Mass media in Cuba

Cada una de las 16 provincias de Cuba tiene un semanario regional, que funciona como periódico oficial publicado por cada sección provincial del Partido Comunista. Los dos más recientes, El Artemiseño y Mayabeque , comenzaron a publicarse en 2011 para dar servicio a las recién creadas provincias de Artemisa y Mayabeque .

Cada semanario tiene su propio sitio web con noticias locales, actualizado diariamente, que ofrece ediciones impresas semanales para descargar gratuitamente en formato PDF . Algunos también publican ediciones en línea en inglés.

Aunque la prensa es de propiedad pública, también se publican revistas y boletines propiedad de la Iglesia Católica y otras denominaciones cristianas, disponibles para cualquier ciudadano cubano. En La Habana, la Iglesia Católica publica mensualmente revistas como Palabra Nueva y Espacio Laical . En la diócesis de Pinar del Río, Vitral se publica bimestralmente. Estas revistas y boletines incluyen instrucción religiosa y noticias de la Iglesia. El boletín de mayor circulación es Vida Cristiana , publicado semanalmente en La Habana, que llega a la mayoría de los católicos del país. Actualmente, la Iglesia busca expandirse a otros medios de comunicación como la televisión y la radio, a los que actualmente no tiene acceso. ^{[ 1 ]}

Cuba fue uno de los primeros países de América en contar con servicio de radio. En 1922, gracias a la cooperación de la compañía estadounidense International Telephone and Telegraph , la primera emisora ​​de radio del país (2LC) comenzó sus transmisiones el 22 de agosto. Las emisoras de radio en Cuba fueron desarrolladas por iniciativas privadas, y su programación se basaba inicialmente en noticias y entretenimiento.

El empresario Goar Mestre ^{[ 4 ]} inició la construcción del Centro de Radio , inspirado en Radio City de Nueva York. ^{[ 5 ]} Mestre comenzó las transmisiones en el Canal 6 (CMQ) el 18 de diciembre de ese año. Bajo la dictadura de Fulgencio Batista se impuso la censura. ^{[ 6 ]} El propósito principal de la radio en Cuba era potenciar la educación en "alta cultura" del ciudadano cubano.

Radio stations and networks included:^[7]

• Cadena Oriental de Radio
• Circuito Nacional Cubano (1954–1959)
• CMBF
• COCQ^[8]
• COCX^[8]
• Radio Mil Diez
• PWX (later CMQ)
• Radio Habana Cuba (RHC)
• Radio Progreso
• Radio Reloj (est. 1947)
• Sabates
• Union Radio (est. 1947)

Soon after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Fidel Castro's government applied a series of measures that transformed all national media. Rebelde, the first radio station developed under the revolution, started broadcasting on February 24.

During the early years of the revolution there was a division between the mainstream media in Cuba, created with private capital that opposed the new political situation. A series of small radio stations in favor of the new government, organized an "Independent Front of Free Broadcasters" (Spanish: Frente Independiente de Emisoras Libres). These radio stations were recognized as official by the new government. The government would develop a Bureau of Broadcasting under the political leadership of the PCC. Radio stations in the country were completely put under state control on May 24, 1962, under the management of the newly established Cuban Broadcasting Institute. Under the new broadcasting system, all media were to meet a set of values established by the government to strengthen the political process in the country, some names of radio stations were changed, and the coverage of radio services were extended to reach the whole country. In 1975, the agency changed its name to the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television.^[9]

Cubans cannot watch or listen to independent, private, or foreign broadcasts. In 1963, using Soviet-supplied equipment, Cuba became the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to jam radio broadcasts, the apparent targets being the anti-Castro stations in the US.^[5]

• Radio Rebelde – news, music, sport
• Radio Reloj – news
• Radio Habana Cuba – external, languages include Spanish, English, French, Portuguese
• Radio Progreso – entertainment ^[10]

Cuba was one of the first countries in the Americas to have television service. The popularity of radio led to the development and launch of television stations. The first years of television in Cuba were marked by a climate of competitiveness between two Cuban businessmen backed by US companies, Gaspar Pumarejo and Goar Mestre. Mestre started construction of Radio Center, inspired by the Radio City in New York, while Pumarejo tried to develop a television studio in his own home.^[5] Pumarejo's channel (Unión Radio Televisión) was the first TV channel to start broadcasts in the island; it began broadcasting on 24 October 1950 with an address by President Carlos Prío Socarrás from the Presidential Palace. Mestre began broadcasts on Channel 6 (CMQ) on December 18 of that year. Telenovelas, news, cooking shows, and comedy groups were shown. After Union Radio TV went on the air, Cuban demand for television sets soared.^[6] Under Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship censorship was imposed.^[6] Television's primary purpose in Cuba was to enhance the "high culture" education of the Cuban citizen.

Soon after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Fidel Castro's government applied a series of measures that transformed all national media. Television channels in the country were completely put under state control on May 24, 1962, under the management of the newly established Cuban Broadcasting Institute. Under the new broadcasting system, all media were to meet a set of values established by the government to strengthen the political process in the country, some names of TV stations were changed, and the coverage of the TV services were extended to reach the whole country. In 1975, the agency changed its name to the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television.^[9]

• Cubavision
• Portal de la TV Cubana ^[10]←

The Cuban internet is among the most tightly regulated in the world. All content is subject to review by the Department of Revolutionary Orientation. At Internet cafes Cuban citizens have to give their name and address. All material intended for publication on the Internet must be approved by the National Registry of Serial Publications in advance. One report found that many foreign news outlet websites are not blocked in Cuba, but the slow connections and outdated technology in Cuba makes it impossible for citizens to load these websites. Rather than having complex filtering systems, the government relies on the high cost of getting online and the telecommunications infrastructure that is slow to restrict Internet access. Reports have shown that the Cuban government uses Avila Link software to monitor citizens use of the Internet. The government has obtained citizens usernames and passwords in order to closely monitor emails.^[15]

Los disidentes acusan al gobierno de no proporcionar acceso asequible a internet en los hogares por razones políticas. El gobierno cubano culpa a Estados Unidos por el mal estado de la infraestructura de telecomunicaciones, que, según afirma, se debe al embargo económico estadounidense impuesto en la década de 1960. ^{[ 16 ]}

En los últimos tiempos, la censura en internet se ha relajado gradualmente. En 2007, se legalizó la compra de computadoras para el público en general. Desde el 4 de junio de 2013, los cubanos pueden contratar ETECSA , la empresa estatal de telecomunicaciones, para acceder a internet en 118 centros en todo el país. Los puntos de acceso wifi aprobados por el gobierno, inaugurados en 2015, ofrecen acceso a internet prácticamente sin restricciones y a redes sociales como Facebook y Twitter; sin embargo, los sitios de la oposición están bloqueados. El costo de este nuevo acceso, de 4,50 dólares la hora, sigue siendo elevado en un país donde el salario promedio de los empleados públicos es de 20 dólares al mes. En 2016, solo el 5% de los cubanos tenía acceso a internet en casa. ^{[ 16 ]}