ProBolsonaro broadcasters face the dilemma of maintaining opposition or aligning themselves with the new president
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Jeff Benicio
Jan 3, 2023 9:26 am
(updated at 9:27 am)
After years of tension, Lula is “in love” with Globo. Or would it be the station that let itself be seduced by the new president?
TV’s most influential journalist, William Bonner, led coverage of the inauguration with undisguised enthusiasm.
He had already expressed his sympathy for the PT when he carried out the broadcast after the result of the 2nd round on the night of October 30th.
In both cases, the Anchor seemed relieved at Lula’s rise. After all, he has been the target of violent attacks by Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters for four years.
Live for several hours on Sunday (1st), Bonner even avoided mentioning the name of the expresident in Orlando, Florida, who himself had been exiled.
Lula, in turn, reveals that he has forgiven Globo. In the past few months he has even praised the moderator of the “Jornal Nacional” a few times.
He doesn’t even seem to be the same politician who spat out anger at the station’s journalism when it accused it of persecution in its coverage of the Lava Jato trial.
Globo and GloboNews reporters and commentators have privileged access to highprofile names in the new government. The climate is one of peace and love.
Some of Bolsonaro’s famous mainstream media allies are showing interest in getting closer to Lula.
At the command of the boss, SBT reported at length on the initiation ritual in Brasilia. Silvio Santos has adapted to the president of the moment in the past.
Ever since he received the television license in São Paulo during General João Figueiredo’s military government in 1981, he has endeavored to maintain good relations with the federal government.
During Lula’s first eight years in the presidency, between 2003 and 2010, conservative Silvio Santos was friendly to the left. He even paid him a courtesy call at the Planalto Palace.
Less diplomatic, Record TV and RedeTV!, staunch supporters of Bolsonarism, are now in the hot seat.
It is questionable whether they will keep the editorial line critical of Lula and the left or lower the tone in the name of good cooperation and of course out of interest in the government’s billiondollar propaganda budget.
Both provided shorter coverage of the presidential inauguration.
Former Lula supporter Bishop Edir Macedo, owner of Record, said the PT candidate won the election “supposedly by the will of God” and instructed his faithful to forgive him for offensive policies towards evangelicals.
Marcelo de Carvalho, founding partner and vice president of RedeTV!, a channel experiencing its worst viewership since its inception in 1999, is reluctant to approach the new president. He continues to argue with PT voters on Twitter.
The Saad family, owners of Band, have always been discreet in their relationship with Planalto Palace. The station’s president, Johnny Saad, is a personal friend of some politicians, but he doesn’t like to expose himself. The news on the Morumbi channel sharply criticized Bolsonaro and his government.
In the previous two terms, Lula was generous to the beneficiaries of the concessions, channeling an impressive BRL 8 billion in official advertising to the country’s five largest television networks.
With Bolsonaro, the revenues of the major broadcasters collapsed with advertisements from the presidency and stateowned companies. He preferred to have a distanced relationship with television and with the owners of the main channels.
Lula between Edir Macedo (Record), William Bonner (Globo) and Silvio Santos (SBT): There is less resistance to Lula on TV
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