MIAMI - It's perhaps the most audacious move yet by Venezuela's increasingly autocratic president, Hugo Chavez.

At midnight tonight Venezuela's oldest, largest and most popular television station will vanish from screens across the nation - by government order. Audiences won't just be losing a bit of variety, including their cherished soaps, or telenovelas.

A dash of democracy will be gone, too.

The government's decision not to renew the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Television, known as RCTV, has nothing to do with broadcasting standards or media diversification. Chavez is simply taking revenge against opposition to his rule.

In recent years Chavez has won almost total control of every major public institution in the country, including the Supreme Court, the federal elections authority, the state oil company, as well as every seat in Congress.
Worldandnation: Voice of Venezuela's RCTV to fall silent

Ya want to talk about "big brother" and "loss of freedoms"? Feel fortunate you live where you do.

Have a good one!:s4:
Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on . Voice of Venezuela's RCTV to fall silent MIAMI - It's perhaps the most audacious move yet by Venezuela's increasingly autocratic president, Hugo Chavez. At midnight tonight Venezuela's oldest, largest and most popular television station will vanish from screens across the nation - by government order. Audiences won't just be losing a bit of variety, including their cherished soaps, or telenovelas. A dash of democracy will be gone, too. The government's decision not to renew the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Rating: 5