Santiago, Chile-Chile’s National Television Council (CNTV) has closed its case regarding alleged mistreatment of former journalist María Paz Arancibia during an August appearance on the program “Primer Plano,” dismissing over 2,000 viewer complaints. The decision, which Arancibia publicly criticized as “a joke,” has ignited debate over standards of conduct in Chilean broadcasting and the duty of television programs to protect guests from hostile interviews. The CNTV’s ruling comes despite a record number of complaints filed against the show,alleging a “humiliating” and “verbally violent” exchange.
Chile’s National Television Council (CNTV) has dismissed over 2,000 complaints filed against the television program “Primer Plano” (Chilevisión) following an August interview with former journalist María Paz Arancibia. The complaints alleged a “humiliating, hostile, and verbally violent” treatment of Arancibia during the broadcast.
In a letter to those who filed complaints, the CNTV stated it “did not find sufficient evidence to presume a possible breach of the concessionaire’s duty to function properly.” As a result, the council decided not to initiate proceedings against Chilevisión and has closed the case.
Arancibia publicly expressed her disappointment with the decision, calling it “a joke” in an Instagram post. The case has drawn attention to the standards of conduct expected in Chilean television broadcasting.
The complaints, which contributed to a record number for “Primer Plano” at the CNTV this year, detailed allegations that Arancibia was subjected to a harsh line of questioning from panelists Francisca Merino, Catalina Pulido, Pablo Candia, and Daniela Aránguiz during a live interview. Details of the complaints are available on the CNTV website.
According to the complaints, Arancibia was “constantly interrupted, denigrated regarding her personal and professional life, and subjected to a televised atmosphere of harassment and bullying” while discussing her experiences with workplace mistreatment and bullying in television. Panelists allegedly “insisted on blaming her, denying her the opportunity to defend herself.”
One complaint specifically cited Francisca Merino’s assertion that victims of bullying share responsibility for what happens to them, calling it a “serious and revictimizing message” that contradicts anti-bullying campaigns and normalizes abuse.
Marí Paz Arancibia: “They won’t call me (to return to TV), I’m not part of the group”
Speaking with BioBioChile, Arancibia described the CNTV’s decision as “another example of the injustice we live with in Chile.”
“It’s a resolution that raises doubts and confusion, but above all, it revives the bitterness experienced,” she said. “I don’t know how the Council can’t see that the situation completely violated my dignity and image. Cruelty was televised, and it wasn’t discredited or condemned. Commercials continued to run as if nothing happened. I was, understandably, devastated.”
Arancibia also questioned the CNTV’s funding, noting it primarily comes from state resources. “Everyone will be well aware of this supposed resolution, which wasn’t really resolving anything,” she added.
Regarding her future in television, Arancibia stated, “I haven’t received any calls, and obviously, I won’t be called. I’m not part of the group. And frankly, that’s a good thing.”
“No, I wouldn’t work in television. Not anywhere. Perhaps I would return to news – to anchor the news. Imagine the audience that newscast would have, reading the news in miniature! But that will never happen, of course. Imagine a woman who committed the sin of making decisions about her body being the face of a Chilean television channel… in another life,” she commented.
