Reporters Without Borders showed concern about the Venezuelan Government threat not to renew the broadcasting license to privately-owned TV channel Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), following Minister of Communication and Information Willian Lara's announcement that the TV network's future would be subject to referendum.

In a press release, RSF said: "If RCTV's license is withdrawn because it is an opposition network, then it is clearly a violation of editorial diversity."

The international organization asked the Venezuelan Government to reconsider its position on RCTV as, "it is not the role of a news media to govern a country so its future should not depend on the outcome of a referendum." RSF also wondered why should the development of community media, encouraged by the government, threaten the existence of commercial media.

Lara announced last December 11th that the renewal of RCTV's license would be put to a referendum. His remarks came following a meeting with representatives of alternative media.

Recently, President Hugo Chávez said he has questions on whether he would renew or not RCTV's broadcasting license, which expires in March 2007.