Miami (January 25, 2010)–The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today strongly condemned the closing of RCTV Internacional and several cable television channels in Venezuela and criticized “the government’s intolerance of press freedom and its interference in the people’s right to decide what media they want to get their information from.”
The National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL), headed by Communications Minister Diosdado Cabello, asked television subscriber operators to shut down the signal of Radio Caracas Televisión Internacional (RCTV) and at least five other channels for alleged violation of rules set forth in the Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television by refusing to air speeches by President Hugo Chávez in a national network.
The order went into effect at midnight last night, following a public announcement by Chávez and Cabello during the president’s traditional Sunday address to the nation.
RCTV had to shut off its broadcast signal In May 2007 when the government refused to renew its license.
IAPA President Alejandro Aguirre declared, “We must continue to criticize and condemn the acts of a government which for years now has relied on intolerant and anti-free press laws to shut down news media and limit critical and independent editorial positions. This is entirely against the right of every individual to receive and share information freely.”
Aguirre, managing editor of the Miami, Florida, Spanish-language newspaper Diario Las Américas, added, “We are faced with behavior that can only be viewed as a strike against the right of free speech and the people’s right to information.”
CONATEL’s decision was based on the December 22, 2009 National Audiovisual Production Technical Standards which established new classifications for international and national pay-tv channels. Both RCTV Internacional and the other networks were categorized as national media and thus required to register under the Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television which regulates program and advertising content.
RCTV Internacional filed a formal appeal with the Supreme Court against the government reclassification that labels it national audiovisual producer. According to the company’s press release, it is the leading subscription TV channel, with a 63% market share. T
he IAPA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of freedom of the press and of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 print publications from throughout the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida. For more information, please go to http://www.sipiapa.org
