Teletica

Teletica is the consumer-facing name of Televisora de Costa Rica S.A., a Costa Rican broadcasting company established in 1958. Its flagship service, Teletica Canal 7, became one of the country’s principal television outlets and developed a broad programming mix spanning news, current affairs, sport, entertainment, imported series, competitions, comedy, cultural content, and locally produced fiction. The company’s identity is closely associated with Channel 7 and with the long-running Telenoticias news service, which began in 1960 and is described as Costa Rica’s first television newscast. The company emerged from an agreement signed in October 1958 during the administration of President Mario Echandi, when the government began granting licenses for public television. René Picado Esquivel and Carlos Manuel Reyes were identified as executive presidents at the company’s formation, with Reyes’s wife, Andreina Otalvaro, also associated with the founding arrangements. Teletica’s first broadcast took place on May 9, 1960. In its first year it launched a news bulletin initially called La Palabra de Costa Rica; the program was renamed Telenoticias approximately one month later. A second evening bulletin, Noticiero Mundial Philips, supplied international news coverage. During its formative decades, Teletica expanded beyond basic scheduled broadcasting. It carried major national and international events, including the 1962 visit of United States President John F. Kennedy and the 1969 moon landing. In 1963 it installed its first mobile television unit, enabling live reporting and outside broadcasts. The broadcaster also developed original educational, informative, cultural, and entertainment programs while continuing to carry foreign productions. Between 1973 and 1975, it transitioned from 16-millimeter film to videocassette technology, reflecting the modernization of television production and transmission practices. Teletica’s principal broadcast operation has historically been supported by a portfolio of related services and channels. These have included XperTV Canal 33, established in 2009 with programming aimed partly at small and medium-sized businesses, and TD+, a subscription sports channel launched in 2013 for local sporting events. The company also held an important position in Costa Rica’s cable sector through CableTica, which operated from 1991 and offered cable television, internet access, and high-definition channels. In 2018, Liberty Latin America acquired an 80 percent stake in CableTica while Televisora de Costa Rica retained 20 percent; following Liberty Latin America’s acquisition of the local Movistar operation, the businesses were combined under the Liberty name. CableTica was subsequently rebranded as Liberty. Teletica has also participated in mobile communications through Tuyo Móvil, a joint venture with Costa Rica’s state telecommunications operator ICE using mobile virtual network technology. In sports, the group has operated Teletica Deportes and has broadcast Costa Rican national-team football, international tournaments, friendly matches, and playoff events. In 2011, Teletica became a major shareholder of Deportivo Saprissa after the club was sold by Jorge Vergara to a group of Costa Rican businesspeople. The brand’s programming strategy combines dependable daily news and morning television with event-driven formats and locally recognizable entertainment. Its recurring or notable programs have included Buen Día, 7 Días, Más que Noticias, Estado Nacional, 7 Estrellas, De Boca en Boca, El Chinamo, Sábado Feliz, La Pensión, El show de La Media Docena, Dancing with the Stars Costa Rica, Tu cara me suena Costa Rica, Miss Costa Rica, and Teletica Deportes. Teletica has also aired Mexican and Colombian serials, dubbed United States television series, and other acquired programming. Its historic Channel 7 identity, including a steam-locomotive mascot inspired by the railway near its former Cristo Rey facilities, remains an important part of the broadcaster’s visual heritage.

