Canal 13
Canal 13 is a Chilean free-to-air television network with roots in the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a major role in the country's television history.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Canal 13 is a Chilean free-to-air television network commonly called El 13. It is the country's second-oldest television station and operates from Santiago, with programming distributed nationally through terrestrial transmission, affiliated signals, and other broadcast platforms. The network originated in television experiments conducted by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile during the early 1950s. Formal experimental transmissions began in Santiago on August 21, 1959, using VHF channel 2. After moving to channel 13 in 1961, the station acquired the identity that has defined its brand ever since. The network's early development combined technical experimentation, university education, news, drama, entertainment, and live event coverage. Its first studio productions included theatrical and variety programs, and it was among the first Chilean television outlets to incorporate commercial advertising. Canal 13 gained national visibility through its coverage of the 1962 FIFA World Cup, hosted in Chile, including several important matches and the tournament's later stages. It subsequently helped establish the production conventions of Chilean television through news, locally produced drama, documentary programming, music specials, and variety shows. A central part of the network's identity is its long-running news service Teletrece, which began in 1970 and became one of the best-known news brands in Chile. Entertainment also became a major strength. Sábados Gigantes, hosted by Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, developed from earlier weekend programs and became one of the most successful and enduring variety formats associated with Chilean television. The network also produced or premiered influential telenovelas and programs such as La Madrastra, Casagrande, Martes 13, Ángel Malo, and other locally adapted or original productions. Canal 13 expanded beyond Santiago during the 1970s and 1980s through its own transmitters and agreements with other stations. Its reach extended to central and northern Chile, including Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Talca, Chillán, Los Ángeles, Constitución, Cauquenes, Temuco, and several northern cities. The network's central production facilities moved into the Providencia television centre in 1983. The complex, later named the Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte Television Centre, remains closely associated with the channel's production and broadcast operations. The channel's history is also connected to major national events. During the September 11, 1973 coup, Canal 13 was the only television outlet authorized to remain on air by the military government junta for a period of three days, while other stations were taken off the air. This gave the network unusual nationwide exposure but also placed it within the political and institutional controversies of the period. In 1985, following the Algarrobo earthquake, the station extended its news coverage and helped organize the Chile ayuda a Chile relief broadcast. Canal 13 also participated in major national telethons and joint broadcasts with other Chilean networks. The station was originally operated under the formal name Corporación de Televisión de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In 2010, the university sold most of its shares to Grupo Luksic, associated with businessman Andrónico Luksic Craig. Grupo Luksic acquired full ownership in 2017. The ownership change marked the completion of Canal 13's transition from a university-owned broadcaster to a privately controlled commercial media organization, while the Canal 13 name and its core role in Chilean television were retained. Today, Canal 13's business scope includes free-to-air television, news, entertainment, scripted programming, reality and factual formats, sports and special-event coverage, digital video, and related media distribution. Its positioning combines broad-reach general entertainment with established news credentials and a strong local-production tradition. The network remains an important part of Chile's national media system, although its market environment includes competition from Televisión Nacional de Chile, Chilevisión, Mega, digital platforms, and changing audience habits.
