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Honduras's media landscape is overwhelmingly dominated by private ownership concentrated in the hands of a few powerful conglomerates with deep political and economic ties. Two major groups control the print sector: OPSA owns La Prensa and El Heraldo, while Periódicos y Revistas S.A. operates La Tribuna, El País, and Diario Más. Television is even more concentrated, with Grupo Televicentro (owned by Rafael Ferrari) controlling channels 3, 5, and 7, commanding nearly half the market share. Former President Carlos Roberto Flores owns La Tribuna, exemplifying the direct ownership of media by political elites. Public media remains marginal, with only Canal 8 (Televisión Nacional de Honduras) operating as a state-owned outlet, and community media comprising just three stations.
The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) serves as the primary regulatory authority, appointed directly by the executive branch, creating concerns about independence. Key regulatory challenges include the Framework Law on Telecommunications (Decree 185-95) which governs broadcasting but favors market-driven allocation through auctions, effectively excluding community and indigenous media from accessing frequencies. The controversial "secrecy law" (2014-2022) classified government documents for up to 25 years, severely restricting investigative journalism on corruption and national security issues until its repeal. The lack of an independent media regulator and the automatic renewal of broadcast permits to established players perpetuate oligopolistic control while marginalizing alternative voices.
Digital transformation has gradually reshaped Honduras's media environment, with internet penetration reaching 65.8 percent of the population (7.19 million users) by 2025, though significant urban-rural divides persist. Social media has become increasingly important, with 4.45 million Facebook users and 2 million Instagram users, while WhatsApp dominates messaging with approximately 70 percent penetration among smartphone users. The 2009 military coup marked a watershed moment that continues to define the media landscape, triggering widespread censorship, violence against journalists, and polarization between pro-coup mainstream outlets and opposition media like Radio Globo and Canal 36. A pending Cybersecurity decree threatens online expression by requiring content removal within 24 hours of complaints, raising censorship concerns.
Internet penetration stands at 65.8% (7.19 million users) as of January 2025, continuing to grow moderately year-over-year, though around 34.2% of the population remains offline. Growth rates are gradually slowing, indicating maturation in urban and younger cohorts while rural and older segments lag behind in adoption.
Social media has 4.62 million user identities (42.3% penetration) with nearly even gender distribution. Facebook dominates with over 66% of the market share, followed by Instagram (~11%), Pinterest (~10%), and YouTube (~9%). X (formerly Twitter) has low reach at 3.9% of the total population. Television remains a primary source for news and entertainment, especially among older and lower-income demographics, while radio continues to be relevant in rural areas and for lower-income groups.
Younger internet users increasingly prefer on-demand streaming (YouTube, Facebook Video, Instagram, TikTok), with YouTube ad reach covering over 64% of the internet-using population. Hondurans, especially under 35, often multitask while watching traditional TV and using social media or messaging apps on mobile devices. The vast majority access on-demand video and social platforms via mobile rather than desktop, reflecting strong mobile internet penetration. Advertising investment is shifting strongly toward digital, especially social media and online video platforms, with social media advertising expected to reach US$30.86 million in 2025.
| Demographic | Preferred Medium/Genre | Influence on Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Age: 18–34 | Online media, social media, entertainment, viral news | Lower trust in traditional outlets; more likely to use digital platforms |
| Age: 35+ | Television news, radio, print newspapers | Traditional channels still important, but trust is still low |
| Urban | Online media, diverse content genres | Higher technology adoption; greater skepticism of state and traditional media |
| Rural | Radio, community media, television | Limited broadband penetration; trust in community sources may be higher locally |
| Women (esp. Millennials) | Empathetic and transparent leadership in business, some preference for alternative media | Female business/media leaders gaining trust; seek relatable content |
| Socioeconomic Status | Lower SES: radio/TV; higher SES: internet/social media | Affordability and access influence media platform choice and trust levels |
Public trust in the media is low across traditional channels such as television, radio, newspapers, and online news platforms. Fewer than 6% of Hondurans list "the media" among institutions they trust most, placing it alongside the judiciary and government institutions and substantially below private business, churches, and universities. Traditional media is widely perceived as subject to state intervention, economic and political influence, and self-censorship, contributing to ongoing distrust and the search for alternative sources. The Honduran private sector has become the most trusted institution (over 83% trust among "Informed Public"), highlighting a sharp decline in public confidence in media and other civic actors.
Television remains the dominant medium, controlling over half the market share, especially for news, telenovelas, and variety shows. News content is highly consumed but not highly trusted, driving audiences—especially younger and more urban demographics—to seek information via social media and online platforms. Declining trust in traditional media has accelerated over the past decade due to violence against journalists, censorship, and perceived bias. Social networks and online communities increasingly serve as alternative channels for information, being perceived as less subject to governmental or business interests, though these too face challenges with information quality and reliability.
