Televen

Televen, legally known as Corporación Televen C.A., is a Venezuelan private television network headquartered in the Horizonte neighborhood of Caracas. Its name is derived from Televisión Venezolana. The network was founded by Omar Camero Zamora and began its test transmission in February 1988 on channel 10 in Caracas, initially showing music videos. It formally signed on nationally on July 10, 1988. Televen entered a television market dominated by the established private broadcasters Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) and Venevisión. Rather than simply copying the programming profile of those networks, it positioned itself as an alternative with a comparatively broad schedule aimed in part at middle-class viewers and people who were not regular television consumers. Its programming mix included talk shows, sports, films, imported series, telenovelas from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the United States, and anime, particularly during the 1990s. The network also developed news and opinion programming through its El Noticiero Televen service. During its first years, Televen expanded beyond Caracas through additional transmitters and agreements. It extended its signal to areas including Zulia, Falcón, Guarenas and Guatire, and later built coverage in cities such as Maturín, Valle de la Pascua, Mérida, Valencia and Puerto Cabello. A major antenna placed into service in 1993 improved coverage of Zulia. In the early 1990s, support from investors, including television personality Guillermo González, helped the network expand its national footprint and increase its audience share. The broadcaster also invested in physical and technical infrastructure. It acquired the Cedros and Macaracuay theaters in 1989 for conversion into television production facilities. In the second half of the 1990s, the Camero family regained control of Televen, and the network began transmitting digitally through satellite infrastructure. It launched a website in 1997, upgraded transmitters in several cities and moved toward larger, more technologically advanced headquarters. In 1998 it marked its first decade and began using the Intelsat 806 satellite. A new headquarters developed around the turn of the century was designed around digital television systems. Televen broadened its output in the 1990s and 2000s with popular international programs, including CSI, The Simpsons, Law & Order and Baywatch. It also carried sports rights, including Venezuelan national baseball and Major League Baseball broadcasts. The network produced some original programs and occasionally exported programming to overseas markets. In 1994 it introduced a schedule operating continuously for 24 hours, and in 2004 it increased in-house production and restructured its prime-time schedule. Televen's political position has shifted over time. It was described as politically neutral before the rise of Hugo Chávez, later became more critical of the government, and then sought to return toward neutrality after the 2004 recall referendum. The cancellation of journalist Marta Colomina's opinion program generated criticism from opponents of the government, while the network's stance during the closure of RCTV in 2007 also drew condemnation from Venezuelan opposition groups. The channel has consequently operated within a highly polarized media environment in which editorial positioning, regulatory pressure, advertising conditions and competition for audiences are closely connected. The network has also faced commercial and institutional pressures. A prolonged general strike contributed to falling television advertising prices, and Televen, like other broadcasters, was reported to have accepted advertising from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. In 2005, Televen presented Venezuelan courts with evidence concerning an alleged agreement involving advertising prices between RCTV and Venevisión. By 2010, the network was described in the reference material as Venezuela's most-watched television network, ahead of Venevisión and state broadcasters, although audience leadership can vary by period and measurement method. Televen remains associated with national free-to-air broadcasting, news, entertainment, imported serials, sports and general-interest programming.

