Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2007
Contact: Olivia Goumbri, Venezuela Information Office, 202-347-8081 x601
Venezuela’s First Public Broadcasting Station Begins
Today, May 28, marks the end of RCTV's right to broadcast on Ch. 2 in Venezuela. In its place is Venezuela’s first ever public broadcasting station: TVes. The government's decision not to renew the broadcasting license of RCTV has raised questions about press freedoms in Venezuela, but the government contends that its non-renewal was based on the station’s implicit involvement in a short lived coup against Chavez in 2002.
As protests against the non-renewal and celebration rallies in support of it graced the landscape of the country this weekend, a heightened debate has begun about public television that takes into account the interests of the public good. TVes is similar to some European stations as well as the American PBS. It received an initial investment of $4 million from the government and has an independent board of supervisors. However, in October TVes will hold a meeting with businesses and companies to offer the possibility of corporate advertising space in order to diversify its funding.
Lil Rodriguez, chairwoman of TVes, said in a press conference last week that the TV station would be one that promotes diversity, a plurality of culture and views, and a place for local and undiscovered talent to be showcased. In an effort to further utilize independent producers and artists the station will not produce content, but instead will buy productions. Educational programming for children will also be an important aspect of TVes.
While currently the station only broadcasts to the Caracas metro area, under existing legislation it has three months to expand its broadcast nationally. The station also hopes to reach into some of the most remote areas of the nation, not covered before by RCTV. Currently TVes airs for 7 hours but shortly will begin 24 hour programming.
For more information on programming and TVes see the station’s website at: http://www.tves.org.ve/
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NOTE: The Venezuela Information Office is dedicated to informing the American
public about contemporary Venezuela, and receives its funding from the
government of Venezuela. More information is available from the FARA office
of the Department of Justice in Washington DC.
Venezuela Information Office
733 15th Street NW, Suite 932
Washington, DC 20005
tel: (202) 347-8081
fax: (202) 347-8091
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