General Baduel rides opposition heat for new TV channel authorization

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, January 27, 2003 - 2:05:08 PM By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuela's opposition has placed the spotlight on hated Maracay barracks strongman, General Raul Baduel for his involvement in a new TV station called Orbivision. Among the board members are university professor, Basilio Sanchez Aranguren (president), Edgar Paulino Sanchez Aranguren (managing director) and Baduel as vice president when he retires from the army.

• Most shareholders seem to belong to the Sanchez side of the family and the total capital is down as 20 million bolivares ($10,400).

What has got the back of the opposition up is the fact that authorization for the channel was granted so quickly.  Board members of Vale TV complain that the Infrastructure Ministry had been stalling its permit for more than a year for alleged political reasons.

The Orbivision TV studios are situated in Maracay (Aragua) and it has been on the air in Aragua for two months, linking to CMT TV station in Caracas, run by Santa Maria University's Umberto Petricca.

CMT has agreed to send the Aragua channel, such as programs as Walter Martinez’ Dossier.

Guarico State Governor Manuel Manuitt is said to be interested in the channel and has placed political PR ads, even though Orbivision’s signal is still weak in Guarico.