The Independent Television Network (ITN) is a Sri Lankan media company that operates a television and radio network broadcasting in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. The broadcaster currently runs two television and two radio stations.
Media assets
Television: ITN TV, Vasantham TV
Radio: Lakhanda FM, Vasantham FM
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
After operating initially as a privately held company and then as a government-owned enterprise, ITN was converted in 1992 into a public company under state supervision. All its shares are now under the control of the Secretary of the Treasury of the Government of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the government appoints the ITN governing board. It is not uncommon for the ITN chair to be a former government official. In January 2022, Niroshan Premaratne, a former MP, was appointed to the position of chairman at ITN.
Source of funding and budget
ITN generates revenue from commercial sources, which represent the majority of the broadcaster’s budget. In 2020, ITN generated income of LKR 1.5bn (US$ 8m), according to an annual report from the finance ministry. The company received a state subsidy of less than 20% of the total budget in 2020.
In 2023, ITN generated total income of LKR 1.68bn (equivalent to US$ 5.1m). The company incurred a loss of LKR 181m (equivalent to US$ 554,000), according to data from the finance ministry.
Editorial independence
Local experts and journalists interviewed for this report in May 2023 and September 2024 have indicated that the government exerts full control over the editorial coverage of ITN through its appointment of the ITN’s main governing body. In all cases, the individuals at the top of ITN’s governing bodies are people who have worked in the government or have been appointed by the government to lead public institutions.
To date, no domestic statute or independent assessment or oversight mechanism that would validate ITN’s editorial independence has been identified.
September 2024