Should RCTV be closed as a TV channel in Venezuela?

Realizado en el año 2007.

In 1953, one of the most innovating technological advances was brought to Venezuela. That new sensation was called Television, and from that moment on, life would not be so bored any more as it had come to take an important part in our homes. The first network installed in Venezuela was “Radio Caracas Television” or “RCTV” which gave the initial step into the world of communication in our country. Nowadays, it is the largest, most famous and controversial television station in the world of media. However, with the implementation of a new political system in Venezuela, the government has announced that this year the RCTV broadcasting license would not be renewed, since it seems to be affected by the critical performance of the channel. In fact, some people think that Radio Caracas Television has to be closed because it promotes aggression in its programs, and it also violates broadcasting laws based on the excuse of freedom of expression. However, I consider that RCTV should not be closed because it has good programs, and it is one of the TV channels in Venezuela in which people can receive and express their free speech.

        Some people in our country believe that Radio Caracas Television has to be closed because it promotes violence in its programs. One of the most controversial broadcasts is “La Entrevista”. It is a critical and political show which contains a very offensive speech. During the recording of it, some gestures done by the journalist Miguel Angel Rodriguez might be taken as repulsive and grotesque. However, I consider that RCTV should not be closed because it has good programs. There are some of them with educative content. The first one might be “¿Quién Quiere ser Millonario?” which is a television game show that offers very large cash prizes for correctly answering successive multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The second one could be “Bitácora” which is a guide of the most beautiful nature and touristic places of Venezuela. The third one may be “En 3 y 2”; it is an educational program in which students answer some questions in order to prove their knowledge in certain areas. In addition, this channel has some recreational programs. Firstly, it has “Radio Rochela”; it is the first comedy show in Venezuela andLatin America with more than 40 years on the air. Secondly, it has “Loco-video-Loco”; it is a program in which actors play tricks on people. Finally, it has “Fama Sudor y Lágrimas”; it is a very popular reality show in which young Venezuelan people sing in order to become famous and record their first CD. In short, RCTV contains some educational and recreational programs which are enjoyable and meaningful for people.

People also say that Radio Caracas Television violates broadcasting laws based on the excuse of freedom of expression. So, this part of the society agrees with the head of Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communications, William Lara (2007) who claims:

“RCTV does not tell the true to Venezuelans and it uses the media power to cheat their audience with false programs, distorted interviews, etc. Also, it incites war and adversely affects public order”.

       However, I think that it is one of the TV channels in Venezuela in which people receive and express their free speech without breaking laws. First, people do it because they need to be informed about all kind of news in the country. These will be politics, chronic or economic news related to our country or maybe around it. Another fact to be taken into account is that people can also express their opinions and problems in some public programs. These may be “El Observador”, “Alerta” or “Con la gente”. The first one is the name of Radio Caracas Television's news program. It airs three times a day, six days a week, and has several news advances throughout the day. The second one is a public program which presents, most of the time, real events or cases that are happening in our society. Finally “Con la gente” is a small daily report or advance in which people express their needs without censorship and ask for a solution of them. To sum up, in RCTV people are informed about the negative and positive news in the country, and also they express their opinions and problems about them.

      In conclusion, we know that Venezuela is going through for different changes nowadays, but the most important event that it is facing is related with the national broadcast television RCTV. The government has announced that this year the broadcasting license of this channel would not be renewed. People who agreed with it say that it promotes violence in its programs, and it also violates broadcasting laws based on the excuse of freedom of expression, something that I consider untrue. But, is the solution to this situation the no renovation of the RCTV concession?  Of course, it is not. I think that both parts have to make a dialog and find a reasonable solution for it. Radio Caracas Televisión; as I said before, is one of the main and famous TV channels in Venezuela which entertains its audience with a variety of programs. Here, people can also express their feelings, needs, opinions and problems looking for a solution of them. Closing it might be equivalent to live in a country without freedom of speech, so I absolutely believe that RCTV should not be closed. 

References:

Stephen Lendman, lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com

Article made by CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER Associated Press Writer CARACAS, Venezuela (AP).

Enciclopedia electrónica Wikipedia. RCTV. Retrieved Febrary 19, 2007, from http://www.wikipedia.com.

http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/ve406e.pdf

http://www.libertad-prensa.org/Director.aspx?P=Articulo&A=164 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6215815.stm

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/print.