Officially, the Cuban government has banned activities that are directly related to the so-called “weekly package.” Will this be a farewell to Turkish soap operas and other content? We explain.
The Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba No. 78 of 2024 published a new list that includes 125 economic activities prohibited for private micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), non-agricultural cooperatives (CNA) and self-employed workers (TCP).
Among the restricted activities is the so-called “weekly package,” an offline distribution system for audiovisual content that has been a popular source of entertainment in Cuba, allowing citizens to access foreign programs, movies and series through storage devices.
This practice is now expressly prohibited in section 61 of the list, which states: “cinema exhibition activities (5914), which include movies, documentaries, series, novels or other similar works, as well as its availability to the public through computer media”.
Goodbye to the weekly package in Cuba
Cuban authorities acknowledge that the “weekly package” is distributed in practically all neighborhoods of the country, and they have identified many of the entrepreneurs who operate it. The content is distributed through USB drives and hard drives, with payment in national currency.
The decree, signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, states that the prohibited activities are considered of strategic importance for the country, so only his government is authorized to manage them.
In 2023, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel assured in a parliamentary session that as a government, they were concerned about the content that is shared from house to house, throughout the island, through the so-called “weekly package”, a kind of Cuban “Netflix”, where soap operas, current movies, entertainment and sports content are brought together.
The president also spoke of the “imperialist penetration” of many of the international programs that people consume through this activity.
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El Paquete Cuba
Table of Contents
Goodbye to the Weekly Package in Cuba: What Does This Mean for Entertainment?
The Cuban government has officially banned activities related to the “weekly package,” an offline distribution system for audiovisual content that has been a popular source of entertainment in Cuba. This practice, which allows citizens to access foreign programs, movies, and series through storage devices, is now expressly prohibited in section 61 of the list of 125 economic activities prohibited for private micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), non-agricultural cooperatives (CNA), and self-employed workers (TCP) [[1]].
The “weekly package” has been a staple of Cuban entertainment, providing access to Turkish soap operas, current movies, entertainment, and sports content, among other things. This content is distributed through USB drives and hard drives, with payment in national currency, and is available in practically all neighborhoods of the country [[1]].
The decree, signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, states that the prohibited activities are considered of strategic importance for the country, and therefore, only the government is authorized to manage them [[1]]. This move has raised concerns about the impact on the entertainment industry in Cuba and the implications for the citizens who rely on the “weekly package” for their entertainment needs.
In 2023, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed concerns about the content shared through the ”weekly package,” referring to it as a kind of “Cuban Netflix” and highlighting the “imperialist penetration” of many international programs [[1]]. This move is seen as an effort to control the flow of information and entertainment in the country, which has been a challenge for the government due to the limited access to the internet and the restrictions imposed by US sanctions [[2]].
The “weekly package” has been a vital source of entertainment for Cubans, who have limited access to the internet and are often restricted from accessing certain online platforms and content [[2]]. The ban on the “weekly package” is likely to have a significant impact on the entertainment industry in Cuba, and it remains to be seen how the government will fill the gap left by this popular source of entertainment.
It is also worth noting that the “weekly package” has been a significant cultural phenomenon in Cuba, with many citizens relying on it for their daily dose of entertainment. The ban on the “weekly package” has been met with mixed reactions, with some hailing it as a move towards greater control and regulation, while others see it as a restriction on their freedom to access information and entertainment.
the ban on the “weekly package” in Cuba marks a significant shift in the entertainment industry in the country. As the government seeks to control the flow of information and entertainment, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the citizens who rely on the “weekly package” for their entertainment needs.
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**What are the implications of banning the Weekly Package for access to foreign media in Cuba?**
Farewell to the Weekly Package: Cuban Government Bans Offline Content Distribution
In a move to regulate activities deemed of strategic importance, the Cuban government has officially banned the “weekly package,” an offline distribution system for audiovisual content that has been a popular source of entertainment in the country. This decision has sparked concerns about the future of access to foreign programs, movies, and series, including Turkish soap operas, in Cuba.
What is the Weekly Package?
The weekly package is an offline distribution system that allows Cubans to access foreign programs, movies, and series through storage devices such as USB drives and hard drives. This practice has been a popular source of entertainment in Cuba, allowing citizens to access content that would otherwise be unavailable due to the country’s limited internet connectivity [[3]].
Government Concerns
The Cuban government has expressed concerns about the content that is shared through the weekly package, which is distributed in practically all neighborhoods of the country. In a parliamentary session in 2023, President Miguel Díaz-Canel spoke about the “imperialist penetration” of many of the international programs that people consume through this activity [[2]]. The government has also identified many of the entrepreneurs who operate the weekly package, and has stated that the prohibited activities are considered of strategic importance for the country, so only the government is authorized to manage them.
Prohibition and Consequences
The prohibition of the weekly package is part of a new list of 125 economic activities prohibited for private micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), non-agricultural cooperatives (CNA) and self-employed workers (TCP) published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba No. 78 of 2024. This decision is likely to have significant consequences for the entertainment industry in Cuba, as well as for the many Cubans who rely on the weekly package for access to foreign content.
Impact on Turkish Soap Operas and Other Content
The ban on the weekly package is likely to affect the availability of Turkish soap operas and other foreign content in Cuba. Turkish soap operas have been particularly popular in Cuba, and their absence is likely to be felt by many Cubans who have grown accustomed to watching them through the weekly package.
A Farewell to Entertainment Freedom?
The Cuban government’s decision to ban the weekly package has sparked concerns about the future of entertainment freedom in Cuba. As the government tightens its grip on the entertainment industry, many Cubans are likely to feel the impact of this decision. Whether this is a farewell to the weekly package and other foreign content remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Cuban government is determined to regulate activities deemed of strategic importance to the country.
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