"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.'
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/crimewatch-aired-in-uk-ireland-netherlands-germany-but-why-not-portugal/29659
And yet ...
"BBC Worldwide celebrates 50th country sale of Strictly Come Dancing ... In 2013, new versions of the show launched in Thailand, Portugal and Macedonia."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/50th-country-strictly
One wonders why there was no problem reaching agreement with broadcasters in other countries to screen the Crimewatch programme appealing for information on Madeleine McCann ... but a stumbling block arose to prevent that happening in Portugal.
At a very sensitive time as far as the Portuguese side of the investigation was concerned and cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of Britain and Portugal being established ... one gets the impression official comment on the situation was very guarded indeed.
However, one wonders why criticism of the programme not being broadcast in Portugal is reserved for the BBC and for some taking the opportunity to upbraid the McCanns for a situation they were powerless to avoid ... when Portugal was the only country where, whatever discussion occurred between law enforcement and whatever commercial discussion took place between broadcasters, there was failure to reach agreement.
Crimewatch aired in UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, but why not Portugal?BY BRENDAN DE BEER, IN NEWS · 17-10-2013 14:13:00 · 22 COMMENTSMore than a few eyebrows were raised this week when it became apparent that unlike BBC, RTE, ZDF or AVRO, no Portuguese television station was to air a repeat of the Crimewatch programme which was first shown to millions of viewers on Monday evening.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.
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/crimewatch-aired-in-uk-ireland-netherlands-germany-but-why-not-portugal/29659There was also an element of Portuguese public interest which was ignored as information on crimes and criminals operating in their midst was an element of the Crimewatch appeal.
**snip
Police are also looking into bogus charity collectors who were operating in the area at the time. On the day that Madeleine disappeared, properties were targeted four times, say detectives.
Police have released two efits of Portuguese men. One, aged 40-45, knocked on the door of the apartment where the McCanns were to stay on 25 or 26 April between 2.30pm and 3pm, saying he was a charity collector. The other, aged 25-30, approached a property on the Rua do Ramalhete, near the Ocean Club, at around 4pm on 3 May.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/15/madeleine-mccann-same-name-efit-appeal-crimewatch
