“ ‘ I am so sorry that because the government asked for my head, everyone has to leave,' [journalist] Camila Zuluaga told her team during the meeting where Caracol Televisión notified them that their contracts and their show Mañanas Blu 10am had been ended. They didn’t have an opportunity to say goodbye on air. The decision was relayed hours after the last broadcast ended, more than eight years after its launch in 2018.
Caracol justified the decision as financial and said the time slot will not be replaced by a new show, but that [morning host] Néstor Morales will extend his program until noon. Nevertheless, according to sources familiar with the matter, the company had never previously warned of financial issues.
What does exist within Caracol Televisión is widespread concern regarding the government's negative perception of the company's media outlets following several clashes during the campaign. The topic was the subject of discussions with the editorial heads of Noticias Caracol, Blu Radio, and El Espectador—the outlets belonging to the Santo Domingo group. And no space was more uncomfortable than the one directed by Zuluaga.
La Silla was unable to confirm whether there was an explicit request from the government to end the show, although influential voices aligned with President Abelardo de la Espriella celebrated the decision.”
