Press Freedoms in Venezuela: The Case of RCTV

In late 2006, the Venezuelan government announced its decision not to renew the 20-year broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). Though the television station will no longer operate on the open-access airwaves, cable and satellite broadcasts will still be permitted. Though the decision has faced criticism by those who claim it is a move to restrict press freedoms, most governments worldwide enjoy the constitutional right to regulate media licensing, including that of the U.S. RCTV's non-renewal does not violate legal norms in Venezuela, nor does it significantly alter the balance of power in Venezuela's vociferous, opposition-affiliated and privately-owned media. The decision forms part of a larger policy program for democratizing Venezuela's airwaves.

	Venezuelan TV Station Goes Off the Air	Associated Press	Sun May 27	68
	TV station going dark at midnight	The Miami Herald	Mon May 28	0
	Venezuelans protest	Bloomberg.com	Sun May 27	1
	Coup Co-Conspirators as Free-Speech Martyrs: Distorting the Venezuelan media story	Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting	Sun May 27	9
	Chavez targeted by Media Smear Campaign	internetchatradio.com	Mon May 28	1