Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) was launched on November 15, 1953 and was shut down by the Venezuelan government on May 28, 2007.

RCTV was the third television network to begin operations in Venezuela. From the airing of Venezuela’s first-ever television soap opera (telenovela) Camay in 1954, to the recent hit comedy show Radio Rochela, RCTV’s programming always interpreted, reflected, and depicted the customs of contemporary Venezuela and was central to that nation’s idiosyncratic cultural framework.

Since its founding, RCTV was frequently at loggerheads with government agencies and the Venezuelan presidency. RCTV’s independence is illustrated by how many presidents in Venezuela have clashed with the network and its executives in the past over criticism of government inefficiency and corruption.

The current government repeatedly condemned RCTV for representing the interests of what the president calls the "Venezuelan Oligarchy." Government officials often state that RCTV’s coverage after the forced resignation of President Chávez (and the coup that followed) was biased and not supportive of the president. RCTV’s editorial line was highly critical of the administration and they frequently caricatured the government. In 2004, RCTV provided frequently covered efforts to remove the president from office through a constitutional referendum. In the 2006 presidential election RCTV was often perceived as supporting the opposition candidate.

Within months of taking office the Venezuelan president started deriding the Venezuelan media when it critiqued his administration or opposed his re-election. RCTV was no exception. The government has repeatedly threatened the media—including threatening the use of military force—if it does not moderate, soften, or change its coverage. In the case of RCTV, the president had been threatening various forms of censorship since 2002, including removing the concession, shutting down the station, and issuing a direct decree to eliminate the channel altogether.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this site is to advocate for freedom of expression. HRF believes that pluralism in media is essential to the survival of a free society. The Human Rights Foundation takes no position whatsoever on the content of RCTV programming, its political opinions or its affiliations.

Other civil society, NGO, and nonprofit groups that oppose the shutdown of RCTV include: