Live bullfights back on Spanish TV

Televisión Española is to air a 'short but symbolic' series of bullfights after new rightwing government took control of its board. Live bullfighting is returning to Spain's public broadcaster Televisión Española (TVE) after six years of viewers being unable to watch, in real time, the last few minutes of a bull's life.

A fight at the bullring in Valladolid is set to be broadcast on 5th September, allowing bullfight fans to see half a dozen animals fought and killed on the sand of the city's arena.

The decision to show live bullfighting comes after the conservative People's Party (PP) of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took control of the broadcaster's board and changed its senior management.
TVE will not pay the three bullfighters involved or the company that runs the Valladolid bullring, though it will bear the cost of setting up the multi-camera broadcast.Top matadors Julián López – known as El Juli – José María Manzanares and Alejandro Talavante have waived their royalties as part of a campaign to stop growing anti-bullfight sentiment that has already succeeded in getting the practice banned in the autonomous eastern region of Catalonia.

“TVE believes that the potential audience that might be attracted to this lineup is, in itself, a sufficient reason for broadcasting it,” a spokesman said. “This will be the first of a short but symbolic series of bullfights … which Spain's public television channel plans to programme,” TVE added.
bullfight1TVE pulled bullfighting from its schedules last year, saying it contravened its code of conduct for programmes before Spain's late evening watershed hour. Bullfights mostly start at 6pm or 7pm, falling into children's viewing hours and so raised issues of protecting children from the bloodshed. However, furious fans had accused the broadcaster of shunning a key part of Spanish popular culture. “This means that TVE, which belongs to us all, will deprive us of something that over the centuries has formed part of the cultural patrimony of many Spaniards, both of the political right and the left,” columnist Andrés Amorós wrote in the conservative daily ABC.

But Rajoy's PP, which swept to power in November, is involved in a controversial reform of the broadcaster and is accused of removing senior journalists who are seen as too leftwing.

The section preventing children from watching live bullfights was removed from its code of conduct earlier this year. “Management has acted accordingly,” a senior TVE source said.

TVE had not banned bullfighting completely, and continued to cover it on late night television and radio programmes devoted exclusively to what fans consider to be an art form – newspapers cover it in their arts pages.

Regular live broadcasts of the major bullfighting festivals from Madrid, Seville and elsewhere stopped in 2006, after TVE was priced out of the market by private broadcasters.

bullfighter“Now the bullfighting lobby seems prepared to do anything in order to bring live fights back to our public television channel, even if that means trampling over European Union television rules,” the Animalist party, which lobbies against bullfighting, said. TVE sources denied that any such rules were being broken.

Anti-bullfighting supporters are also raising the issue that ‘Spain’s National Art’ has been exempted from the IVA/VAT increase which comes into effect this Saturday, 1st September 2012. The IVA paid on other cultural tickets sees IVA rise from 8 percent to 21 percent. For Bullfighting it stays at the lower rate.

source: coastrider.net/component/content/article/46-headline/18087-live-bullfights-back-on-spanish-state-tv-

Valencia CF Home Games 2012/2013

2012/2013 Valencia CF Home Games in the league Aug 26 Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña
Sep 16 Valencia v Celta Vigo
Sep 30 Valencia v Real Zaragoza
Oct 21 Valencia v Athletic Bilbao
Nov 04 Valencia v Atlético Madrid
Nov 18 Valencia v Espanyol
Dec 02 Valencia v Real Sociedad
Dec 16 Valencia v Rayo Vallecano
Dec 22 Valencia v Getafe
Jan 13 Valencia v Sevilla FC
Jan 20 Valencia v Real Madrid
Feb 03 Valencia v Barcelona
Feb 17 Valencia v Mallorca
Mar 03 Valencia v Levante
Mar 17 Valencia v Real Betis
Apr 07 Valencia v Valladolid
Apr 21 Valencia v Málaga
May 05 Valencia v Osasuna
May 29 Valencia v Granada

Fiestas de Gandia - Fiestas in an around the Gandia area

Festes de Xeraco 2012
del 3 al 8 de Agosto, Xeraco (6Kms)

