Seychellois strive to beat media control.

State domination of Seychelles' media could be undermined in the years ahead as Seychellois are increasingly turning to the Internet, cable and satellite TV channels from overseas.

Viewers with satellite dishes can now tune into a host of overseas channels, as possession of satellite dishes for personal use is now legal in Seychelles. Although most of these channels simply offer Western-style entertainment and talk shows, yet they are still more popular than any other programmes available on state-run TV.

The satellite dishes approval procedures was last revised in January 2004. As of then, a licence fee of SR2000 per annum or SR8000 for five years exists for satellite dishes greater than 1.8m but equal to 2.4m for private use.

To date some 150 licences have been issued for personal usage, leisure centers, small hotel, guesthouses, large hotels and establishments.

An environmental fee also exists varying according to the size of the dish ranging from SR1000 to SR15, 000 (for dishes from 0m to 3.6m or more), whilst a 25% trade tax is applicable on all imported satellite dishes.

Meanwhile, since its inception just over a year ago, the sole cable television provider, Intervision has a consumer base of 3500 households. A company spokesperson says Intervision has a growth of 150 new connections per month.

Within Seychelles, the broadcast media are firmly under state control. A licences fee of SR800, 000 for private channel has long been criticised as too exorbitant by critics. The state broadcaster runs one TV channels and two radio networks.

The situation has since led to an explosion in the number of Internet users in Seychelles. With the setting up of three Internet Service Providers (ISPs), since the introduction of the worldwide web on these shores in 1996, the Internet is gaining wider appeal, not just among young people. Figures released by the department of Information and Communication Technology (MITC) shows an amount of 3501 Internet account holders up to March this year. However, the total the number of people online in Seychelles is still unknown,

But critics maintain that the high online fees, slow connection speeds and lack of access to computers means the Internet is still a luxury used mainly by high-earners Seychellois.