Spain’s state broadcaster, TVE, has banned live bullfighting from its schedule, angering matadors and bullfighting fans who are already smarting over a ban in the eastern region of Catalonia.
The broadcaster has decided bullfighting contravenes its code of conduct for programs before Spain’s 10pm watershed, when children are no longer expected to be in front of the television.
Most bullfights start at 6pm or 7pm, and TVE director general Alberto Oliart said that meant they fall into children’s viewing hours — when violence to animals cannot be shown.
“TVE will not show bullfights because of the time they take place, which mostly coincides with the time of day when there is special protection for children,” TVE’s new style guide says.
Furious fans accused the broadcaster of shunning a key part of Spanish popular culture.
“This means that TVE, which belongs to us all, will deprive us of something that over the centuries has formed part of the cultural patrimony of many Spaniards, both of the political right and the left,” columnist Andres Amoros wrote in the conservative ABC daily.
TVE said it was not turning its back entirely on bullfighting.
“We are not indifferent to the importance of the bullfighting world or to its social and cultural influence,” it said.
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