Portugal media guide

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Portugal has a lively media scene

Portugal's commercial TVs have a lion's share of the viewing audience, and provide tough competition for the public broadcaster.

Public TV is operated by RTP. The main private networks are TVI and SIC. Multichannel TV is available via cable, satellite, digital terrestrial and internet protocol TV (IPTV). Cable is the dominant platform.

The public radio, RDP, competes with national commercial networks, Roman Catholic station Radio Renascenca and some 300 local and regional outlets.

Press freedom is guaranteed under the constitution. Defamation is a criminal offence but prosecutions are rare, says Freedom House.

There were 8.01 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 78% of the population (Internetworldstats.com). Facebook is the leading social media platform with 6.8 million users.

Press

  • - daily
  • - daily
  • - daily
  • - daily
  • - weekly
  • - English-language weekly
  • - English-language

Television

  • - public, operates RTP1, RTP2, news network RTP3 and external services RTP Africa, RTP Internacional
  • - commercial, channels include news station SIC Noticias
  • - commercial
  • - main pay-TV operator

Radio

  • - public, operates national networks, regional and external services
  • - national, commercial
  • - national, commercial
  • - church-run

News agency