He is married and has two sons. In general, the mass media are less a forum for the popular expression of views or the open analysis of public policy, and more an instrument of communication for the government to the population. Most Uzbek nationals get their news from television. Newspapers and radio are far less influential. Most newspapers are owned and controlled by the government, state-owned companies, political parties or state organizations.
Private newspapers are generally weeklies that focus on business.
Although the government has announced that radio and television must become fully self-financing, it is unlikely that this will occur at any time in the near future. Approximately twenty non-government TV stations broadcast outside the capital to regional audiences. They support themselves through advertising and other commercial means. To remain on the air, they all must tread a very thin line in their programming that avoids overt or even implied criticism of the government and its polices. The American Embassy has conveyed to the government its concerns that the grounds for the closings are highly dubious and seem more political than technical.