We don’t usually get political, even though everything is political, but this was too much.

Ciudad Abierta (Open City) is a government run public television station from Buenos Aires. The project started in 2002 with a super small budget and some guys with cameras and computers. By 2007 it has grown into a serious channel where one time or another nearly every recognized artist or interesting project (including WUBA a couple times) in the city has been highlighted. It uncovers hidden gems by the busload and has a non-stop programming that goes from morning till night.

And then the news came. The new city government would be closing the channel when they take over. What? Logically, its workers and many citizens are opposed to the closing. What the channel needs is more backing from the government, a better positioning in the cable operators (it gets stuck at the very end of the 80 something channels) and more resources to do a better job. Throwing away the channel and all the footage they’ve compiled in the last 5 years would be a great mistake. At a time when culture in Buenos Aires is at a serious high, in the international spotlight, getting better every day, an act like this is a real tragedy.

For this reason the workers of the channel are organizing a protest on Tuesday the 13th of November at 7pm in front of their building, Azcuénaga 714.