Does the “C” in CBC Cable stand for “censorship”? That’s what we’re asking after the cable giant took Channel 7 and Krem’s television signals off the cable service it provides to all areas west of Belize City. On Friday, the signals were removed from the Mile 8 community, Hattieville, Mahogany Heights, Democracia, Frank’s Eddy, St. Matthews, Cotton Tree, St. Margaret’s Village, and Armenia and Dangriga.
Neat timing, because on July 29th CBC received approval for licenses for those 8 village communities. The company pulled the plug on the two local channels two days later. Best we have been able to determine, the decision was taken as part of an arrangement between CBC cable and BTL; CBC uses BTL’s fiber optic transmission line to carry its signal west and south. CBC still carries Love TV and Channel 5 to those communities and, as is clearly the preference of CBC and BTL, those should be the only voices that are heard by Belizeans.
And while it is nothing more than heavy handed censorship sanctioned by BTL and dutifully effected by CBC, it is also illegal not to carry the signals at mile 8 and Hattieville where they are available over the air. Channel 7 is aggressively pursuing its options in this regard.
For context, we note that BTL started an advertising boycott of Channel 7 and Krem in May of 2006. That continues presently.
