A Chilean subscription television channel focused on culture, travel, food and Chilean and international interest programming.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
13C is a Chilean subscription television channel associated with Canal 13. Its identity developed from Canal 13's efforts in the 1990s to extend the broadcaster beyond its principal television signal and distribute programming through satellite and cable systems. The project initially used the name UCTV Señal 3, or Señal 3, and in its early phase largely repeated older Channel 13 material. A strategic and management shift in the late 1990s moved the service toward a more clearly differentiated cable-channel proposition. In 1998, after Rodrigo Jordan became executive director of the network, the service underwent a corporate-image and programming renewal. On November 14, 1999, Señal 3 was renamed Canal 13 Cable. The channel's editorial profile increasingly emphasized cultural programming, travel, food, and subjects connected with Chile and the wider world. Its news-related identity also changed during this period: the program Encuentro Noticioso was renamed Tele13 Cable in September 1999. These changes positioned the channel as a complementary service rather than simply a repeat outlet for the main Canal 13 schedule. The most important branding change occurred on July 11, 2008, when Canal 13 Cable became 13C. The relaunch introduced a new name and visual identity and reinforced the channel's focus on lifestyle, culture, discovery and specialized factual programming. At the beginning of the relaunch, the service was available through Movistar TV and VTR. It later expanded and changed across Chile's multichannel distribution landscape, entering and leaving operator lineups as commercial and distribution agreements changed. 13C also experimented with terrestrial distribution. In January 2010, it became available in Santiago through digital terrestrial television channel 13.2. That over-the-air transmission ended in September 2013 following complaints from cable operators, leaving the channel primarily dependent on subscription television distribution. The channel's relationship with cable and satellite operators continued to evolve. It left Claro TV in January 2014 after disagreements between Canal 13 executives and the operator, returned to that platform with its high-definition service in June 2016, and was added to DirecTV's nationwide lineup in September 2017. It also entered the Porques cable lineup in November 2014. A high-definition version was launched on May 1, 2015, initially through Gtd and Telsur. The HD service subsequently joined VTR in July 2015 and later became available through other distributors. In 2020, 13C expanded its presence outside Santiago through VTR's analog signals, replacing VH1 in much of the country, and subsequently replaced Studio Universal in Antofagasta. These distribution milestones illustrate the channel's reliance on operator carriage and its continuing effort to reach a broad Chilean subscription-TV audience. The channel's programming has remained centered on cultural content, travel, food and related lifestyle subjects. It has also carried selected news and magazine programming connected with Canal 13, although some of that programming changed or was removed as the channel refined its schedule. On October 21, 2014, 13C discontinued the Teletrece C news program and simultaneously broadcast Canal 13's 9 p.m. central news bulletin. The service is owned by the Luksic Group and operated by Secuoya Chile according to the referenced description. Its role within the Canal 13 family is that of a specialized cable and subscription channel rather than a general-interest broadcast network.
History
13C originated in a mid-1990s Canal 13 initiative to extend the Chilean broadcaster's reach through additional distribution signals. Under executive director Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte, the project produced UCTV Chile, a satellite-oriented service, and Señal 3, intended for cable television. During its earliest period, Señal 3 mainly rebroadcast older Canal 13 material rather than presenting a fully independent editorial identity. A change in direction followed Rodrigo Jordan's appointment as executive director of the network in August 1998. The service received a corporate-image renewal and began moving toward more distinctive cultural programming. On November 14, 1999, Señal 3 was renamed Canal 13 Cable. The new name clarified its relationship with the main broadcaster, while the schedule increasingly dealt with culture, Chilean subjects, travel and international topics. The news program Encuentro Noticioso had already been renamed Tele13 Cable on September 27, 1999. Juan Pablo Fresno Joannon directed Canal 13 Cable for approximately two years during this early branded phase. On July 11, 2008, the service was relaunched as 13C during the period when Mercedes Ducci was part of Canal 13's executive management. The new brand and visual identity supported a more specialized positioning based on culture, discovery, travel, food and lifestyle. Initially, distribution included Movistar TV and VTR. Rather than operating as a nationwide terrestrial broadcaster, 13C depended principally on carriage agreements with cable and satellite providers. The channel entered Santiago's digital terrestrial television system in January 2010 on channel 13.2. This experiment ended in September 2013 after complaints from cable operators. Distribution negotiations continued to shape the channel's reach. 13C left Claro TV in January 2014 following disagreements between Canal 13 executives and the operator, joined the Porques cable lineup in November of that year, and returned to Claro TV in June 2016 with its HD signal. In parallel, the channel expanded its high-definition offering: 13C HD launched on May 1, 2015, first through Gtd and Telsur, and was added to VTR on July 1. DirecTV made the HD service available nationwide beginning September 15, 2017. The schedule also continued to evolve. On October 21, 2014, 13C stopped carrying the Teletrece C news program and instead simulcast Canal 13's 9 p.m. central news bulletin. This reflected the continuing relationship between the specialized channel and its parent broadcaster. In 2020, 13C broadened its physical footprint through VTR's analog signals outside Santiago, replacing VH1 in those areas, and later replaced Studio Universal in Antofagasta. The channel is described as owned by the Luksic Group and operated by Secuoya Chile. Its historical function has been to provide a culturally oriented subscription service within the Canal 13 ecosystem, complementing rather than duplicating the general-interest schedule of the principal channel. Its core editorial areas remain cultural subjects, travel, food and factual programming linked to Chile and the international environment.
