▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 s . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁the ▁law ▁n ° ▁ 9 0 / 0 5 2 ▁on ▁social ▁communication ▁author ized ▁the ▁opening ▁of ▁private ▁media , ▁but ▁private ▁radio ▁and ▁television ▁broadcast ing ▁was ▁allowed ▁only ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁following ▁the ▁dec ree ▁n ° ▁ 2 0 0 0 / 1 5 8 . ▁The ▁liberal ization ▁of ▁the ▁audio - visual ▁sector ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁m ush room ing ▁of ▁private ▁television ▁stations ▁in ▁the ▁main ▁cities ▁of ▁the ▁country , ▁which ▁tried ▁to ▁beat ▁the ▁competition ▁of ▁state ▁television ▁with ▁programs ▁more ▁att un ed ▁to ▁the ▁interests ▁and ▁needs ▁of ▁the ▁population . ▁The ▁local ▁view ers ▁wel com ed ▁this ▁change ▁and ▁new ▁television ▁stations , ▁such ▁as ▁Canal ▁ 2 ▁International , ▁Equ ino xe ▁television , ▁and ▁ST V , ▁have ▁quickly ▁become ▁the ▁most ▁appreciated ▁by ▁the ▁public . ▁ ▁Even ▁in ▁the ▁new ▁liberal ized ▁media ▁environment , ▁government ▁maintain s ▁tight ▁control ▁over ▁television , ▁by ▁the ▁institution al ization ▁of ▁a ▁broadcast ing ▁license ▁for ▁audi ovis ual ▁explo itation . ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁article ▁ 1 5 ▁of ▁the ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁dec ree , ▁commercial ▁television ▁stations ▁must ▁pay ▁ 1 0 0 ▁million ▁fran cs ▁C FA ▁($ 1 9 2 , 0 0 0 ) ▁to ▁get ▁a ▁ten - year ▁license ▁by ▁the ▁Minister ▁of ▁Communic