Tuesday, May 24, 2005
New Latin-Focused TV Channel Begins Tests
Source: Associated Press A new TV station backed by Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay began transmitting by satellite Tuesday as part of the test phase for a project organizers say will bring Latin America an alternative to large commercial media outlets.
The first images shown on Telesur included promotional clips of people from various Latin countries dancing, smiling and holding political protests. All Venezuelan television channels were required to air the programming as a public service.
The signal was also carried on some government and community channels in Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, said Telesur's director Aram Aharonian.
"It's an anti-hegemonic project, a political project of integration and to show the diversity and plurality of the continent," said Aharonian.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has given strong financial backing to the project, saying it will help give South America a voice independent of traditional media conglomerates like CNN. Chavez's information minister, Andres Izarra, is the station's president.
# posted by ATN @ 9:29 PM 