Festes 2012 en Simat de Valldigna
del 4 al 7 de Agosto, Simat de Valldigna (11Kms)

Santo Cristo de la Fe en Otos
del 4 al 7 de Agosto, Otos (20Kms)

Festes patronals en Tavernes de la Valldigna
5 de Agosto, Tavernes de la Valldigna (11Kms)

Divino Salvador en Els Poblets
6 de Agosto, Els Poblets (Alicante) (17Kms)

Cristo del Calvario en Genovés
6 de Agosto, Genovés (19Kms)

El Salvador en Murla
6 de Agosto, Murla (Alicante) (19Kms)

Cristo del Consuelo en Rafelguaraf
6 de Agosto, Rafelguaraf (19Kms)

Fiestas de Agosto 2012 en Elche
del 7 al 15 de Agosto, Elche (Alicante) (68Kms)

Santíssim Crist del Cònsol en Sagra
10 de Agosto, Sagra (Alicante) (16Kms)

FESTES PATRONALS MARE DE DÉU DE LORETO : 25 AUGUST - 8 SEPTEMBER 2012

SUNDAY 19th AUGUST 2012
22:00 NOCHE DE SAINTETE | Traditional Valencian Farce Calle Severo Ochoa
FRIDAY 24th AUGUST 2012
20:30 SOLEMN MASS | The deceased are honoured by a special mass Port Church
SATURDAY 25th AUGUST 2012
11:00 VII JUNIOR FISHING TOURNAMENT organised by Peña la UCA | Inscriptions from 10:00 Port de Xàbia
22:30 PRESENTATION OF THE 2011 FIESTA | Presentation of the Fiesta Queens and their Escorts Avda. Augusta
after LIVE MUSIC | "Grupo Hacker" (until 05:00) Avda. Augusta
SUNDAY 26th AUGUST 2012
09:30 JUNIOR RASPALL CHAMPIONSHIP | Valencian Pilota C/. Virgen de Loreto
10:00 XXX MARATHON organised by Peña La Bufa | Separate Programme Available Port de Xàbia
11:30 LLARGUES MATCH | Valencian Pilota C/. Virgen de Loreto
17:00 INTER-PEÑA RASPALL CHAMPIONSHIP | Valencian Pilota C/. Virgen de Loreto
18:30 PROFESSIONAL RASPALL MATCH | Valencian Pilota C/. Virgen de Loreto
22:00 COMMUNITY DINNER | Bring along something to eat and drink Paseo Maritimo
00:00 LIVE MUSIC | "Cache" (until 04:00) C/. Severo Ochoa
TUESDAY 28th AUGUST 2012
22:00 COMMUNITY DINNER | Zona Bartolomé Ros with live music from Bradmis until 02:30 Zone Bartolomé Ros
00:30 NIGHT OF FIESTA organised by Bar El Clavo and Duplex Bar | Live music until 03:00 Paseo Maritimo
WEDNESDAY 29th AUGUST 2012
22:00 COMMUNITY DINNER | Zona Triana with live music from Bradmis until 03:00 Zone Triana
THURSDAY 30th AUGUST 2012 - "Día de las Peñas"
12:30 The organising Committee accompanied by BATUKADA BUNPADA visits the peñas The streets of the Port
14:30 COMMUNITY DINNER organised by Peña La Comuna | A lunch for all the peñas C/. Severo Ochoa
19:00 "GYMKANA" organised by Peña La Depravà | A series of competitive games for the peñas Palau Municipal d'Esports (rear)
20:00 PRIZE GIVING for the XX JUNIOR DRAWING COMPETITION with performances by Mag-Wendo C/. Severo Ochoa
23:00 INTER PEÑA TALENT COMPETITION "A ver si tu vales" C/. Doctor Fleming
01:00 OPEN AIR DISCO | Until 04:00 C/. Doctor Fleming
FRIDAY 31st AUGUST 2012
12:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Ifach Port de Xàbia
18:30 SIMULTANEOUS CHESS with the maestro Francisco Sanchez-Guirado C/. Severo Ochoa
19:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Benavent Port de Xàbia
22:00 VI OPEN PAELLA COMPETITION organised by the Peña Les Marineres Palau Municipal d'Esports
23:30 "BOUS AL CARRER" | Acrobatic Display by D'ART MEDITERRANI - leaps and somersaults over bulls Port de Xàbia
- "TORO EMBOLADO" | la ganadería La Paloma Port de Xàbia
SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2012 - "Día de los Niños y de las Niñas"
09:30 XII OPEN TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT organised by TEMEXA Palau Municipal d'Esports
10:00 X JUNIOR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT "3 x 3" organised by Bàsquet Joventut Xàbia Palau Municipal d'Esports
10:00 HOT CHOCOLATE AND CAKE organised by the neighbours of Calle Doctor Fleming
POPULAR CHILDREN'S GAMES organised by the neighbours of Calle Triana
TRADITIONAL MERINGUE THROWING organised by Comissió de Festes
and to wash it all off - WATER PARTY in collaboration with Transportes Montgó Avda. Jaume I
Paseo Maritimo
11:00 CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA AND WATER GAMES Paseo Jaime I
13:00 GREASY POLE organised by Peña La Bufa Port de Xàbia
14:00 PAELLA, SOFT DRINKS AND ICE CREAMS FOR ALL THE CHILDREN organised by Celsa SL and MasyMas C/. Severo Ochoa
16:00 IX JUNIOR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT "3 x 3" organised by Bàsquet Joventut Xàbia (continued) Palau Municipal d'Esports
