EPTV Central

EPTV Central is a Brazilian television station serving São Carlos, Araraquara and surrounding areas in the central region of São Paulo state. The station operates as part of the EPTV network, a regional television group associated with TV Globo, and is owned by Grupo EP. Its facilities, including its studios and transmitter, are located on Mário Luchesi Street in the Jardim São Paulo district of São Carlos. The station began broadcasting on July 1, 1989, as the fourth station established by EPTV. At launch, it primarily functioned as a relay for the local output of EPTV Ribeirão. The operation later developed the capacity to produce programming of its own, and on January 25, 1991, EPTV Central opened its local studios and began producing regional content. This transition gave the station a more direct role in reporting news and events from São Carlos, Araraquara and nearby communities while continuing to carry TV Globo network programming. EPTV Central subsequently participated in Brazil's transition from analog to digital television. It began testing its digital signal in February 2009 using UHF channel 42. The digital service was officially launched for São Carlos and Araraquara on May 31, 2010. On December 7, 2018, the station changed its digital physical channel from UHF 42 to UHF 25. Its analog VHF channel 6 transmission was shut down on December 12, 2018, in accordance with Brazil's federally organized analog-to-digital switchover. The station's principal offering is free-to-air television: TV Globo network content combined with locally produced journalism and other regional programming. Its public role includes covering municipal affairs, transportation, weather, public safety, cultural activity and other issues affecting viewers in its service area. As a regional broadcaster, its value proposition rests on combining the reach and programming resources of the Globo affiliation with locally relevant reporting. EPTV Central also became the subject of press-freedom and reporter-safety concerns during coverage of the 2018 truck drivers' strike. On May 30, 2018, a station team filming images of the Anhanguera Highway in Leme was attacked by demonstrators. Reporter Marlon Tavoni and outside assistant Janesi Rigo were assaulted after a live insertion into Jornal da EPTV 1ª Edição, while reporter Patrícia Moser escaped and contacted the Military Highway Police. The two attacked staff members received assistance from Intervias, the highway concessionaire. Press organizations and unions publicly condemned the incident. The available reference material does not identify a separate publicly listed corporate entity for the station, a founding individual, or current and former executives. EPTV Central is best understood as a regional broadcast-station brand within the privately owned Grupo EP and the wider EPTV structure rather than as an independently listed broadcaster.

EPTV Central began broadcasting in São Carlos, São Paulo, on July 1, 1989. It was the fourth station established by EPTV, a regional television group affiliated with TV Globo and now associated with Grupo EP. In its initial phase, the station relayed the local programming of EPTV Ribeirão rather than producing a fully independent local schedule. The operation reached an important development point on January 25, 1991, when it opened studios in São Carlos and started producing its own local programming. This established EPTV Central as a distinct regional news operation serving the central area of São Paulo state, including São Carlos, Araraquara and surrounding communities. The station continued to combine local output with programming supplied through its TV Globo affiliation. EPTV Central later took part in the national migration from analog to digital television. Testing of its digital signal began in February 2009 on UHF channel 42. The official digital service began on May 31, 2010, reaching São Carlos and Araraquara. In a later frequency reconfiguration, the station moved its digital physical channel from UHF 42 to UHF 25 on December 7, 2018. Its analog VHF channel 6 signal was switched off on December 12, 2018, as part of Brazil's federally mandated analog shutdown. The station's local role includes television journalism and regional programming, while its network affiliation provides access to TV Globo content. Its studios and transmitter are identified with Mário Luchesi Street in São Carlos's Jardim São Paulo district. On May 30, 2018, EPTV Central personnel encountered violence while covering the truck drivers' strike. A crew recording images near the Anhanguera Highway in Leme was attacked by demonstrators. During and after a live segment for Jornal da EPTV 1ª Edição, film reporter Marlon Tavoni and outside assistant Janesi Rigo were assaulted. Reporter Patrícia Moser escaped and called the Military Highway Police, which arrived shortly afterward. Intervias, the highway concessionaire, assisted the injured staff members. Press associations and unions condemned the attack, highlighting the risks faced by television journalists covering contentious public demonstrations.

• 2018

  Digital channel changes

  [1]EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org

  The station moves its digital physical channel from UHF 42 to UHF 25 on December 7.

• 2018

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org

  The analog VHF channel 6 signal is shut down on December 12 under Brazil's digital television transition.

• 2010

  Digital service launches

  [1]EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org

  Digital transmission officially begins for São Carlos and Araraquara on May 31.

• 2009

  Digital transmission tests begin

  [1]EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org

  EPTV Central begins testing a digital signal on UHF channel 42.

• 1991

  Local studios and programming open

  [1]EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org

  The station opens its São Carlos studios on January 25 and starts producing its own local programming.

• 1989

  Broadcasting begins

  [1]EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org

  EPTV Central begins broadcasting on July 1 as the fourth EPTV station, initially relaying EPTV Ribeirão's local output.

A regional free-to-air broadcaster combining TV Globo affiliation with locally produced news and community coverage for central São Paulo state.

• Television broadcasting · 1989

  EPTV Central free-to-air television service

  The station's core offering is a free-to-air television service for São Carlos, Araraquara and nearby areas. It combines TV Globo network programming with locally produced journalism and regional content. The service historically used VHF channel 6 for analog transmission and later operated a digital signal, ultimately moving its digital physical channel to UHF 25 in 2018.

• Regional news programming

  Jornal da EPTV

  Jornal da EPTV is the station's regional news programming brand. The available reference specifically identifies Jornal da EPTV 1ª Edição as a vehicle for live coverage and local reporting. The programming connects the station's São Carlos operation with regional news audiences across its service area.

• 2018

  Attack on journalists covering the truck drivers' strike

  On May 30, a reporting team from EPTV Central was attacked while filming the Anhanguera Highway in Leme during the truck drivers' strike. Marlon Tavoni and Janesi Rigo were assaulted, while Patrícia Moser escaped and called police. Intervias assisted the attacked staff members, and press associations and unions repudiated the incident.

  Source

Read more

• 2018

  Change digital transmission channelOther

  Background

  The station was operating within Brazil's nationwide digital television transition.

  Action taken

  EPTV Central moved its digital physical channel from UHF 42 to UHF 25 on December 7.

  Aftermath

  The station subsequently ended its analog VHF channel 6 transmission on December 12.

  Source

• 2018

  Complete analog-to-digital transitionStrategy

  Background

  Brazil's federal television transition required analog broadcasters to discontinue analog signals according to the national implementation schedule.

  Action taken

  EPTV Central turned off its analog VHF channel 6 signal on December 12.

  Aftermath

  The station's terrestrial service continued through digital transmission.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch digital television serviceProduct launch

  Background

  The station's digital transmission tests had begun in 2009.

  Action taken

  EPTV Central officially launched its digital signal on May 31 for São Carlos and Araraquara.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded the station's digital availability while analog broadcasting continued until 2018.

  Source

• 2009

  Begin digital television testingStrategy

  Background

  Brazil was transitioning from analog to digital television, creating a requirement for broadcasters to establish digital transmission.

  Action taken

  EPTV Central began testing a digital signal on UHF channel 42 in February.

  Aftermath

  The tests preceded the official digital launch for São Carlos and Araraquara in 2010.

  Source

1. 1EPTV Centralen.wikipedia.org
2. 2EPTV official network pageredeglobo.globo.com