Eh, I’d never use the word “rigged” for that meaning, nor am I 100% sure what that has to do with the outcome of the referendum - I don’t remember hearing much support for the referendum in mainstream media, if you’re assumimg they promoted it. The promotion went through other channels, primarily conservative activist orgs and the Church.

Regarding the political ties, the situation was more complex - the govt has almost direct control over one major media institution, while the rest of the media landscape is fragmented, private, with two of the three biggest TV channels being owned by foreigners. Still, you might wish to believe in some control the govt might have had over the media - but the govt at the time was nominally left-wing and the referendum went against their goals. They evidently didn’t or couldn’t influence the people through media enough. It was a massive embarrassment and symbolic defeat of them when the referendum passed.

I don’t know what other sort of scenario you can now come up with to explain away the reality of widespread homophobia outside of your urban 1st world / internet bubble. It’s all just utopistic imagination with no substance, and I have to admit it makes me pessimistic.