RCTV Broadcast License Not Renewed After Years of Government Criticism

Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), Venezuela's oldest private broadcaster and a vocal government critic that had backed the 2002 coup attempt against Chávez, had its terrestrial broadcast license allowed to lapse in May 2007 rather than renewed, taking its signal off the air and prompting large protests. The channel continued broadcasting via cable and satellite until a further 2010 shutdown of that service too.