspapers include the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Trinidad Express and Newsday. Guardian Media combines print, CNC3 television, TBC Radio and digital services, while Newsday is published by Daily News Limited. Trinidad and Tobago has no evidenced nationwide press licence or statutory journalist registration requirement. Journalists can work through media companies, independent or online newsrooms, professional networks such as the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago, known as MATT, and journalism training. MATT promotes professional standards, safety, independence and practical development. The Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association and its Media Complaints Council provide an industry complaints and self-regulation channel. Internet access supports websites, social media and over-the-top services, meaning communication or streaming delivered through the internet alongside traditional telecommunications and broadcasting. In 2024, 14 of 18 authorised fixed-line internet providers were active. In the third quarter of 2025, mobile internet had about 812,000 active subscriptions, or 59.3 per 100 inhabitants, and fixed broadband had about 418,000 subscriptions; the fixed-internet household ratio was 98.7 per 100 households. A 2021 survey reported that 83% of people used over-the-top services and that 79% of those users accessed them daily. Mobile, internet-provider and Wi-Fi prices determine practical access. TTWiFi and NALIS, the National Library and Information System, provide public access alternatives in some settings. The Framework on Illicit Media Streaming 2024 treats illegal streams, unauthorised Android boxes and software designed to bypass access controls as copyright violations. Importing, selling, renting or promoting illegal streaming devices is prohibited. A relevant commercial offence can carry a maximum fine of TT$250,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment. Authorised subscription or over-the-top services and licensed broadcast or cable offers are the lawful alternatives. The Constitution protects freedom of thought and expression and freedom of the press. The Freedom of Information Act 1999 provides general access to documents held by public authorities, subject to exemptions. The Data Protection Act 2011 sets privacy, consent, purpose and security principles, although it has only been partly proclaimed. The Copyright Act protects original work automatically without a registration requirement and covers reproduction, communication, broadcasting and adaptation. Libel and defamation rules under the Libel and Defamation Act can create legal risks when media content harms someone's reputation. Children's media use is affected by the Children Act 2012 and the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act. Broadcasting guidance refers to informed consent, especially for anyone under 18, protection from exploitative portrayal, mature-content labelling and limits on advertising directed at children. TT-CSIRT, the national computer security incident response function, has identified risks including online grooming, cyberbullying, sextortion, privacy abuse and phishing. Reports can be made to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Special Victims Department, 999, 555 or 800-TIPS. NALIS supports internet access and parent supervision, while TATT runs digital-literacy and at-risk-youth programmes. People can participate by submitting broadcasting complaints to TATT, responding to TATT consultations, requesting public documents under the Freedom of Information Act, following parliamentary coverage through Parliament Radio, Parliament free-to-air television, ParlView or YouTube, and using NALIS information services. MATT and the Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association also support professional and public media self-regulation. Checking the source, date, evidence, ownership and purpose of a report helps reduce the risk of relying on inaccurate or misleading information.