LOPES DE ARAÚJO LIED TO US

In a comment regarding the transmission of RTP-i "CUNNUS REBORN" Whytton da Silva writes: Every day that goes by, we are looking pretty foolish on this issue. Damn right embracing! The CRTC made a decision which must be obeyed. Period! The price quoted by Rogers Cable, which was reached upon extensive negotiations with RTPi, is in line with their “international TV” price schedule (i.e. at least 34 of 42 networks are $15 dollars). It is simply a business decision.
To argue discrimination because of RAI’s considerable reduced cost is rather ridiculous, since the Italian state television network is heavily subsidized. The same could have been said about Deutsche Welle, but we all known that the German government pulled the plug on its subsidy and Rogers, quite understandably, switched-off that TV signal on December 31st 2005.
Further still, is the fact that Mr. Lopes de Araújo, the director of RTP international services, lied to us big time when he stated that RTP provides Rogers Cable with a FREE signal. We now know that is not true at all. Mr. Araújo was forced to admit otherwise when pressed by a LUSA reporter (Notícia SIR-7618978), that RTP indeed receives a “minimal compensation”. What is not known however, is to whom is this compensation paid to, and specifically.
One of RTP administrators, Mr. Gonçalo Reis, defies and challenges the CRTC rules and regulations, when he suggest that the Portuguese community “has and will always have” its signal free-to-air signal on satellite television. He even quotes a minimal cost of about €150. Both men are skating on thin ice, that’s for sure.
But that’s not all. Toronto’s self-elected ad hoc committee, spearheaded by Mrs. Nellie Pedro, a journalist and a friend, not once* refers to the existence of SIC international ($14.45 on Rogers Cable), on the air since the 1st of September 2001, nor have they mentioned the 30% “Canadian content” produced in Canada by Luso-Canadians, in accordance with The CRTC demands. Keep in mind that FPtv is a “Canadian” company, which provides employment to a dozen Portuguese. It will also be wise to remember that FPtv pays SIC for its programming and Rogers for its broadcast. A hefty monthly bill.
Whatever happened to the five Ws of journalism, or the three sides of a coin? Oh well… discrimination, you say?
Finally, let me just inform you that I am the Programme Coordinator in Canada for the “Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional – LIGA”, which is wholly owned, in Canada, by FPtv (purchased from SportTV Portugal SA). Although I am not directly involved with FPtv’s production or programming, I am nevertheless employed by the same company. As such, I have a keen interest on the subject and consequently I resent those who claim to represent me without ever being consulted.
Aires Whytton da Silva

* The letter written in Portuguese, yes in Portuguese, addressed to Ted Rogers does indeed refer to FPtv, but only in reference to the cost of a package offered by Rogers Cable. It ignores, either on purpose or in ignorance, the linkage requirements by The CRTC. Alleluia!