Conflicting reports were emerging
this week as to why Portuguese
television had not followed the
example of the UK, Ireland, Germany
and Netherlands by showing the
appeal for information in the search
for missing British toddler
Madeleine McCann.
One BBC reporter reporting from
Praia da Luz on Monday evening told
viewers the fact that the programme
was not being shown in Portugal was
“controversial”, while BBC Radio 4
quoted experts saying they regretted
that new leads could be hampered by
the fact that there are no plans to
show the fresh appeal for
information in Portugal.
“We need to get [the Portuguese
police] to show the appeal, set
aside their political differences,
set aside their pride and get to the
position where [the forces] are both
focused, working together”,
criminologist, ex-police officer and
child protection expert Mark
Williams-Thomas was quoted as
telling BBC Radio 4’s Today
programme this week.
His comments were then widely
re-printed in a number of
publications, including the
Guardian.
When questioned as to the reasons
for Crimewatch not being shown in
Portugal, the Metropolitan Police
Service responded that there is no
such show in Portugal, while the UK,
Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands
have regular television programmes
appealing for viewers’ assistance in
solving crime.
Portuguese police would therefore be
unable to force any of the country’s
networks to alter scheduling unless
they unilaterally decided to do so.
Clips of the programme are available
from the Metropolitan Police
Service’s Press Bureau and have been
shown on Portuguese television this
week.
The BBC, in response to questions
from The Portugal News over
Crimewatch failing to make it on to
the television screens of viewers in
the country where Madeleine McCann
disappeared, explained: “We have
provided clips of the Crimewatch
programme to international
broadcasters to assist them in their
coverage of the appeal, and the
Crimewatch film is available on the
BBC Crimewatch website to
international audiences.
“The decision on broadcasting an
appeal on an equivalent programme in
Portugal is a matter for the
Portuguese broadcasters, Portuguese
police and The Metropolitan Police”,
the statement read.
The Deputy Director of News at Sic
Television was meanwhile reported to
have exchanged e-mails with the BBC
in the days running up to the
Crimewatch programme in order to
secure the rights to the full
programme, but to no avail.
“The BBC said they are not selling
the rights”, Martim Cabral told The
Portugal News, “therefore we cannot
show it.”
Another Portuguese news channel, TVI,
told The Portugal News that it had
contacted the British national
broadcaster prior to the airing of
the show, as it sought to “acquire
the programme for Portugal, which
was denied.”
“Should the BBC change its position
and should TVI continue to show an
interest, it is certain that we will
look at transmitting the programme
in question.
“TVI has also requested the BBC
clarify this situation with British
media to avoid more erroneous
interpretations, such as those
claiming Portuguese television
channels are not interested in
transmitting the programme.”
