Chavez clamps down on broadcast media

President Hugo Chavez’s government is imposing tough new regulations on Venezuela’s cable television while revoking the licences of more than 200 radio stations.

The new regulations will soon require cable TV companies that use largely locally-produced content to comply with Venezuelan laws governing broadcasters, said Diosdado Cabello, who heads the telecommunications agency.

He told the National Assembly cable channels with at least 70% of their content produced in Venezuela would be regulated by local broadcast laws, including a requirement to carry Mr Chavez’s speeches when the president deemed appropriate.