Televisora de Costa Rica S.A. was created in 1958 following an agreement connected with the introduction of licensed television in Costa Rica. President Mario Echandi’s administration granted the permissions that enabled the private broadcaster to be organized. René Picado Esquivel and Carlos Manuel Reyes served as the company’s initial executive leaders, with Andreina Otalvaro, Reyes’s wife, associated with the founding arrangements. The resulting broadcaster became known publicly as Teletica and operated its principal service as Channel 7. The first Teletica broadcast was transmitted on May 9, 1960. That year the company launched the country’s first television news program. It was initially titled La Palabra de Costa Rica and soon became Telenoticias, a name that developed into one of the company’s most durable brands. Teletica also introduced a second evening bulletin, Noticiero Mundial Philips, focused on international events. In the early 1960s the station was still developing its schedule and did not broadcast on Sundays as late as 1962. Nevertheless, it quickly gained importance as a national communications institution. Teletica’s early public-service and event coverage helped establish its reach. It televised President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 visit to Costa Rica and covered the 1969 arrival of humans on the moon. In 1963, the broadcaster installed its first mobile television unit, making it possible to originate live reports and programs away from the main studios. In 1965, the company became an anonymous society, the Costa Rican corporate form commonly translated as a public limited company, although the business remained privately controlled. René Picado Esquivel died in 1969, after which Olga Cozza de Picado assumed the executive presidency. From the late 1960s through the 1970s, Teletica broadened its schedule with original and imported productions in cultural, educational, informative, and entertainment categories. Its studios and transmission facilities in San José’s Cristo Rey neighborhood stood near a railway line, inspiring a steam-locomotive mascot bearing the number 7. The locomotive became a recurring element of the station’s presentation and interstitial identity. Between 1973 and 1975, the company replaced 16-millimeter film workflows with videocassette technology, improving the practicality of recording and replaying television material. The growth of Costa Rica’s public television system, including Channel 13 under the National Radio and Television System, altered the institutional environment. Teletica accepted a continuing public role for television while maintaining private-sector financing for its productions. During the administration of President Daniel Oduber, the government increased Teletica’s participation in programming, with production financed through a mixture of public and private sources. This period helped reinforce the broadcaster’s role as both a commercial enterprise and a major national media institution. Over subsequent decades, Teletica developed an extensive schedule centered on Channel 7. Telenoticias remained its primary news service, while programs such as Buen Día, 7 Días, Más que Noticias, Estado Nacional, and Teletica Deportes extended the company’s presence across morning television, analysis, entertainment news, current affairs, and sport. The broadcaster also commissioned or aired Costa Rican comedies, series, contest programs, reality formats, interview programs, and pageants. Local productions included La Pensión, El show de La Media Docena, El Chinamo, Dancing with the Stars Costa Rica, Tu cara me suena Costa Rica, and Miss Costa Rica. The schedule was supplemented by Mexican and Colombian telenovelas, dubbed United States series, and other acquired programs. Teletica’s business expanded beyond its principal terrestrial channel. XperTV Canal 33 was established in 2009 and targeted smaller and medium-sized businesses with lifestyle programs and selected sports content. In 2011, Teletica became a major shareholder in Deportivo Saprissa, one of Costa Rica’s best-known football clubs. In 2013, it launched TD+, a pay-television sports channel initially distributed through CableTica and later made available through other Costa Rican cable systems. Teletica Deportes also carried national-team football, international competitions, friendly games, and playoff events. CableTica had operated since 1991 as a major Costa Rican cable network, offering television, internet service, and high-definition channels, particularly in San José. In 2018, Liberty Latin America purchased 80 percent of CableTica, leaving Televisora de Costa Rica with 20 percent. After Liberty Latin America acquired the local Movistar franchise, the operations were combined and ultimately presented under the Liberty name. Teletica also entered mobile communications through Tuyo Móvil, a joint venture with ICE that used mobile virtual network technology for voice and data services. Teletica remains principally identified with Channel 7 and its role in Costa Rican broadcasting. Its continuing model combines national journalism, local entertainment production, sports coverage, advertising-supported television, acquired programming, and related media assets. The group’s history reflects the transition from early film-based broadcasting to mobile reporting, videotape, multichannel distribution, subscription sports, cable broadband, and converged communications services.

• 2022

  CableTica is rebranded Liberty

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  CableTica is incorporated into the Liberty brand following the combination with Liberty Latin America’s Costa Rican Movistar business.

• 2018

  Liberty Latin America buys 80 percent of CableTica

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  Liberty Latin America acquires a majority stake in CableTica, with Televisora de Costa Rica retaining a minority share.

• 2013

  TD+ launches

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  The company launches TD+, a pay-television sports channel focused on local sporting events.

• 2011

  Teletica acquires a major stake in Deportivo Saprissa

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  Teletica becomes a major shareholder of Deportivo Saprissa after the club changes ownership.

• 2009

  XperTV Canal 33 is established

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  Teletica establishes XperTV Canal 33, a channel with lifestyle and smaller-scale sports programming aimed in part at small and medium-sized businesses.

• 1991

  CableTica begins operations

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s cable-network operation, CableTica, begins operating in Costa Rica.

• 1969

  Moon-landing coverage

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  Teletica transmits coverage of the arrival of humans on the moon.

• 1963

  First mobile television unit

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  Teletica installs a mobile television unit, expanding its ability to produce live programming and news from outside its studios.

