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Costa Rica's media landscape blends strong private sector presence with limited public broadcasting. Private television channels like Teletica Canal 7 and Repretel 6 dominate the broadcast market, with Teletica achieving highest ratings for news and entertainment. Grupo Nación leads print and digital media, owning major newspapers La Nación, El Financiero, and La Teja, plus several radio stations. State-owned SINART operates public television and radio but faces restrictions during elections. Digital-only outlets like CRHoy have emerged as significant players reaching urban audiences.
The regulatory framework governing Costa Rica's media is distributed across several institutions with distinct mandates. SUTEL oversees telecommunications sector, including licensing and technical compliance, while Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones exercises authority over media conduct during elections. The Constitutional Court, established in 1989, has emerged as one of the most powerful courts in the Americas with binding decisions on press freedom cases.
Costa Rica's media landscape has undergone significant digital transformation, with internet penetration reaching 92.6% of the population as of 2025. Mobile devices serve as the primary access point for 80% of users accessing news and content. Social media is dominated by Facebook with 73% market share, followed by Instagram and Pinterest.
Historical shifts have profoundly shaped the current landscape. The 1948 Civil War established Costa Rica's commitment to democracy and abolition of military, creating unique press freedom environment. For decades, state-owned ICE maintained telecommunications monopoly until CAFTA-DR implementation in 2009 liberalized the sector. Since President Rodrigo Chaves assumed office in 2022, press freedom indicators have declined from 5th place globally in 2021 to 36th in 2025.
Internet penetration in Costa Rica has reached 92.6% of the population (4.76 million users) as of January 2025, with only 7.4% remaining offline. Mobile devices serve as the primary access point for 80% of users accessing news and content, with internet adoption especially high among younger demographics. Social media dominance is led by Facebook with 73% market share, followed by Instagram (12.4%), Pinterest (7.6%), and YouTube (2.1%), while Messenger counts 65.9% penetration among the population.
Video-focused platforms show especially high user rates with YouTube reaching 3.83 million users and TikTok 3.43 million adults, reflecting shifting preferences toward video streaming and social content. Traditional media including television, radio, and print experience ongoing declines, particularly among younger groups who favor digital alternatives. Television remains widely accessible but faces declining share as younger audiences migrate to streaming and on-demand platforms, while radio and print experience marked decreases in readership and advertising revenue.
Digital and internet services lead in revenue generation, accounting for 58.1% of telecom/media revenue (2024), with the media sector revenue projected at US$16.7 million in 2025 flowing primarily to digital formats. YouTube and TikTok attract major advertising investments reflecting viewer migration toward short-form and on-demand video, while Facebook and Instagram maintain high ad market shares due to their large, engaged user bases. Traditional TV, radio, and print advertising spend continues to decline following the reduction in audience size and engagement, particularly outside older and rural demographics.
On-demand content is rapidly overtaking live broadcasting, especially among younger populations who prioritize flexible viewing via streaming platforms and culturally relevant digital content. Live content retains importance for sports, news, and communal events, still attracting older and rural viewers, though overall live TV viewership is declining as cord-cutting and digital migration accelerate. Multi-platform consumption is now the norm, with many users accessing several media types on multiple devices daily, and younger audiences setting trends toward short-form, hyper-local, and interactive media experiences.
| Metric Category | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration | 92.6% | 4.76 million active users as of January 2025 |
| Social Media Users | 74.5% | 3.83 million users with Facebook at 73% market share |
| Mobile Internet Access | 80% | Primary access point for news and content |
| Media Market Revenue | US$16.7 Million | Projected for 2025 with majority flowing to digital |
| Digital & Internet Services | 58.1% | Share of telecom/media revenue (2024) |
While there are no dedicated national surveys quantifying public trust in Costa Rica's media specifically, available reports indicate that trust is under strain due to a hostile political environment. The government, particularly under President Rodrigo Chaves since 2022, has been accused of using verbal attacks, economic pressure such as withholding state advertising from critical outlets, and fostering a climate of intimidation against journalists. Press freedom indicators have declined from 5th place globally in 2021 to 36th in 2025, reflecting deteriorating conditions for media independence.
Television remains a key media channel, with Costa Rican viewers spending approximately 2.7 hours per day watching TV on average, slightly below the Latin American average. Radio is widely consumed and remains highly popular with average listening time around 2 hours daily, giving Costa Rica higher radio engagement than most neighboring countries. Mobile apps for radio have shown growing download numbers and active user trends in 2025, indicating increased digital radio consumption among audiences.
Podcasts are gaining popularity but remain a minority activity compared to broadcast radio, with approximately 10–15% of Costa Ricans listening to podcasts weekly in line with global trends. Younger and urban audiences are the main podcast consumers, reflecting global patterns and smartphone penetration. Urban populations have higher adoption rates of smartphones and internet-based media formats including streaming and social media, while rural populations rely more heavily on radio and broadcast television due to less robust internet infrastructure and device accessibility.
