Suspension of 4 TV Channels Lifted

Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission CONATEL has lifted the suspension of four of the television stations that were suspended for failing to comply with Venezuela’s radio and television social responsibility law.

Merida, January 29th, 2010 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission CONATEL has lifted the suspension of four of the television stations that were suspended for failing to comply with Venezuela’s radio and television social responsibility law.

On Wednesday CONATEL determined that the four channels, TV Chile, American Network, Momenum, and Ritmosan, don’t qualify as national channels and therefore the aforementioned law does not apply to them. Following the temporary suspension the four channels presented documentation to CONATEL and it was able to make the assessment.

Now, the channels are not prohibited from transmitting, but it will be up to the respective cable operators to determine when and if the channels resume their programming.

On 23 January Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission CONATEL temporarily suspended six cable television channels for failing to comply with Venezuela’s law on radio and television social responsibility.

Apart from setting stands regarding adult and child programming, and prohibiting sexist, racist, and inflammatory content, the law also requires stations to broadcast important government announcements. The law only applies to stations where at least 70% of their content and general operations are domestic.

Opposition aligned television station RCTV was among those sanctioned. Since it failed to win renewal of its license to free-to-air broadcasting in May 2007, it had been broadcasting over cable. America TV is also still suspended.