BRAZIL

• Capital City: Brasilia
  
• Population: 178.4 million (UN, 2003)
  
• Major language: Portuguese
  
• Major religion: Christianity
  
• Life expectancy: 64 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
  
• Monetary unit: 1 real = 100 centavos
  
• Main exports: Manufactured goods, iron ore, coffee, oranges, other agricultural produce
  
• Average annual income: US$3,070 (World Bank, 2001)
  
• Internet domain: .br
  
• International dialling code: +55

THE MEDIA

Brazil's constitution guarantees a free press and vigorous media debate about controversial political and social matters is common.

• The Press
  
  • O Dia - Rio de Janeiro daily
    
  • O Correio Brazilense - influential broadsheet
    
  • O Globo - Globo-owned Rio de Janeiro daily
    
  • Jornal do Brasil - Rio de Janeiro daily
    
  • Folha de Sao Paulo - daily
    
  • O Estado de Sao Paulo - daily
    
    
    
• Television
  
  • TV Band - commercial network operated by Grupo Bandeirantes
    
  • Rede Globo - major commercial network operated by Globo
    
  • Sistema Brasileiro de Televisao (SBT) - major commercial network
    
  • TV Record - major commercial network
    
  • NBR - operated by state-run Radiobras
    
  • Rede TV - commercial network
    
  • TV Cultura - public TV network with educational, cultural programming
    
    
    
• Radio
  
  • Radio Nacional - FM and mediumwave (AM) network operated by state-run Radiobras
    
  • Radio Globo - commercial network operated by Globo
    
  • Radio Eldorado - affiliated to O Estado de Sao Paolo newspaper, operates mediumwave (AM) news station and FM music station
    
  • Radio Bandeirantes - network operated by Grupo Bandeirantes
    
  • Radio Cultura - public radio network, cultural programming

• News agency
  • Agencia Brasil - state-owned
    
  • Agencia Estado - Sao Paolo-based
    
  • Agencia Globo