As you know, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denied the renewal of RCTV (Radio Caracas Televisón) license.

Radio Caracas Televisión is Venezuela's oldest private channel, and they are still fighting in the courts, for the license. RCTV programming has been available via YouTube and through Colombian network Caracol. Now they announced that RCTV programming will be broad casted domestically, by cable TV:

"Venezuelans want RCTV and they will have it," RCTV's owner Marcel Granier told a news conference at which he announced that cable broadcasts would begin on 16 July. "Until we achieve the goal of regaining our signal, we must try to return to the air as soon as possible through alternative means," he said.

The problem is that cable TV is too expensive for many Venezuelans, and only reaches about 30% of households. That means most Venezuelans will not have access to the only station that has maintained its critical position against Chavez Government.

Meanwhile, Chavez is more worried about fighting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio da Silva, over the Venezuelan membership on the Mercosur. Of course. It's way more important to make a foul out of yourself, making ridiculous demands, than giving freedom of speech to your own voters.

Source: Venezuela TV set for cable launch

Via: The Latin Americanist