THE CYPRUS Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) has decided to temporarily pull the plug on a popular political show, ostensibly because of a programming reshuffle.
It’s understood the show, “To Sizitame,” which is hosted by Erini Charalambidou, has ruffled more than a few feathers within the state-run broadcaster for deviating from ‘mainstream’ views on the Cyprus problem.
A few days ago, CyBC management decided that all current affairs programmess would be dedicated to the upcoming European elections. In addition, Politis reported, the presenters hosting these shows would all be from the news department, “in the interests of uniformity.” Charalambidou is not part of the news department.
According to the paper, a few days ago Charalambidou was told that her show was being integrated into the “Run-up to the euro elections” theme, and that she should prepare for her next appearance. However, she was later informed that her show would come off the air until 15 June, since there would be no slot for it.
The paper contacted Charalambidou, who confirmed the above information. According to Politis, ultimately CyBC bosses may be aiming to shut down the show permanently.
CyBC manager Themis Themistocleous has denied anything Machiavellian lay behind the restructuring.
“The show was not cut, but rather, as is the case with all current affairs programs, it has been interrupted for the Easter period break,” Themistocleous told Politis.
He could not be reached for comment yesterday.
If anything, the decision to Charalambidou’s programme does not make much business sense. The show garnered the highest viewer ratings among all CyBC programs in March and registered similarly strong numbers this month. By all accounts, it was an impressive achievement for Charalambidou, a relative newcomer to the political show format.
In one edition broadcast in late March, the show dealt with the period 1960-64. The guests included people who did not subscribe to the official version of the events from the time – that the inter-communal fighting and the dissolution of partnership state in 1963 was triggered by the Turkish Cypriot ‘mutineers’. Among the guests was journalist Makarios Droushiotis., who debunked the officially accepted interpretation of the events of the period that lay the seeds for the partition of the island.
According to reports, a few days after that broadcast the chairman of the CyBC board Makis Keravnos called a meeting to discuss the show.
The show also drew condemnation from a section of the print press. Two columnists writing in top-circulation Phileleftheros slammed the content aired, expressing outrage and disgust that the state broadcaster had given a platform to “well-known supporters of the yes-vote” and arguing that such people should be prevented from poisoning people’s minds.
