Through an historical analysis, an in-depth examination of Mexican legislation, and an evaluation of scholarly work, this thesis explores the relationship between the government of Mexico and the media, specifically television. The central hypothesis is that Mexican government regulations have been used to uphold the constitutional mandate requiring television media to serve the public interest. The analysis shows that the Mexican government has consistently favored commercial broadcasters over public interests. This is evident not only in written documents and in the manner in which the regulations have been implemented, but in the favoritism shown in the granting of government television concessions. The conclusion is that the Mexican government has been unsuccessful in promoting a television industry that safeguards the public interest. Instead, government actions have promoted private monopolies in the television industry which have rendered public broadcasting inefficient.