History
Canal 13 developed from television experimentation at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Television equipment arrived in Santiago in 1952 through an arrangement involving the university and RCA Victor's Chilean subsidiary. The university formed technical and artistic teams, and its first closed-circuit experiment was transmitted in December of that year. A later collaboration with Radio Minería produced one of Chile's earliest public television broadcasts. The university's television operation moved toward regular transmission during the late 1950s. After new Philips equipment and a locally built transmitter were obtained, test broadcasts began in July 1959. Formal experimental transmissions started on August 21 from the university's Central House on VHF channel 2. The schedule was initially limited, including several films each week. In 1960, a dedicated Television Department was established under Juan Ángel Torti to organize the station's operations. On April 15, 1961, the station began official service using channel 13, giving rise to the Canal 13 identity. Early programming combined theatre, music, variety, and commercial advertising. The network's profile grew sharply in 1962 when it broadcast the FIFA World Cup hosted in Chile. It covered matches involving Chile and several decisive later-stage games, demonstrating the technical and editorial potential of the young station. During the following years, Canal 13 developed a press department, a drama division, documentary programming, and locally produced entertainment. The network's programming became increasingly substantial during the 1960s. Its drama output included teletheatre and the country's early television dramas, while variety programming evolved into Sábados Gigantes, hosted by Don Francisco. The station introduced videotape in 1965, received mobile production equipment, and participated in satellite broadcasting from 1968 onward. It also carried the 1969 Moon landing through a joint television arrangement. Teletrece premiered in 1970 and became a durable institutional feature of Chilean broadcasting. During the early 1970s, Canal 13 pursued wider geographical coverage. It developed affiliated or subsidiary services, including Channel 5 operations in parts of central Chile and Concepción, and later agreements that extended its programming to other regions. Expansion was controversial because the legal framework governing university television did not clearly anticipate the national growth of university-owned channels. The station's editorial position also made it part of the political tensions surrounding Chilean television before and after the 1973 coup. On September 11, 1973, Canal 13 was the only television outlet authorized by the military government junta to remain on air. For three days it used TVN's frequency network while TVN and Channel 9 were off the air. In 1974, Raúl Hasbún left the directorship and Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte took over. The network increased its daily schedule, continued its expansion, and strengthened Teletrece as a leading national news service. From the mid-1970s, the end of regular state subsidies pushed university television toward greater reliance on advertising and commercial operations. Canal 13 expanded its entertainment output through musical specials and variety programs, including work associated with Gonzalo Bertrán and presenter César Antonio Santis. In 1978, Chile authorized color broadcasting under the NTSC standard. Canal 13 rapidly installed compatible cameras and equipment, then participated in color coverage of the Argentina FIFA World Cup. The network also collaborated with TVN and university channels on the 1978 OTI Song Festival and the first Chilean Teletón. The 1980s brought further growth in news, drama, and production capacity. Programs such as La Madrastra, Casagrande, Teletarde, Telenoche, Martes 13, Ángel Malo, and Secreto de Familia contributed to the channel's general-entertainment identity. A studio fire affected the former Lira Street facilities in 1981, and the network subsequently opened its Providencia television centre in 1983. The five-hectare complex became the principal home of Canal 13's production and broadcast operations and was later named the Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte Television Centre. The channel continued to extend its signal through central and southern Chile and through northern affiliation agreements. It also played a public-service role during national emergencies. After the 1985 Algarrobo earthquake, Canal 13 expanded news coverage and organized the Chile ayuda a Chile relief broadcast, which ran for more than 30 hours. Its history also includes major sports coverage, joint broadcasts, telethons, and national events that helped bind the channel to Chile's public life. For most of its earlier history, the broadcaster operated under the formal name Corporación de Televisión de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In 2010, the university sold most of its shares to Grupo Luksic, associated with Andrónico Luksic Craig. Grupo Luksic obtained full ownership in 2017. Canal 13 consequently became a privately controlled commercial media company while preserving its established brand, news operation, production facilities, and national broadcasting role. Its current activities span free-to-air television, news, entertainment, drama, factual content, sports and event coverage, and online distribution.
- 2017
Grupo Luksic becomes full owner
[1]Grupo Luksic completes the acquisition of the network.
- 2010
Grupo Luksic acquires most shares
[1]The university sells most of its ownership stake to Grupo Luksic.
- 1985
Chile ayuda a Chile relief broadcast
[1]The network organizes an extended national fundraising broadcast after the Algarrobo earthquake.
- 1983
Providencia television centre opens
[1]Canal 13 inaugurates its major production and broadcast complex in Providencia.
- 1978
Color broadcasting begins
[1]The network adapts to Chile's authorization of NTSC color television and carries the 1978 FIFA World Cup in color.