20:00 GRAND FLOAT PARADE with the participation of all the peñas | A dentist's dream! The streets of the port
23:00 LIVE MUSIC | "Jávea Rock Academy" Paseo Maritimo
24:00 CORREFOCS organised by XARXA TEATRE | Don't wear good clothes & be prepared for something special! The street of the port
01:00 NIGHT OF ROCK organised by Peña Els Entorbats | until 05:00 Paseo Maritimo
SUNDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2012
10:00 XXX CYCLING TROPHY organised by Peña La Bufa | Separate Programme Available Port de Xàbia
11:30 IV RASPALL CHAMPIONSHIP | Valencian Pilota Trinquet de Xàbia
11:30 CLASSIC CAR RALLY C/. Sevilla
12:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Paiportero Port de Xàbia
19:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Roberto Cordellat Port de Xàbia
20:30 LIVE MUSIC | Junior Band of the "Centro Artístico Musical de Xàbia" Avda. Jaume I
23:30 "NOCHE DE TOROS" | la ganadería Asensi Port de Xàbia
- "TORO EMBOLADO" organised by the ACT de Xàbia Port de Xàbia
MONDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 2012
12:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería La Paloma Port de Xàbia
19:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Asensi Port de Xàbia
23:30 "BOUS AL CARRER" |  Port de Xàbia
- "TORO EMBOLADO" | la ganadería Benavent Port de Xàbia
TUESDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 2012
12:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Roberto Cordellat Port de Xàbia
19:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Paiportero Port de Xàbia
23:30 "BOUS AL CARRER" |  Port de Xàbia
- "TORO EMBOLADO" | la ganadería Crespo Port de Xàbia
01:00 OPEN-AIR FANCY DRESS DISCO organised by Peña Els Entorbats | until 04:00 Avda. Jaume I
WEDNESDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2012
10:30 II GRAN CAGADA organised by Peña La Comuna | You don't want to know! Port de Xàbia
12:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Roberto Cordellat Port de Xàbia
19:00 "BOUS AL MAR" | la ganadería Paiportero Port de Xàbia
00:00 OPEN-AIR DISCO organised by Peñas La Banyà & Liatrix "Pilatrix" | until 04:00 Paseo Maritimo
THURSDAY 6th SEPTEMBER 2012 - "Día de la Tercera Edad"
10:30 BRISCA TOURNAMENT for the over 50s, organised by Peña La Bufa | Spanish Card Game C/. Doctor Fleming
13:00 GENERAL RINGING OF THE BELLS Port Church
19:00 FLOWER OFFERING to the VIRGEN DE LORETO Port Church
22:00 STREET THEATRE organised by Peña La Bufa and sponsored by Concejalía de Fiestas C/. Doctor Fleming
24:00 "NOCHE DE RONDA" | The Tuna de Xàbia group sing to all the Fiesta Queens The streets of the Port
FRIDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2012 - "Día del Santísimo Cristo del Mar"
08:00 DESPERTÀ | The traditional wake-up call with music and rockets The streets of the Port
13:00 PROCESSION to collect the Fiesta Queens and their Escorts The streets of the Port
13:30 TRADITIONAL STREET FIESTA C/. Santísimo Cristo del Mar
19:00 PROCESSION to collect the Fiesta Queens and their Escorts The streets of the Port
19:30 SOLEMN MASS to celebrate the EUCHARIST IN HONOUR OF SANTÍSIMO CRISTO DEL MAR Port Church
20:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION with the image of SANTÍSIMO CRISTO DEL MAR The streets of the Port
23:30 LIVE MUSIC | Licencia Para Imitar Paseo Maritimo
01:30 OPEN AIR DISCO organised by Peña Drink Team (until 06:00) Palau Municipal d'Esports (rear)
SATURDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2012 - "Día de la Mare de Déu de Loreto"
08:00 DESPERTÀ | The traditional wake-up call with music and rockets The streets of the Port
11:00 PROCESSION to collect the Fiesta Queens and their Escorts The streets of the Port
12:00 SOLEMN MASS to celebrate the EUCHARIST IN HONOUR OF LA MARE DE DÉU DE LORETO Port Church
13:30 MASCLETÀ Avda. Augusta
19:00 PROCESSION to collect the Fiesta Queens and their Escorts The streets of the Port
20:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION with the image of LA VIRGEN DE LA MARE DE DÉU DE LORETO The streets of the Port
22:30 LIVE MUSIC AND DANCING | "Super Magic Paseo Maritimo
01:00 AQUATIC FIREWORK DISPLAY to close the celebrations in honour of LA MARE DE DÉU DE LORETO Paseo Maritimo

