Nicaragua’s national TV news channels are 2, 8, 12, and 63. Channel 2 and 12 both offer news programs at midday and at 6pm. Channel 8, which claims to be the most-watched news coverage in the country, specializes in covering crime, street fights and bloody accidents (they often arrive on crime scenes minutes after the police do and like to interview people as they are bleeding on the street). Channel 63, 100% Noticias, is Nicaragua’s answer to 24-hour news coverage. They offer more thorough coverage of events, but can be shamelessly self­promotional.

Cable TV, provided through Nicaragua service provider Estesa, give you most U.S. news channels, as well as the BBC. Cable also provides most U.S. channels, such as HBO, ESPN, TNT, TBS, Sony, Cinemax, MTV, FOX and, tragically, E!

Estesa has offices in every major city and most towns in Nicaragua. To contact the main office in Managua call: Tel: (505) 277-0525, 278-0849, Fax: (505) 278-1127 E-mail: estesa@cablenet.con.ni or estesa@interlink.com.ni www.interlink.com/ni-estesa. In Granada call: 552-7335. Their office is located in the center of the city.

Direct TV, Hospital Monte España 70 meters to the lake, Managua Nicaragua (Tel: (505) 270-6767, Fax:(505)278-7537, E-mail:ventas@directtv.com.ni) is available throughout Nicaragua. You can either rent a Direct TV satellite system for $179 installation, $33/month basic-service charge, or buy it for $399 installation, $25/month basic-service charge. Direct TV service allows you to have all the U.S. channels with special “Pay Per View” options, as well as the ability to purchase special NFL, NBA, MLB and College Game Day sports packages to follow your favorite hometown team.

Most of Nicaragua’s 30 or 40 radio stations play Latin, pop and reggaeton music, with half a dozen news radio programs. Several stations also play U.S. and British rock and pop hits from the 1970s and 80s. Radio Hoya, FM 103.85, plays a selection of U.S. music from the 80s and 90s.