Peru’s Communications Minister announces changes to state broadcaster TV Peru – critics fear censorship

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday, September 27, Minister of Transport and Communications Juan Francisco Silva announced plans to change Canal 7 (TV Peru), the state-owned channel, as he considers that it “attacks” the government of President Pedro Castillo.

Silva said that “Canal 7 should reach all regions. It does not. Even now, Canal 7 is attacking us as if it were a foreign channel. We must also introduce changes there so that, once and for all, Canal 7 will educate the people. Moreover, it should reach the most remote areas of the country.”

Former Executive President of the Radio and Television Institute of Peru – IRTP Eduardo Guzmán Iturbe criticized such statements. He also pointed out that TV Peru “belongs to all Peruvians, not to the Palace.”

The Press and Society Institute (IPYS) also expressed its concern over the statements, for  considering Minister Juan Silva’s remarks “threatening” to TV Perú. The IPYS spokesman also said that “his sector is not the one who chooses – neither the channel’s staff nor its information line. They must remain independent and vigilant in the exercise of the public service.”

TV PERU – CHANNEL 7

TV Peru is the country’s public television channel, with the largest national coverage. It officially started its transmissions in digital terrestrial television in 2010, thereby becoming the first Peruvian channel to officially use the technology.