Festes del Portitxol 2012 - Fiestas Portitxol Javea Xabia

SATURDAY 11th AUGUST 2012

18:30
 PROCESSION WITH 'DOLÇAINES I TABALETS'
A very informal procession through the village of Portitxol from the tosca stone cross on the edge of the Carretera del Portitxol and along Carrer del l'Illa and Carrer de la Caleta, an enjoyable stroll in the evening sunshine to get to know your fellow "festeros".

19:30
 BERENAR PER A TOTS
Snacks for all as we all recover from the walk around the area, enjoying the stunning views offered by this particular stretch of coastline.

20:00
 ACTUACIÓ DE PEP GIMENO "EL BOTIFARRA"
Xativa-based singer Pep Gimeno is one of the most recognisable voices of the Valencian folk music scene of recent years and a perfect addition to this very traditional fiesta.
DANSÂ DE CARRER amenitzada pel Grup Portitxol i la Colla Portitxol
Traditional dancing performed by members of the wonderful Grup de Danses Portitxol who have been instrumental in restoring this old fiesta back to the municipal programme after a gap of a half-a-century.

22:00
 SOPAR DE CABASSET
A community supper for all. Long stretches of trestle table will have been laid out and one simply grabs a seat, throws whatever you have prepared in the middle of the table and everyone eats together. Drinks will be available at the bar or you can bring your own.

23:30
 BALL-REVETLA AMB L'ORQUESTRA COLORS
Live music and dancing into the night to a fun party-band who will play many favourites that will get young and old up on their feet and enjoying this very special fiesta.

SUNDAY 12th AUGUST 2012

09:00
 DESPERTÀ DE VEÍNS
A musical wake-up call through the village of Portitxol with the flutes and drums of the Colla Portitxol

10:00
 ESMORZAR: TORRADA DE SARDINES
A special maritime community breakfast with grilled sardines, fresh crusty bread and huge, juicy tomatoes and olives, all flushed down with copious amounts of beer!

11:00
 CUCANYES I JOCS TRADICIONALS
As the hot summer sun climbs into the sky, everyone takes some shade to spend a couple of hours playing traditional games, a fun way to end an enjoyable fiesta.