Sistema Estatal de Radio y Television (SERTV)

SERTV has a television program schedule that includes news, sports (particularly baseball), culture and religious ceremonies. Its radio programming is similar, consisting of two main radio stations, Nacional FM and Crisol Radio (FM).


Media assets

Television: SERTV

Radio: Crisol, Nacional FM

State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)


Ownership and governance

SERTV was established by Law No. 58 of 2005 as a public law entity with legal personality. The highest authority in SERTV is an Advisory Board (Consejo Directivo). Most of the positions on this board, including its head, are under government control. The Board is chaired by the Minister of Education, another seat is held by the Minister of Government and Justice (through the National Directorate for Social Communication Media), another one by the Rector of the University of Panama, two other positions are reserved for MPs (members of the national assembly), and one for each the National Council of Education and the General Government Comptroller’s Office. Two members are appointed from civil society (but they are also proposed by the government). SERTV’s operations are managed by a board of directors with a general director as well as two deputy directors (one responsible for radio and the other for television broadcasting). The mandate of the general director is for five years and is currently held (until 2024) by Giselle González.

Source of funding and budget

The budget of SERTV consists almost entirely of financing from the state budget although the broadcaster is allowed to receive donations and sell its services, according to the law. The budget allocated for 2020 from the state was a total of PAB 19.4m (US$ 19.4m). In 2021, the allocation remained more or less the same, according to the latest budget reports from SERTV.

Editorial independence

SERTV describes itself as an entity guided by impartiality and pluralism, according to Law No. 58 that established the company, but in reality it is a pro-government outlet. The same law stipulates that SERTV’s mission is to promote and disseminate “the cultural and educational policies of the Panamanian State in coordination with the Ministry of Education and the University of Panama.”

The government has leverage on the editorial agenda of the broadcaster mostly as a result of its control, through the Ministry of Education, of the broadcaster’s governance structures (including the director of the organization who is appointed by the government).

Complimentary articles and friendly interviews with government officials are a common trend on SERTV even when it comes to entertainment shows. For example, the show Conectados, an entertainment program catering to young audiences, regularly features government officials who talk about their work achievements related to youth. A Profundidad (In-Depth), a news program led by journalist Carlos Rivera, routinely cites statements of government officials and highlights the government’s actions. The same tone is present in the content published on the SERTV’s website.

SERTV has a code of ethics that guides the work of its journalists as well as an internal regulation that sets key rules guiding the organization’s performance. However, no regulations or statutes and no independent assessment mechanism that guarantee SERTV’s editorial independence have been identified.

August 2023