RCTV returns by cable TV (updated)

Caracas.-  On Wednesday  July 11, 2007, RCTV President Marcel Granier announced his embattled TV station will start transmitting again on 16 July. This time RCTV will be broadcasted by TV cable subscription only. At the beginning, only few local cable network companies -Direct TV, Intercable and Net Uno -will carry its signals. RCTV still negotiates with other cable TV providers to reach its wide and popular audience across the country. It might reach the caribbean and Latin American too. But now RCTV mostly hopes to return as an open signal TV station.  Venezuelan government decided to revoke RCTV broadcasting license from May 27, 2007. Next day, a new public service television TVES started on the very same air frequency allocated to RCTV in the past. Opposition parties immediately rejected cancellation decision. Many criticized the cancellation and staged public protests. They cried for freedom of expression.  Pro government groups supported cancellation decision as legal and popular. They claimed it as a democratization step towards freedom of expression. They also made a distinction between freedom of enterprise and Human Rights. The debate still goes on.TVES has experienced enormous difficulties to lure the audience. News department staff has been fired.  Such notorious action was followed by shows rescheduling. TVES still tries to keep up to its promise.

 

PS: On Monday 16 July 2007, opposition aligned RCTV resume broadcasting by cable and sattelite.   RCTV President Marcel Granier said the obstacles they faced following cancellation of their broadcast license would be seized as an opportunity to expand and innovate. According to Aljazeera, Pedro Carreno, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Venezuela's Home and justice minister, said RCTV's move to cable and satellite television was "a clear demonstration that Venezuela's government does not infringe on any right".  BBC stated just 25% of Venezuelan would be able to get RCTV by cable. This is rather a short audience.

Sources: Unionradio, El Universal, Globovision, PR BBC Aljazeera

Related stories:

May 27th, 2007: RCTV cancellation day.

May 28th, 2007: TVES inauguration.