- 2020
VTR expands 13C's non-Santiago reach
[1]13C replaces VH1 on VTR analog signals across much of Chile outside Santiago and later replaces Studio Universal in Antofagasta.
- 2017
13C HD expands to DirecTV
[1]The high-definition service becomes available nationwide through DirecTV.
- 2015
13C HD launches
[1]The channel begins HD distribution through Gtd and Telsur and later joins VTR's lineup.
- 2014
News programming is reconfigured
[1]13C removes Teletrece C and simultaneously broadcasts Canal 13's central evening news bulletin.
- 2013
Santiago over-the-air transmission ends
[1]The temporary terrestrial service is discontinued after complaints from cable operators.
- 2010
Digital terrestrial distribution begins in Santiago
[1]13C becomes available on Santiago digital terrestrial channel 13.2.
- 2008
Canal 13 Cable is relaunched as 13C
[1]The channel introduces the 13C name and a new corporate image.
- 1999
Señal 3 becomes Canal 13 Cable
[1]The channel adopts the Canal 13 Cable name and places greater emphasis on cultural and Chile- and world-focused programming.
- 1998
Señal 3 receives a corporate and programming renewal
[1]Following Rodrigo Jordan's appointment as network executive director, the service begins moving away from a primarily archival rebroadcast model.
- 1995
Canal 13 develops additional distribution signals
[1]Canal 13 launches an expansion project that includes a satellite-oriented UCTV Chile signal and the cable-focused Señal 3.
Products and positioning
A specialized Chilean subscription channel offering cultural, travel, food and lifestyle programming as a complementary service to Canal 13's general-interest television operation.
Subscription television channel · 2008
13C standard-definition channel
The core 13C service is a Chilean subscription television channel distributed through cable and satellite operators. Its programming centers on culture, travel, food, lifestyle and factual content concerning Chile and international subjects. The service developed from the earlier Señal 3 and Canal 13 Cable identities and operates as a specialized complement to Canal 13's general-interest channel.
High-definition television feed · 2015
13C HD
13C HD is the channel's high-definition distribution feed. It launched in May 2015 through Gtd and Telsur, subsequently joined VTR, returned to Claro TV with the channel's broader service in 2016, and became available nationwide on DirecTV in 2017. Its content identity follows the main 13C service.
Marketing campaigns
- 200813C brand relaunch
Chile
Canal 13 Cable was renamed 13C and given a new visual identity to support a more specialized cultural, travel, food and lifestyle proposition.
Outcome. The 13C name became the channel's continuing identity.
Brand decisions
2020
Expand regional carriage through VTRStrategyBackground
13C sought broader distribution outside Santiago through the country's cable infrastructure.
Action taken
VTR placed 13C on analog signals across the country outside Santiago, replacing VH1, and later used it in Antofagasta in place of Studio Universal.
Aftermath
The move increased the channel's regional availability through a major Chilean operator.
2015
Launch 13C HDProduct launchBackground
High-definition distribution was becoming an important capability for subscription television channels.
Action taken
13C launched an HD signal through Gtd and Telsur, followed by expansion to VTR.
Aftermath
The HD feed later expanded to Claro TV and DirecTV.
2014
Reconfigure news programmingStrategyBackground
13C carried the Teletrece C news program as part of its schedule.
Action taken
The channel removed Teletrece C and simultaneously broadcast Canal 13's 9 p.m. central news bulletin.
Aftermath
The change strengthened schedule coordination with the main Canal 13 service.
2010
Add a digital terrestrial signal in SantiagoOtherBackground
The channel sought to broaden access beyond conventional cable distribution.
Action taken
13C was distributed through Santiago digital terrestrial channel 13.2.
Aftermath
The over-the-air transmission ended in September 2013 after complaints from cable operators.
2008
Relaunch the channel as 13CStrategyBackground
Canal 13 Cable required a more distinctive brand for its specialized subscription television role.
Action taken
The service adopted the 13C name and a new corporate image.
Aftermath
13C continued as Canal 13's culturally oriented cable and subscription channel.
1999
Rename Señal 3 as Canal 13 CableStrategyBackground
The early cable service was being repositioned beyond its initial reliance on older Canal 13 programming.
Action taken
Canal 13 changed the service's name and emphasized cultural and Chile- and world-focused content.
Aftermath
The service acquired a clearer specialized cable-channel identity before its later relaunch as 13C.
Sources1 sources
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