Sistema Nacional de Televisión owns the following channels in Nicaragua:

• Canal 6 Nicaragüense

Established in 1957 under the Somoza regime, Canal 6 was nationalized in 1979 after the Sandinista revolution and later declared bankrupt in 1997. It was reactivated in 2011 by the Ortega government and now serves as the flagship state broadcaster, fully funded and operated by the presidency through the state-owned company NEPISA.

• Canal 8 (Televisora Nicaragüense-TN8 or TeleNica)

Formerly a privately run channel founded by businessman Carlos Briceño, TN8 was sold in 2010 to a group of investors tied to the Ortega family, reportedly financed by Venezuela’s ALBA cooperation fund. Since the takeover, the channel’s editorial stance has shifted to overtly support the Ortega administration. It is currently directed by Juan Carlos Ortega, son of the president.

• Canal 4 (Multinoticias)

Previously owned by Nueva Imagen, S.A., Canal 4 was acquired by Intrasa, a company linked to the FSLN. Since 2017, it has been formally owned by FSLN-affiliated entrepreneur David Pereira. The channel is managed by presidential sons Daniel Edmundo and Carlos Enrique Ortega.

• Viva Nicaragua-Canal 13

A generalist television station headquartered in Managua, Viva Nicaragua was absorbed by SNTV after a contentious dispute over its ownership. It is now controlled by other children of the president—Camilia, Luciana, and Maurice Ortega.

• Canal 15 Nicaragüense

Launched in 2011 as an educational and cultural broadcaster, Canal 15 was repurposed in 2018 to operate on the frequency previously used by 100% Noticias, a prominent independent outlet forcibly shut down by the government.

• La Rock 22

A state-aligned radio station launched in 2020 and managed by Juan Carlos Ortega. It features a mix of music and government-aligned content aimed at younger audiences.

Media assets

Television: Canal 6, Canal 8, Canal 4 Multinoticias, Viva Nicaragua, Canal 15 Nicaraguense

Radio: La Rock 22

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

SNTV’s media assets are either state-owned or privately held by individuals and entities with direct ties to the Ortega-Murillo family and the FSLN. Editorial control is centralized within the presidency. The governing structures of these outlets are staffed by Ortega family members or close allies, blurring the line between state and party media. Canal 6 remains formally state-owned and is directly operated by the executive branch, while the rest are nominally private but in practice function as government mouthpieces.

Except for Canal 6, which remains formally state-owned and operated directly by the Nicaraguan government through NEPISA, all other channels under Sistema Nacional de Televisión were originally private broadcasters. These outlets were gradually acquired over the past decade and a half by individuals or corporate entities closely linked to the presidency, particularly through opaque networks tied to the FSLN’s economic apparatus.

Canal 4 was formally acquired in 2017 by David Pereira, an entrepreneur known for his political alignment with the FSLN. However, internal management and editorial operations are overseen by Daniel Edmundo and Carlos Enrique Ortega, two sons of President Daniel Ortega, effectively placing the channel under direct familial control.

Canal 8 has been under the direction of Juan Carlos Ortega, another son of the president, since its acquisition in 2010by a group of investors linked to the Ortega family. The purchase was reportedly financed by funds from ALBA, the Venezuela-led regional cooperation agreement, and has since functioned as one of the administration’s key propaganda platforms. As of 2024, Juan Carlos continues to serve as the channel’s director and oversees its associated media ventures, including La Rock 22.

Viva Nicaragua – Canal 13, originally a private generalist channel, was taken over by the government after a protracted dispute over its ownership structure. By 2022, its operations were fully integrated into the SNTV network and are now overseen by Ortega’s daughters Camilia, Luciana, and Maurice, solidifying its role in the government’s media infrastructure.

Canal 15 Nicaragüense, launched in 2018, was established on the frequency previously used by 100% Noticias, an independent broadcaster that was forcibly shut down by authorities. This takeover followed a wave of media suppression that began in late 2018, as the government intensified its crackdown on critical journalism in the wake of mass protests.

These takeovers were frequently carried out without transparency, often via proxies or shell companies with close FSLN ties, reinforcing Nicaragua’s status as one of the most tightly controlled media environments in Latin America.

Source of funding and budget

SNTV’s outlets receive over 50% of their financing from the state budget, with Canal 6 depending almost entirely on public funds. Channels such as Canal 8 are also heavily subsidized through state advertising contracts, often exceeding half of their annual revenue, according to interviews with Nicaraguan media experts conducted in May 2024.

