12 April 2007

Alert

Minister ratifies non-renewal of broadcasting license for RCTV television station


Incident details

television station(s)

legal action

This is available in:

English Español
(IPYS/IFEX) - On 29 March 2007, information and telecommunications minister Jesse Chacón confirmed in a press conference that the broadcast concession of the private television station RCTV would not be renewed.

The minister explained that the government, in its capacity as owner of broadcasting frequencies, decided it would reserve RCTV's frequency, after the expiration of its current license on 27 May, for the use of a planned new public television station.

Chacón ratified the government's decision in response to a letter from RCTV, sent to the minister on 24 January, in which the station requested information on the status of the decision.

RCTV, one of the oldest television stations in the country and one that is critical of the current government, announced that it would challenge the decision in national and international courts.

The decision not to renew the license was originally announced by President Hugo Chávez on 28 December 2006, as part of his end-of-year address.



Source:

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad
Sucre N° 317
Barranco, Lima
Perú
alertas (@) ipys.org
Phone: +51 1 2474465
Fax: +51 1 2473194
 

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More on this case

Government forces RCTV to stop cable and satellite broadcasting 1 August 2007 Government could make RCTV unavailable by cable on 1 August 27 July 2007 RCTV ceases broadcasting, amid escalating reactions to government's decision to not renew its frequency concession 30 May 2007 New public television broadcaster to use RCTV frequency; RCTV will be limited to operating by cable or satellite 29 May 2007 Non-renewal of RCTV license a threat to media pluralism, will cost 2,000 their jobs, says IFJ 26 April 2007 Other media outlets less critical in wake of "predetermined" non-renewal of RCTV licence, says CPJ report 25 April 2007 AMARC says automatic renewal of broadcasting licenses "inappropriate and unjust", that RCTV "violated citizens' right to information" during 2002 coup 20 April 2007 Government considering three options for privately-owned broadcaster RCTV 2 January 2007 IAPA condemns President Chávez's non-renewal of television network's license 29 December 2006 Future of private television network may be subject to referendum and its broadcast frequency offered to cooperatives 21 December 2006

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