Brazil mourns TV mogul Marinho

Marinho had a huge influence on Brazilian society

Hundreds of Brazilians including soap stars, housewives and government leaders attended the funeral of media tycoon Roberto Marinho on Thursday in Rio De Janeiro.

Marinho, dubbed the Citizen Kane of Brazil for his news and entertainment empire, died on Wednesday of lung problems at the age of 98.

Marinho created the nationwide Globo television network, which turned Rio de Janeiro into a Brazilian Hollywood.

The network shows soap operas that attract a huge following in Brazil and have become hits as far away as Russia and China.

In scenes more normally associated with the death of a state leader, most of Brazil's leading politicians showed up to the wake and funeral.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva praised Marinho's efforts and declared three days of mourning.

Marinho had often been criticised for supporting Brazil's former military dictatorship to obtain Globo's monopoly-like reach. But he was praised for his influence in business.

He had taken took over the small family newspaper, O Globo, while in his 20s and quickly expanded what became known as Organizacoes Globo into the radio, TV, publishing and Internet business.