Due to the lack of transparency and the centralized control of media outlets by the government and the ruling party, obtaining precise budgetary figures for SNTV remains challenging. The absence of publicly accessible, detailed financial reports for SNTV underscores the broader issues of limited transparency and accountability within Nicaragua’s state-controlled media landscape.

Editorial independence

Led and managed by individuals closely tied to the Ortega-Murillo family, the television channels under Sistema Nacional de Televisión (SNTV) strictly adhere to an editorial line that amplifies government narratives and promotes the interests of the ruling FSLN party. Independent journalism has been systematically eliminated from these platforms. Most programs that previously offered critical or investigative content were either canceled or replaced following government takeovers, and nearly all independent journalists formerly associated with these outlets have resigned or been pushed out.

One notable case is that of Carlos F. Chamorro, a respected journalist who hosted the investigative news program Esta Semana on Canal 8. He resigned in 2010 immediately after the channel’s acquisition by a group tied to the Ortega family, denouncing the new ownership for turning the outlet into a propaganda tool. His departure marked the beginning of a broader purge of dissenting voices within Nicaragua’s media landscape.

As of 2025, no domestic legislation or independent regulatory body exists to guarantee or assess the editorial independence of SNTV-affiliated channels. The absence of oversight, combined with direct familial and political control, reinforces the view that SNTV functions not as a public service broadcaster but as a centralized instrument of state propaganda.

May 2025

Media assets

Radio: Radio Nicaragua

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Radio Nicaragua is fully owned by the Nicaraguan government and operated under the authority of the Presidency. Management appointments are made directly by the executive branch, with no public competition or parliamentary oversight. According to local media analysts interviewed in May 2024 and January 2025, the station’s leadership structure is composed of individuals loyal to the Ortega-Murillo administration, reinforcing its status as a government-run outlet.

Source of funding and budget

The broadcaster is entirely financed through public funds. According to financial data reviewed by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), Radio Nicaragua operated with a state-approved budget of NIO 23.8 million (approximately US$ 660,000) in 2022. According to the official 2024 General Budget of the Republic of Nicaragua, Radio Nicaragua was allocated a total of NIO 22.9 million for the fiscal year 2024. This amount is fully funded by the Nicaraguan government.

Editorial independence

Radio Nicaragua maintains a strictly pro-government editorial line. Its programming heavily promotes the Presidency and the ruling FSLN party, regularly broadcasting speeches by President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, as well as content that reinforces the government’s political narratives. The station functions primarily as a communication arm of the executive, with no evidence of pluralism, critical reporting, or space for dissenting views.

No domestic law or statute guarantees editorial independence for Radio Nicaragua. Furthermore, there is no independent regulatory body or media oversight mechanism to assess or enforce editorial standards, leaving the station fully exposed to political influence and executive control.

May 2025

Media assets

Radio: Radio Sandino, La Tuani, Futura, Clasica, VIVA FM

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

CODISA is owned and managed by members of the Ortega-Murillo family. According to an investigative report by Confidencial published in February 2022, the company is controlled by Rafael Ortega Murillo, one of President Daniel Ortega’s sons. The report detailed the opaque ownership structure behind CODISA and underscored its function as a media asset of the presidential family.

Management appointments at CODISA are made directly by individuals within the president’s inner circle, ensuring tight political control over the company’s operations. The absence of independent corporate governance mechanisms further consolidates this control.

Source of funding and budget

CODISA receives a significant portion of its revenue from Nicaraguan government sources, primarily through state advertising contracts and institutional sponsorships. According to local journalists interviewed in Managua in June 2024, public sector advertising accounts for a substantial share of CODISA’s operational budget. Although the company also generates revenue through private advertising, these streams are marginal in comparison and often depend on businesses aligned with the ruling party.

Editorial independence

The editorial direction of CODISA’s radio stations is firmly aligned with the Nicaraguan government. The content broadcast across its network is largely propagandistic, regularly amplifying state narratives and promoting the image of President Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. Critical perspectives or opposition viewpoints are entirely absent from CODISA’s programming.

As of 2025, there is no legal framework or independent regulatory body in Nicaragua tasked with overseeing or guaranteeing the editorial independence of private media companies like CODISA. This lack of oversight allows the stations to function effectively as state-aligned broadcasters under private ownership.

May 2025

Media assets

Radio: La Nueva Radio Ya

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Radio Nueva Ya is owned by the Nicaraguan government through a private entity called Entretenimiento Digital, a company reportedly managed by individuals close to the presidential family. The station’s leadership is handpicked by the Presidency, typically drawn from among journalists loyal to the Sandinista movement. This structure ensures that editorial and operational decisions remain tightly aligned with the political interests of the government.

