'Subversive' TV Station Silenced

May 29, 01:41 AM

Current Headlines: By VENEZUELA

Venezuela's oldest private television station went off the air as President Hugo Chavez's government replaced the popular oppositionaligned network yesterday with a new state-funded channel.

Radio Caracas Television shut down just before midnight on Saturday night as its broadcast licence expired and soldiers took control of the station's transmitters.

Mr Chavez refused to renew its licence, accusing the channel of "subversive" activities.

The new public service channel, TVES, yesterday replayed an early morning musical spectacle marking the midnight takeover of RCTV's signal, which featured artists singing pro-Chavez music at a Caracas theatre.

Later, an exercise programme and morning talk show were interspersed with government ads displaying slogans like "Now Venezuela belongs to everyone."

Mr Chavez's decision to force the country's most-watched channel off the airwaves sparked violent clashes between protesters and police.

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