Marcel Granier is a Venezuelan journalist, entrepreneur, and freedom of the press advocate. He is the president and CEO of Empresas 1BC and the general director of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), which, until its closure on May 27, 2007, was the oldest and most-watched television channel in Venezuela. For decades Granier was host of Primer Plano, a political talk show with wide viewership. Since President Chávez came to power in Venezuela, Granier and his television network have frequently been attacked and challenged by the president, who has described them as “fascists" and “coup-plotters" for their criticism of the government. Without a legal proceeding, RCTV’s frequency was not renewed in 2007. A government minister explained this was part of a government plan for “communicational hegemony." RCTV then broadcasted its messages of freedom on cable and satellite television until, in January 2010, the government shut the station down for its refusal to comply with the regime’s media impositions. Unwilling to give up, Granier is fighting for RCTV’s return to public airways.