ETB Basque
Product brand
UnclaimedETB Basque was an international television channel of Euskal Irrati Telebista serving Basque audiences and the Basque diaspora worldwide.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
ETB Basque was the international television channel of Euskal Irrati Telebista, the Basque public broadcasting group. It was created on 1 January 2021 by combining two earlier international services: Canal Vasco, which had primarily served the Americas and Spanish-speaking viewers, and ETB Sat, which had originally served Europe through satellite distribution. The unified channel carried selected programming from EITB's principal domestic television services, ETB1 and ETB2, making Basque-language and Castilian-language content available to viewers outside the Basque Country. The channel's main audience was the Basque diaspora and international viewers with an interest in Basque culture, current affairs, language, society and heritage. Its geographic emphasis included Latin America, Europe and the United States, where viewers could access programming through IPTV, cable systems and YouTube. Rather than operating primarily as a separately produced general-entertainment network, ETB Basque functioned as an international window onto EITB's domestic schedule. Its programming included Basque- and Spanish-language news, cultural coverage, educational material and entertainment drawn from ETB1 and ETB2. The service inherited a long international broadcasting history. ETB Sat began in 1996 as a satellite channel with a relatively balanced schedule in Basque and Castilian. It initially targeted Europe through the Astra satellite and later reached the Americas. Canal Vasco began in 2001 as a separate international service directed especially at the Americas and Spanish-speaking audiences interested in Basque life, including people with genealogical connections to the Basque Country. Its schedule relied heavily on Castilian-language programming from ETB2, while incorporating a smaller amount of Basque-language content from ETB1, generally with Castilian subtitles. Distribution changed over time as satellite broadcasting became less central. ETB Sat left the Astra satellite in 2013 and concentrated on cable and internet delivery. In 2021, EITB reorganized its international services by merging Canal Vasco and ETB Sat into one channel. A continuity and branding reform at the beginning of 2022 gave the unified service the ETB Basque name. The identity therefore represented both a new channel brand and the continuation of EITB's earlier international television initiatives. ETB Basque's schedule included Egun On Euskadi and Gaur Egun, Basque-language news programmes from ETB1; Teleberri, the principal Castilian-language news programme from ETB2; Atrápame si puedes, a Castilian-language general-knowledge quiz; Kerman mintzalagun bila, a programme supporting people learning Basque; and EITB Kultura, which covered cinema, visual arts, theatre, music and literature. These programmes gave the international service a mixture of news, language exposure, cultural reporting and mainstream entertainment. According to the cited reference material, ETB Basque ceased broadcasting on 18 March 2026 during a digital restructuring of Euskal Telebista. It was replaced by ETB1 On and ETB2 On, digital services oriented respectively toward Basque- and Spanish-language programming. The channel is therefore a defunct brand, although its international role and much of its programming concept continued through successor digital services.
History
ETB Basque emerged from Euskal Irrati Telebista's earlier efforts to distribute Basque television internationally. The first predecessor, ETB Sat, began broadcasting on 3 June 1996 under the name Euskal Telebista. It was designed as an international satellite service distinct from the domestic ETB1 and ETB2 channels, initially using Astra to reach Europe. Its schedule included both Basque and Castilian programming without an initial preference for one language and without systematically adding Castilian subtitles to Basque-language programmes. ETB Sat expanded into the Americas on 16 October 1998. The international strategy later became more differentiated when Canal Vasco began broadcasting in March 2001. Canal Vasco was aimed particularly at the Americas and at Spanish-speaking people interested in the Basque world, including viewers with family or genealogical links to the Basque Country. Its schedule drew mainly from Castilian-language ETB2 output, with a smaller selection of ETB1 material in Basque, generally accompanied by Castilian subtitles. Canal Vasco also supported audience engagement through the Concurso de Canal Vasco, a summer competition that ran until 2012. Followers answered questions about the channel's programming for the chance to win trips to the Basque Country. This initiative connected international viewers with the region and reinforced the service's role as a cultural bridge rather than merely a retransmission outlet. Distribution technology changed in the 2010s. On 1 May 2013, ETB Sat was removed from the Astra satellite platform as EITB placed greater emphasis on cable and internet distribution. The service continued through newer delivery methods while Canal Vasco maintained its focus on the Americas. On 1 January 2021, EITB reorganized its international television offer by unifying Canal Vasco and ETB Sat as one channel, initially branded EITB Basque. The new service combined the predecessors' geographic and linguistic roles, offering selected programming from ETB1 and ETB2 to viewers in the Basque diaspora and to international audiences in Latin America, Europe and the United States. Distribution included IPTV, cable and YouTube. At the beginning of 2022, a continuity and visual-identity reform led to the ETB Basque branding. The channel continued to carry news, culture, language-learning and entertainment programmes, including Egun On Euskadi, Gaur Egun, Teleberri, Atrápame si puedes, Kerman mintzalagun bila and EITB Kultura. The reference material records the end of the channel on 18 March 2026 as part of Euskal Telebista's digital restructuring. ETB Basque was replaced by ETB1 On and ETB2 On, successor digital services organized around Basque- and Spanish-language programming. The brand's lifespan was therefore relatively short under its final name, but it represented the continuation of international services that EITB had operated since the mid-1990s.
