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Spain Deals Bullfights Fatal Blow

Spanish television yanks coverage of lethal, decreasingly popular sport

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 6, 2007 8:26 AM CST

(Newser) – The traditional sport of bullfighting suffered what may prove to be a death blow yesterday, when the Spanish national television network decided not to include coverage in next year's schedule. Traditionalists are up in arms, but animal-rights advocates cheered the decision, which will eliminate the traditional Sunday afternoon broadcast of athletes fighting and eventually slaughtering bulls.

Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is understood to oppose bullfighting but has never spoken on the issue. His environment minister provoked controversy recently when she suggested that bullfighting continue but without killing the animals. Whether televised or not, bullfighting's popularity is on the wane: Barcelona's last working bullring loses tens of thousands of dollars every time it puts on a fight.

Spanish bullfighter Rafael Rubio "Rafaelillo" fights a Miura's bull in the bullring of Pamplona, northern Spain, in this July 8, 2007 file photo. State-run Spanish television has quietly yanked live coverage... (Associated Press)

Spanish bullfighter Ivan Vicente fights a Dolores Aguirre Ybarra bull in the bullring of Pamplona, northern Spain, in this July 7, 2007 file photo. State-run Spanish TV has quietly yanked live coverage... (Associated Press)

Spanish bullfighter Miguel Perera performs a pass to a bull during a bullfighting fair in Lima, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) (Associated Press)

Spanish bullfighter Enrique Ponce performs a pass to a bull during a bullfighting fair in Lima, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) (Associated Press)

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Spain Deals Bullfights Fatal Blow

Spanish television yanks coverage of lethal, decreasingly popular sport

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Eurozone Economy Shrinks

Nine of 17 member states post a fall

First-Ever Neanderthal Paintings Discovered

Nerja caves in Spain contain art that pre-dates Homo sapiens

Entire Town Wins Lottery— Except for One Guy

Residents of Spanish village of Sodeto get piece of $950M jackpot

Death Toll Rises in European Cold Snap

Europeans grapple with worst winter in years

Behind Europe's Economic Mess: 'Willful Amnesia'

Austerity measures violate basic economic tenets: Paul Krugman

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Spain Deals Bullfights Fatal Blow

Spanish television yanks coverage of lethal, decreasingly popular sport

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Spain • Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero • bullfighting

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Eurozone Economy Shrinks

Nine of 17 member states post a fall

First-Ever Neanderthal Paintings Discovered

Nerja caves in Spain contain art that pre-dates Homo sapiens

Entire Town Wins Lottery— Except for One Guy

Residents of Spanish village of Sodeto get piece of $950M jackpot

Death Toll Rises in European Cold Snap

Europeans grapple with worst winter in years

Behind Europe's Economic Mess: 'Willful Amnesia'

Austerity measures violate basic economic tenets: Paul Krugman

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Newser By Users

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