• 1962

  Coverage of John F. Kennedy’s Costa Rica visit

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  The station broadcasts coverage of the visit by United States President John F. Kennedy.

• 1960

  First broadcast and launch of Telenoticias

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  Teletica transmits its first broadcast on May 9 and launches its first news service, initially called La Palabra de Costa Rica and soon renamed Telenoticias.

• 1958

  Televisora de Costa Rica is established

  [1]Teleticaen.wikipedia.org

  An October agreement creates Televisora de Costa Rica S.A., the company behind Teletica Channel 7, in the context of Costa Rica’s introduction of licensed television.

A leading Costa Rican general-entertainment broadcaster combining national news, local productions, sports rights, imported television programming, and a portfolio of related media and communications services.

• Free-to-air television channel · 1960

  Teletica Canal 7

  Teletica’s flagship broadcast channel and the foundation of the brand. Channel 7 carries national news, current affairs, morning television, entertainment, comedy, reality and contest formats, local fiction, acquired Latin American serials, dubbed United States series, and sports. Its schedule has historically balanced high-frequency daily programs with major national events and locally produced specials.

• Television news · 1960

  Telenoticias

  Teletica’s principal news franchise, originating in 1960 under the earlier title La Palabra de Costa Rica. The service developed into a central source of national and international television news in Costa Rica and remains one of the most enduring elements of the Channel 7 schedule.

• Special-interest television channel · 2009

  XperTV Canal 33

  A channel established by Teletica in 2009. Its programming has included lifestyle material and smaller-scale sporting events, with a stated orientation toward small and medium-sized businesses and audiences outside the flagship Channel 7 offer.

• Pay-television sports channel · 2013

  TD+

  A subscription sports channel launched in 2013. TD+ initially relied on CableTica distribution and later expanded to additional cable networks in Costa Rica, focusing primarily on local sporting events and complementing Teletica Deportes.

• Sports broadcasting

  Teletica Deportes

  Teletica’s sports programming operation, covering Costa Rican football and other sporting events. Its documented output has included coverage of the Costa Rican national teams, friendly matches, international football competitions, and playoff events, distributed through Teletica’s television services and related sports channels.

• Cable and broadband services · 1991

  CableTica

  A Costa Rican cable network operated from 1991 and associated with Teletica. It offered cable television, internet access, and high-definition channels, becoming particularly prominent in San José. Liberty Latin America acquired a majority stake in 2018, and the operation was later rebranded as Liberty.

• Mobile communications

  Tuyo Móvil

  A mobile communications joint venture involving ICE and Teletica. The service used mobile virtual network operator technology and offered voice and data packages, representing Teletica’s expansion beyond broadcasting into telecommunications.

• 2022

  CableTica rebranding and integration into LibertyStrategy

  Background

  Liberty Latin America combined CableTica with its Costa Rican Movistar operation.

  Action taken

  The cable business adopted the Liberty name.

  Aftermath

  The CableTica identity was replaced within the integrated Costa Rican telecommunications operation, while Teletica continued as a broadcasting and media brand.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale of a majority stake in CableTicaM&A

  Background

  Liberty Latin America expanded its Costa Rican telecommunications presence.

  Action taken

  Liberty Latin America acquired 80 percent of CableTica, while Televisora de Costa Rica retained 20 percent.

  Aftermath

  CableTica was later combined with Liberty Latin America’s local Movistar business and rebranded Liberty.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch of TD+Product launch

  Background

  Teletica sought to extend its sports offering into pay television.

  Action taken

  It launched TD+, initially distributing the channel through CableTica and later through other Costa Rican cable networks.

  Aftermath

  TD+ became a dedicated outlet for local sports programming within the group’s channel portfolio.

  Source

• 2011

  Investment in Deportivo SaprissaM&A

  Background

  The Deportivo Saprissa football club was sold by Jorge Vergara to a group of Costa Rican businesspeople.

  Action taken

  Teletica became a major shareholder in the club.

  Aftermath

  The transaction strengthened the group’s connection with Costa Rican football and sports media.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of XperTV Canal 33Product launch

  Background

  Teletica expanded its channel portfolio beyond the flagship Canal 7 operation.

  Action taken

  It established XperTV Canal 33 with lifestyle programming, minor sporting events, and an orientation toward small and medium-sized businesses.

  Aftermath

  XperTV became a secondary channel within the Teletica group.

  Source

1. 1Teleticaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Teletica official websiteteletica.com