Brazilian TV Mogul Silvio Santos Passes Away at 93

Silvio Santos, a renowned Brazilian media mogul and founder of SBT TV channel, passed away at the age of 93 from bronchopneumonia. He was a significant figure in Brazilian television, known for his showmanship and business empire worth over $1 billion. President Lula da Silva mourned his loss.

Silvio Santos, the illustrious Brazilian media mogul who transitioned from a street vendor to owning one of the nation's largest TV channels, passed away at 93, according to his broadcaster SBT on Saturday.

"Today heaven rejoices with the arrival of our beloved Silvio Santos," SBT said on X. "Rest in Peace, you will always be eternal in our hearts." Silvio Santos succumbed to bronchopneumonia early Saturday after being hospitalized in Sao Paulo for H1N1 flu since the beginning of August.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences on X, calling Silvio Santos "the greatest personality in the history of Brazilian television and one of the country's great communicators." Santos, who was born Senor Abravanel, founded SBT TV in the 1980s. The channel became a top competitor to TV Globo, a major media conglomerate in the Americas.

(With inputs from agencies.)