Brazilian journalist Rodrigo Bocardi has ended his contract with SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão), just over a month after he debuted as host of the daily news programme "SBT Cidades." The network confirmed the split in a statement sent to the press on Friday, September 11.
According to the statement, Bocardi was initially set to be pulled from the air while the broadcaster investigated accusations of alleged extortion against him. But the network said his own comments on social media about the matter led to bigger consequences than the original inquiry.
SBT said it learned of a complaint involving Bocardi through social media and found no facts or evidence that compromised his conduct or professional integrity. However, because the commercial partnership between SBT and BocaTV, Bocardi's own digital media channel, had already been dissolved, the broadcaster said Bocardi decided, with SBT's agreement, to end his contract with the network entirely and focus on his own companies.
Bocardi responds in video
Shortly after SBT released its statement, Bocardi posted a video explaining his side of the split. Among several points, he said the network had failed to honour the agreement it held with BocaTV.
He said he had cut SBT out of his life, along with BocaTV, and rejected the extortion and blackmail accusations as having nothing to do with him. He said the real issues were SBT's breach of contract, broken promises and irresponsibility.
Bocardi added that he regretted the situation for viewers and for the television team because of his departure, but said he was unhappy that the network's investigation had been triggered by rumours circulating on social media rather than substantiated claims.
A partnership that soured quickly
SBT is Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão, one of Brazil's major broadcast networks, founded by the late television host and businessman Silvio Santos. Bocardi was hired in June this year to front "SBT Cidades," a project that initially incorporated BocaTV, his digital media brand, into the show. The programme debuted on August 3.
Just a month later, SBT's management asked that the BocaTV logo be removed from the news desk and from the microphones used on set, a request that reportedly upset Bocardi. The commercial partnership between the two platforms was formally dissolved on Friday, the same day the contract termination was announced.
Bocardi has not said what his next project will be, though he indicated he plans to focus fully on his own companies going forward.
