Kuwait has one of the most vocal and transparent media in the Arab World. In 2007, Kuwait was ranked second in the Middle East after
Israel in the freedom of press index. Though the government funds several leading newspapers and satellite channels, Kuwaiti
journalists enjoy greater freedom than their regional counterparts. State-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is the largest media house in
the country. The Ministry of Information regulates all media and communication industry in Kuwait.
In 1998, there were 6 AM and 11 FM radio stations and 13 television stations. In 2000, there were 624 radios and 486 television sets for
every 1,000 people. In 2001, there were 165,000 Internet subscribers served by three service providers. Kuwait has ten satellite
television channels of which four are controlled by the Ministry of Information. State-owned Kuwait Television (KTV) offered first colored
broadcast in 1974 and operates three television channels.Government-funded Radio Kuwait also offers daily informative programming in
four foreign languages including Persian, Urdu, Tagalog and English on the AM and SW.
In 1998, Kuwait had eight major daily newspapers in circulation of which two were in English and six were in Arabic. In 2002, the Arab Times
was the most popular English daily, followed by the Kuwait Times. Al-Anabaa, with a circulation of 106,800 copies, was the most widely read
Arabic daily. Currently, there are around 15 Arabic daily newspapers besides the English newspapers. A press law forbids insulting
references to God and Islamic prophet Muhammad. Another law which made leading newspaper publishers eligible for hefty fines for criticizing
the ruling family was lifted in 1992. Leading newspapers continue to impose self-restraint while being critical of the emir. However, no
such restraint is observed while criticizing the government
Israel in the freedom of press index. Though the government funds several leading newspapers and satellite channels, Kuwaiti
journalists enjoy greater freedom than their regional counterparts. State-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is the largest media house in
the country. The Ministry of Information regulates all media and communication industry in Kuwait.
In 1998, there were 6 AM and 11 FM radio stations and 13 television stations. In 2000, there were 624 radios and 486 television sets for
every 1,000 people. In 2001, there were 165,000 Internet subscribers served by three service providers. Kuwait has ten satellite
television channels of which four are controlled by the Ministry of Information. State-owned Kuwait Television (KTV) offered first colored
broadcast in 1974 and operates three television channels.Government-funded Radio Kuwait also offers daily informative programming in
four foreign languages including Persian, Urdu, Tagalog and English on the AM and SW.
In 1998, Kuwait had eight major daily newspapers in circulation of which two were in English and six were in Arabic. In 2002, the Arab Times
was the most popular English daily, followed by the Kuwait Times. Al-Anabaa, with a circulation of 106,800 copies, was the most widely read
Arabic daily. Currently, there are around 15 Arabic daily newspapers besides the English newspapers. A press law forbids insulting
references to God and Islamic prophet Muhammad. Another law which made leading newspaper publishers eligible for hefty fines for criticizing
the ruling family was lifted in 1992. Leading newspapers continue to impose self-restraint while being critical of the emir. However, no
such restraint is observed while criticizing the government
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