Venezuelan regulators to revoke 34 private radio stations’ broadcast concessions

September 18th, 2009 Ex-leaders say media under threat in Latin AmericaCARACAS, Venezuela — Former presidents from Peru and Bolivia joined newspaper editors from across the Americas on Friday in condemning what they call a series of attempts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and some of his allies, to clamp down on the news media. Former President Alejandro Toledo of Peru said he is concerned about recent shutdowns of radio stations in Venezuela and a proposed law in Argentina that would break up Clarin, one of Latin America's largest newspaper and cable TV companies.

September 18th, 2009 Former Ore. Sen. Smith to head broadcasters groupWASHINGTON — Former Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith was named on Friday to lead the National Association of Broadcasters.

September 7th, 2009 Anti-Chavez TV station faces possible shutdownCARACAS, Venezuela — The government said Monday a leading TV channel aligned with Venezuela's opposition could lose its broadcast license for allegedly airing a viewer's text message calling for a coup and the assassination of President Hugo Chavez. Diosdado Cabello, president of the telecommunications commission, said authorities will also ask prosecutors for a criminal probe to determine whether the owners of Globovision should face trial for allegedly trying to incite rebellion.

September 5th, 2009 Venezuela opens new probe into anti-Chavez TVCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's telecommunications chief announced a new probe into a television station opposed to President Hugo Chavez's government on Saturday, and said 29 broadcasters will soon face closure. Diosdado Cabello said the most recent investigation into Globovision, the sixth in eight months, was opened because the channel allegedly broadcast a ticker strip of text messages from viewers calling for a coup.

August 6th, 2009 Venezuelan journalists: Top prosecutor must resignCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's journalist association urged the nation's top prosecutor to resign Wednesday for proposing legislation to punish yet-to-be defined "media crimes." Lawmakers say the bill suggested by Attorney General Louisa Ortega has not yet been drafted. But Roger Santodomingo, the journalist association's secretary-general, warned "it could reappear at any moment with all its perverse intent to criminalize journalism." "We're asking her to resign, because the person meant to defend the law can't propose a law that is fundamentally unconstitutional," Santodomingo told reporters.

August 5th, 2009 Chavez condemns attack on opposition TV stationCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday condemned an attack on an opposition-aligned TV station that he has threatened with closure, announcing that one of his radical supporters was detained for allegedly taking part in the assault. Chavez called the attack "counterrevolutionary, anarchist and an attempt against peace in the country." He said Lina Ron, leader of a far-left party that supports the government's socialist policies, was arrested over the attack.

August 4th, 2009 34 radio stations forced off air in VenezuelaCARACAS, Venezuela — Radio hosts hung their heads as their FM station was forced off the airwaves along with 33 other broadcasters targeted by President Hugo Chavez's government in what critics say is a campaign to muzzle his foes. For the first time in decades, CNB 102.3 FM fell silent over the weekend after Venezuela's telecommunications regulators revoked some of the 34 stations' licenses and refused to renew others.

August 2nd, 2009 200 Venezuelans protest radio station shutdownsCARACAS, Venezuela — Some 200 Venezuelans gathered outside a Caracas broadcaster Saturday to protest a decision by President Hugo Chavez's government to revoke the licenses of 34 radio stations. The demonstration occurred outside CNB 102.3 FM, which cut its over-the-air transmission Saturday morning on orders from the telecommunications regulatory agency and is now transmitting only over the Internet.

August 1st, 2009 Venezuelan regulators pull 34 radio concessionsCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan regulators revoked the broadcast rights of 34 radio stations on Friday, deepening a rift between President Hugo Chavez's government and the private media. Diosdado Cabello, who heads Venezuela's telecommunications regulatory agency, said some of the stations failed to update their registrations or let their concessions expire, while others held licenses granted to an operator who is now deceased.

July 30th, 2009 Venezuela: 'Freedom of expression must be limited'CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's top prosecutor insisted Thursday that freedom of expression in Venezuela "must be limited" and proposed legislation that would slap additional restrictions on the country's news media. The new law would punish the owners of radio stations, television channels and newspapers that have attempted to "cause panic" and "disturb social peace," Attorney General Luisa Ortega said.

July 10th, 2009 Venezuela announces new rules affecting cable TVCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government is imposing new regulations on cable television while revoking the licenses of more than 200 radio stations, the top telecommunications official said Thursday. The new regulations will soon require cable TV companies that use largely locally-produced content to comply with Venezuelan laws governing broadcasters, said Diosdado Cabello, who heads the telecommunications agency.

July 4th, 2009 Venezuelan official: Radio licenses to be revokedCARACAS, Venezuela — The head of Venezuela's telecommunications regulatory agency said Friday that 240 radio stations will have their licenses revoked for failing to update their registrations with the government. A total of 86 AM radio stations and 154 FM stations have failed to turn in required documents, which will lead to the "recovery of all those concessions by the state," said Diosdado Cabello, who heads the telecommunications agency.

June 3rd, 2009 Venezuela investigates anti-Chavez TV presidentCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan prosecutors said Tuesday that they're opening a new investigation into the president of a television station opposed to President Hugo Chavez. Prosecutors said in a statement that they're investigating Globovision president Guillermo Zuloaga for a suspected "environmental crime" related to stuffed wild animals found on his estate.

April 29th, 2009 Tony Bennett wants pay for artists on radioWASHINGTON — Singer Tony Bennett says it's a crime that performers don't get paid by radio stations when their music is broadcast. He says, "The radios don't want to give up one penny." The Grammy winner's comments came Tuesday evening at a private gathering of invited guests and lawmakers, including Sens.

April 29th, 2009 Singer Tony Bennett wants pay for play on radioWASHINGTON — Singer Tony Bennett says it's a crime that performers don't get paid by radio stations when their music is broadcast. "The radios don't want to give up one penny," Bennett said Tuesday after he performed the song "The Good Life" at a private gathering of guests and lawmakers, which included Sens.