RCTV To Launch on Cable, Satellite

CARACAS, July 12:
Venezuelan terrestrial broadcaster RCTV, which was forced off the air by
President Hugo Chávez, plans to launch on several cable and satellite platforms
in the country, chief executive Marcel Granier has said.

Speaking at a news
conference, Granier is quoted as saying in the AP: "Venezuelans want RCTV,
and they will have it. Until we achieve the goal of regaining our signal we
must try to return to the air as soon as possible through alternative
means."

RCTV has been unavailable
on free TV since May 27, when the broadcaster’s license expired after Chávez
refused to renew it. The channel had been highly critical of the Venezuelan
leader. Its frequency and equipment has been taken over by the state-funded
network TVES.

According to local
reports, RCTV will launch on the platforms DIRECTV, Inter, NetUno and Planet on
Monday. "Over 50 percent of Venezuelans who do not have pay television
said they are willing to have pay television to watch RCTV again,” Granier is
quoted as saying in El Universal.
“Pay television companies have told us they are full of demands of new
subscribers interested in having the RCTV signal again."