TV ratings grow as farmers protest
Argentinan politics hook audiences
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On Tuesday, cable news networks America 24, Canal 26, Cronica, C5N and TodosNoticias all broadcast speeches by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, and provided coverage of events and analysis.
The result: an accumulative rating of 27.1 points for the president's speech, according to audience tracker Ibope.
The coverage comes after a three-day weekend of food and fuel shortages, roadblocks, anti- and pro-government demonstrations and the arrest of farmers, who have been protesting an increase in grain and oilseed export taxes, now running at 28%-46%, for 100 days. They hope to pressure the president to repeal the taxes.
"The past three months have been very good" for news nets, with four now among the 10 most-watched along with the Cartoon Network and Fox Sports, said Martin Rodriguez, a TV specialist at Television.com.ar. "News always has a good rating in Argentina. A lot of dramatic things happen."
The president's speech pulled an accumulative rating of 29.5 points on the five leading networks.
"When there is social commotion, TV reacts. But the coverage usually lasts a day. This conflict has been going on for 100 days," Rodriguez said.
Networks "are getting in tune with what is happening to people, not to build audience numbers but to keep an image with viewers," he said.
On Monday, Mirtha Legrand organized a two-hour live broadcast of the interview program "Almorzando With Mirtha Legrand" (Lunching With Mirtha Legrand) on America TV, bringing in farm leaders and opposition politicians. The effort snared an average 10.3 rating points during its 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. airing, the program's highest in five years and up from an average of five to six points.
Other hosts like Mario Pergolini and Marcelo Tinelli have made reference to the conflict during hit programs "Caiga Quien Caiga" (CQC) and "ShowMatch."
"When there is so much social tension, it is impossible not to say anything," Rodriguez said.