Source of funding and budget

According to journalists and local media observers interviewed in May 2024 and January 2025, Radio Nueva Ya is fully financed by the Nicaraguan government. While there are no official figures published for its 2024 or 2025 budgets, the station operates with extensive access to public advertising and institutional funding. No independent audits or budgetary disclosures have been made publicly available, and financial data remains opaque.

Editorial independence

Radio Nueva Ya is editorially controlled by the government and consistently promotes the narratives of the Ortega-Murillo administration. Its programming features political messaging that aligns closely with government priorities, and its on-air journalists are openly supportive of the FSLN. The station frequently broadcasts live coverage of speeches by President Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, along with regular segments praising government policies and attacking dissenters.

As of 2025, there is no domestic law guaranteeing the editorial independence of Radio Nueva Ya, nor does any independent oversight body monitor its content. The station’s role is widely understood to be that of a government propaganda outlet rather than a source of impartial journalism.

May 2025

Media assets

Radio: La Voz del Sandinismo

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

According to local journalists in Managua interviewed for this report in May 2024 and January 2025, La Voz del Sandinismo is directly affiliated with the FSLN’s communications apparatus. Though formally presented as a media outlet, its governance and editorial direction are fully controlled by the party leadership. The website and its associated social media accounts are administered by individuals appointed by the FSLN’s central command, with no separation between political messaging and journalistic practice.

Source of funding and budget

As of May 2025, there is no financial transparency regarding the funding of La Voz del Sandinismo. Its operations are presumed to be supported by a combination of party funds and undisclosed public resources. No oversight body or independent institution monitors its activities or spending. Its role further exemplifies the deep fusion of party, state, and media in Nicaragua’s authoritarian information ecosystem.

Editorial independence

The publication’s content is entirely partisan, designed to promote the image of President Daniel Ortega, Vice President Rosario Murillo, and the broader Sandinista political agenda. It routinely publishes favorable reports on government programs, reprints official communiqués, and aggressively attacks critics, opposition parties, and independent journalists.

There is no editorial independence or journalistic neutrality; La Voz del Sandinismo serves strictly as a communication arm of the ruling party.

May 2025

Media assets

Digital portal: El 19 Digital

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

According to local journalists in Managua interviewed for this report in May 2024 and January 2025, El 19 Digital is managed by media operatives closely tied to the Ortega-Murillo family and functions as an integrated part of the FSLN’s broader communications network.

While it is not formally owned by the government, its editorial operations are politically directed by FSLN-affiliated actors. The platform is frequently used to republish government statements, presidential speeches, and party-driven narratives without any independent reporting or journalistic scrutiny.

Source of funding and budget

There is no publicly disclosed information on the funding of El 19 Digital. However, its operations are widely understood to be sustained by state advertising, public institutional support, and indirect subsidies. As of 2025, there are no independent audits or budget reports available for the outlet, reflecting the broader lack of financial transparency in Nicaragua’s state-aligned media sector.

Editorial independence

El 19 Digital functions as a partisan mouthpiece for the FSLN. It consistently promotes the activities of President Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, highlights government initiatives in a favorable light, and portrays the opposition as destabilizing or foreign-influenced. There is no space for critical journalism or dissenting opinions.

May 2025

Media assets

Publishing: Barricada

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

According to interviews with local journalists in Managua in May 2024 and January 2025, Barricada Digital is directly managed by the FSLN, with all strategic and editorial decisions made by the party’s central communications apparatus. The outlet operates as a digital extension of the party’s political messaging and is not subject to independent governance or journalistic standards.

Source of funding and budget

Barricada Digital is fully funded by the Nicaraguan government through channels controlled by the FSLN, including state advertising and institutional sponsorships. While there are no publicly available figures detailing its 2024 budget, local sources confirm that it operates entirely with public support, mirroring the opaque financing structures of other government-aligned media in Nicaragua.

Editorial independence

Barricada Digital demonstrates no editorial independence. As confirmed by content analysis conducted for this project in April 2024, the portal’s output is overwhelmingly devoted to praising government actions, promoting the image of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, and attacking opposition leaders and independent media. The platform functions primarily as an ideological and rhetorical tool of the ruling party.

As of May 2025, there is no domestic statute guaranteeing Barricada’s editorial independence, nor does any oversight mechanism or regulatory body exist to evaluate its operations. It is effectively a digital propaganda arm of the FSLN.

May 2025