In September 2011, Algeria ended its de facto state monopoly over radio and television. Recent legislation has allowed for several TV channels to become privately owned, although the majorityof these broadcast from abroad. The press enjoys more freedom than radio and TV but is also subject to several legal constraints.
New legislation for the media from 2012 onwards represents a step towards meeting international standards on freedom of the press and market deregulation, but some severe limitations have been maintained and, in certain cases, reinforced.