Argentina: Alejandro Romay dies at 88

[Samantha 2876]

Alejandro Romay, who in the 1960s and again in the 1980s led Argentina's Canal 9 (known as Canal 9 Libertad under his management) to ratings dominance, has died at the age of 88. Romay, known as "el Zar" (the Czar), was considered one of the great television minds in Argentina. In the 1990s he expanded his media empire from newspapers and Canal 9 to include a cable system in Buenos Aires and Miami's LPTV channel 41 (which later was run by his son Omar, though he was recently relieved of his duties there by a court).

 

In 1998, he exited the media world, selling the radio stations to a Mexican concern and Canal 9 Libertad to Australia's Prime Television. (Prime promptly went on what may have been the worst adventure in its history with the station.)

 

In his later years he suffered from Alzheimer's disease and declining health. A recent bout of pneumonia worsened his condition.