Netflix viewers have been left horrified by a documentary revealing how a TV host masterminded violent crimes to boost ratings on his show.
Brazilian presenter Wallace Souza was secretly ordering hitmen to kill local people so the crew on his Crimewatch-style show, Canal Livre, could film their corpses which boosted his ratings.
A new Netflix documentary called Killer Ratings has told the gruesome story in detail and viewers are calling it “the most insane” series.
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The documentary reveals how the popular TV host secretly arranged a series of crimes while pretending to solve them on his weekly show.
His show, Canal Livre, covered vicious murders with its cameras often on site before police.
Ex-policeman Souza would use his show to gain support by condemning corruption and lawlessness among authorities.
The show was extremely graphic and showed police raids and arrests, with presenters often following police chases in a helicopter.
In 2009, Souza was charged with running a criminal organisation and hiring hitmen to kill at least five people to boost the ratings on his show.
After realising Canal Livre would often get to crime scenes before them, police became suspicious and began to investigate.
In October 2009, Souza was charged and then went on the run – denying any wrongdoing.
He eventually handed himself in, but continued to insist he was innocent until his death from a heart attack while awaiting trial in 2010.
Fans of Netflix have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on the series.
One person said: “Okay why is everyone not talking about the #Netflix docu-series #KillerRatings???? I stumbled on it by accident and it is WILD.”
Okay why is everyone not talking about the #Netflix docu-series #KillerRatings ???? I stumbled on it by accident and it is WILD pic.twitter.com/tgJxZp0dEK
— mimi petrakis (@MimiPetrakis) 2 June 2019
Another wrote: “OK #killerratings is the most insane thing I’ve seen,” while a third added: “Anyone watched the #Netflix show #KillerRatings? Unbelievable.”
Ok #killerratings is the most insane thing I’ve seen
— Intern John (@InternJohnRadio) 5 June 2019
Anyone watched the #Netflix show #KillerRatings? Unbelievable.
— TotallyScott (@ScottTotally) 6 June 2019
A fourth said: “Killer Ratings is completely fascinating, horrifying and insane.”
‘Killer Ratings’ is completely fascinating, horrifying and insane. Based on the story of Wallace Souza, a Brazilian television host who ordered murders to bost the ratings of his television show. A real treat for fans of true crime and stranger than fiction documentaries. pic.twitter.com/5ptE0s7e3G
— Liam Pendergast (@neonwhite900) 6 June 2019
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Before becoming a TV presenter, Souza was in the police force but his career ended when he was accused of being involved in a college exams fraud scheme he was investigating in 1987 and he was accused of extorting criminals.
Killer Ratings was put on Netflix at the end of May.
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