- 1973
Nationwide broadcasting during the coup
[1]Canal 13 remains authorized to broadcast during the first three days following the September 11 coup and uses TVN's frequency network.
- 1970
Teletrece premieres
[1]The network launches Teletrece, which becomes its enduring flagship news service.
- 1965
Videotape is introduced
[1]Canal 13 begins using videotape, enabling recorded programming and more flexible production.
- 1962
1962 FIFA World Cup coverage
[1]The network broadcasts important matches from Chile's World Cup, including the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
- 1961
The channel 13 identity is established
[1]Official transmissions move to channel 13, creating the frequency-based identity used by the network.
Products and positioning
A nationally oriented Chilean general-entertainment broadcaster combining long-established news, locally produced programming, live events, and digital media distribution.
Television news · 1970
Teletrece
Canal 13's flagship news brand, launched in 1970. Teletrece became one of Chile's most durable television news services and has served as a central part of the network's editorial identity, covering national politics, public affairs, disasters, international events, and major live developments.
Variety entertainment · 1965
Sábados Gigantes
A long-running weekend variety format that evolved from earlier Canal 13 programs including Show Dominical and Sábados Alegres. Hosted by Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, it became one of the most successful and enduring entertainment programs associated with Chilean television and developed a wider Latin American profile.
Variety entertainment · 1983
Martes 13
A live variety program launched in the early 1980s as Canal 13 expanded its studio production. The program represented the network's emphasis on live music, performance, presenters, and large-format entertainment from its Providencia facilities.
Telenovela · 1981
La Madrastra
One of Canal 13's notable early-1980s telenovelas. Its production helped establish locally made serialized drama as a major component of the network's schedule and contributed to the channel's broader general-entertainment proposition.
Broadcast television · 1959
Canal 13 free-to-air network
The network's core service distributes a general Chilean television schedule including news, entertainment, drama, factual programming, sports, special events, and public-interest coverage. Its national reach was built through direct transmitters, repeaters, affiliated stations, and later forms of multiplatform distribution.
Marketing campaigns
- 1985Chile ayuda a Chile
Chile
Canal 13 organized and broadcast a large-scale relief and fundraising telethon after the Algarrobo earthquake. The broadcast followed extended emergency news coverage and ran for more than 30 hours.
Outcome. The campaign mobilized television audiences to provide aid for earthquake victims and became an important example of Canal 13's disaster-response broadcasting.
- 1978First Chilean Teletón
Chile
Canal 13 participated with TVN and university television channels in the first Chilean Teletón broadcast, with Don Francisco serving as its principal presenter.
Outcome. The broadcast established a recurring national television fundraising tradition in which Canal 13 remained a significant participant.
Brand decisions
2017
Completion of Grupo Luksic ownershipM&ABackground
Grupo Luksic had acquired a majority position in 2010.
Action taken
Grupo Luksic acquired the remaining ownership interests and became the full owner of Canal 13.
Aftermath
Canal 13 continued as a privately controlled Chilean broadcaster under its established name and operating identity.
2010
Sale of majority ownership to Grupo LuksicM&ABackground
Canal 13 had historically operated under the ownership of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Action taken
The university sold most of its shares to Grupo Luksic.
Aftermath
The transaction shifted the network toward private commercial ownership while retaining the Canal 13 brand.
1975
Shift toward commercial self-financingStrategyBackground
The Treasury ended the periodic subsidies that had supported university television stations.
Action taken
Canal 13 increasingly financed its operations through advertising and contributions from the Catholic University.
Aftermath
Advertising revenue supported expanded programming, production, and the network's broader commercial development.
1961
Move to channel 13StrategyBackground
The university station sought to move from experimental service toward an identifiable official broadcast operation.
Action taken
It began official broadcasts on channel 13, creating the Canal 13 name and long-term brand identity.
Aftermath
The channel number became the central element of the network's public identity in Chile.
Sources2 sources
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