- 2026
Broadcasting ended
[1]ETB Basque ceased broadcasting and was replaced by ETB1 On and ETB2 On during EITB's digital restructuring.
- 2022
Brand changed to ETB Basque
[1]A continuity-style reform resulted in the ETB Basque name and identity.
- 2021
International services unified
[1]Canal Vasco and ETB Sat were combined into the EITB Basque channel.
- 2013
ETB Sat left Astra satellite distribution
[1]ETB Sat ended its Astra satellite distribution and concentrated on cable and internet delivery.
- 2001
Canal Vasco launched
[1]EITB introduced an international channel focused especially on the Americas and Spanish-speaking audiences interested in Basque culture and heritage.
- 1998
ETB Sat expanded to the Americas
[1]The European-oriented satellite service began broadcasting in the Americas before the later separation associated with Canal Vasco.
- 1996
ETB Sat launched
[1]EITB began its international satellite television service, initially targeting Europe through Astra.
Products and positioning
A public-service international television channel presenting selected Basque and Spanish programming from EITB to the Basque diaspora and internationally interested audiences.
Television broadcasting · 2021
International television channel
ETB Basque distributed selected programming from ETB1 and ETB2 to audiences outside the Basque Country. It combined Basque- and Castilian-language content and was delivered through IPTV, cable and YouTube, with particular attention to diaspora audiences in Latin America, Europe and the United States.
News
Egun On Euskadi
A daily morning news programme in Basque originating from ETB1 and included among the programmes made available through the international channel.
News
Gaur Egun
ETB1's principal daily Basque-language news programme, carried as part of ETB Basque's international selection.
News
Teleberri
ETB2's main Castilian-language news programme and one of the international service's principal Spanish-language offerings.
Entertainment
Atrápame si puedes
A general-knowledge quiz programme in Castilian included in the channel's entertainment programming.
Language education
Kerman mintzalagun bila
A Basque-language learning programme offering practical guidance for using Basque in everyday situations, aimed at learners and occasionally presented through ETB2 as well.
Culture
EITB Kultura
An arts and culture programme covering areas such as cinema, visual arts, theatre, music and literature, usually presented in Castilian on the international service.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Concurso de Canal Vasco
Americas · International Basque diaspora
A summer audience competition associated with Canal Vasco asked followers questions about the channel's programmes and offered trips to the Basque Country as prizes. It was intended to engage overseas viewers and strengthen cultural ties with the Basque region.
Outcome. The competition reportedly continued during the summer through 2012.
Brand decisions
2026
Replacement by ETB1 On and ETB2 OnGeneration changeBackground
Euskal Telebista undertook a digital restructuring of its international and digital television offer.
Action taken
ETB Basque ceased broadcasting on 18 March 2026 and was replaced by ETB1 On and ETB2 On.
Aftermath
The successor services separated the digital offer around Basque- and Spanish-language programming.
2022
Rebranding as ETB BasqueOtherBackground
A continuity-style identity reform followed the creation of the unified international channel.
Action taken
The service adopted the ETB Basque brand.
Aftermath
The channel continued operating under the ETB Basque name until its later replacement by digital successor services.
2021
Unification of Canal Vasco and ETB SatStrategyBackground
EITB reorganized its international television services, which had separately emphasized Europe and the Americas.
Action taken
The two channels were merged into a single international service initially called EITB Basque.
Aftermath
The unified channel presented programming from ETB1 and ETB2 to international audiences through IPTV, cable and YouTube.
2013
Shift away from Astra satellite distributionStrategyBackground
EITB adjusted ETB Sat's international distribution model as cable and internet delivery became more important.
Action taken
ETB Sat was removed from the Astra satellite platform on 1 May 2013.
Aftermath
The service continued through cable and internet distribution rather than the former Astra satellite outlet.
Sources2 sources
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