RCTV Just One of Hundreds of Non-Renewed TV Stations

A typical RCTV television show

Again we must rely on the Cuban press to report a bit more context into the uproar over the non-renewal of the RCTV concession in Venezuela. If you are looking for more, check this interesting mental exercise piece on what would happen if NBC (for example) acted like RCTV in cheering on a military coup against Bush.

Chilean journalist Ernesto Carmona compiled other concessions throughout the world that have been cancelled or expired. How come nobody mentioned them?

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recognizes, in all of its breadth, the “sovereign right of each State to regulate its telecommunications, taking into account the growing importance of telecommunications to safeguarding the peace and the economic and social development of States...”

Throughout the world, many countries have adopted sovereign decision to not renew [broadcast] concessions or to allow them to expire. For example:

Peru, in April 2007, decided to shut down two television channels and three radio stations for noncompliance with its Radio and Television Law, expired licenses and utilization of non-homologous equipment.

In Uruguay, December 2006, permits were revoked for radio stations 94.5 FM and Concierto FM, in Montevideo, and a resolution was revoked which had expanded coverage for the broadcast signal of the cable channel Multicanal, part of the Clarín Group of Argentina.

In El Salvador, in July 2003, the concession for the Salvador Network was revoked.

In Canada, June 1999, the Country Music Televisión’s (CMT) concession was revoked.

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in July 1969, revoked the concession for WLBT-TV; in 1981 it did likewise for WLNS-T; in April 1999, it revoked the license of Trinity Broadcasting; and in April 1998, that of Daily Digest (Radio). From 1934 to 1987 in the United States, 141 broadcasters lost their licenses, including 102 for non-renewal. In 40 cases, their licenses were revoked before they were expired. During the ‘80s, there were 10 cases of non-renewal.

In Europe, in July 2004 Spain revoked the concession of TV Laciana (a local cable channel) and in April 2005, it shut down open-signal radio and TV broadcasters in Madrid. In July of the same year, it shut down TV Católica.

France revoked the license of TV& in February 1987; in December 2004 it revoked Al Manar’s concession, and in December 2005 it shut down TF 1 for questioning the existence of the Holocaust.

In England, the government of Margaret Thatcher cancelled the concession of one of the country’s largest TV stations simply for having broadcast news that was not agreeable, although absolutely true. She simply argued that “if they had already had the station for 30 years, why should they have a monopoly?” Also in the UK, authorities decided in March 1999 to temporarily shut down MED-TV-Channel 22; in August 2006, it revoked the license of ONE TV; in January 2007, the license of Look 4 Love 2; in November 2006, StarDate TV 24; and in December 2006 it revoked the license for the TV channel AUCTIONWORD.

In 1990, Ireland revoked the license for TV3, which had not yet begun to broadcast.

In Russia, in August 2000, a TV broadcaster was shut down for subliminal advertising, and in March 2002, they shut down TV-6.

In August 2002, Bangladesh revoked the license of Ekushey Televisión (ETV).

And in none of these countries was there any campaign like the one currently being waged regarding Radio Caracas Televisión, which was on the air for 53 years.