Televen emerged in 1988 as a new private television service in Venezuela. Its test signal began on February 12 in Caracas, using channel 10 and broadcasting music videos. The network formally went on air on July 10 under the leadership of founder Omar Camero Zamora. Its arrival created another national commercial broadcaster in a market led by RCTV and Venevisión. The channel developed an alternative programming identity. Its schedule included talk shows, sport, films, imported American series, Latin American telenovelas and anime. In 1989, it became the first Venezuelan television network reported to have broadcast nudity during prime time. That year also brought internal corporate developments: Camero publicly denied that the company had been sold after 33 percent of its stock was reportedly negotiated by a group of businessmen under the management of Pedro Tinoco, while production executive Jorge Font announced the acquisition of the Cedros and Macaracuay theaters for studio use. Televen expanded its transmission network at the end of the 1980s and through the 1990s. It extended coverage to Zulia and Falcón, then to Guarenas and Guatire. In 1993 it commissioned a 150-metre antenna with 24 transmission panels and 30 kilowatts of power to improve its reach in Zulia. Additional transmitters were later acquired for Maturín, Valle de la Pascua, Mérida, Valencia and Puerto Cabello, while existing infrastructure in several other cities was upgraded. Investor support, including participation associated with Guillermo González, helped the broadcaster grow its national audience. The network introduced round-the-clock programming in 1994. In 1996, the Camero family regained control and Televen began digital satellite transmission through Intelsat 709. It launched a website in 1997 and received an ANDA award in the New Advertising Technologies category. In 1998, during its tenth-anniversary year, the channel shifted its satellite transmission to Intelsat 806 and began remodeling a larger headquarters. By 1999, the reference material described substantial growth and nationwide signal coverage. Further investment around 2000 supported a new headquarters designed around digital television technology. Televen's content operations expanded during the following years. The network broadcast internationally sourced series such as CSI, The Simpsons, Law & Order and Baywatch, while also airing telenovelas and other programs from Latin America and the United States. It broadcast Venezuelan national baseball in partnership with Venevisión after the rights moved from RCTV, and it obtained rights to Major League Baseball. Some of its programs were exported, including Chamokropolis, which was associated with the children's-programming format also represented in its schedule by Nubeluz. In 2004, Televen increased its production activity and reorganized its prime-time schedule. The network's political identity became a central issue during the Chávez era. It was initially characterized as politically neutral, later adopted a more critical posture toward the government, and then tried to move back toward neutrality after the 2004 recall referendum. The removal of Marta Colomina's political opinion program drew criticism from anti-government groups. Televen was also criticized during the 2007 closure of RCTV because it did not publicly oppose that decision in the way opposition groups expected. Commercial conditions also affected the broadcaster. The decline in television advertising prices during a two-month general strike was reported to have reduced the independence of Televen and other broadcasters, with the network accepting advertising from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. In 2005, Televen brought evidence to Venezuelan courts concerning an alleged advertising-price arrangement involving RCTV and Venevisión. By 2010, reference material described Televen as the country's most-watched network, although this historical audience claim is dependent on the measurement period and source. Its continuing identity is that of a Venezuelan private national network combining news, entertainment, sports and acquired programming.

• 2010

  Reported audience leadership

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material describes Televen as Venezuela's most-watched television network by this period.

• 2004

  Production and prime-time restructuring

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Televen increases original production and reorganizes its prime-time schedule.

• 1998

  Tenth anniversary and satellite upgrade

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  The network celebrates its first decade, begins transmission through Intelsat 806 and develops larger headquarters.

• 1997

  Website launched and advertising technology recognized

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Televen launches a website and later receives an ANDA award in the New Advertising Technologies category.

• 1996

  Camero family regains control

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  The Camero family retakes control of Televen, followed by investment and digital satellite transmission through Intelsat 709.

• 1994

  24-hour programming introduced

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Televen begins a new programming cycle with uninterrupted 24-hour broadcasting.

• 1993

  Major Zulia transmission antenna enters service

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  A 150-metre antenna is placed into service to improve the network's reach in Zulia.

• 1992

  Opinion programs suspended

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Televen suspends its opinion programs after the February 4 events and the resulting suspension of constitutional guarantees.

• 1989

  Prime-time programming expansion

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  The network is reported to become the first Venezuelan broadcaster to show nudity during prime time.

• 1988

  Test signal begins in Caracas

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Televen starts experimental broadcasting on channel 10 in Caracas, initially showing music videos.

• 1988

  Formal launch

  [1]Televenen.wikipedia.org

  Televen signs on as a Venezuelan private television network on July 10.

A privately owned Venezuelan national broadcaster positioned as a broad general-entertainment and news alternative to the country's historically dominant private networks. Its schedule combines news, talk, sports, films, imported series, telenovelas and locally produced programs.

• Television news

  El Noticiero Televen

  Televen's principal news service. The reference material describes it as airing four times on most weekdays, with editions in the early morning, morning, midday and late evening. Sunday scheduling is more event-driven, with broadcasts associated with important developments such as elections.

• Free-to-air television broadcasting · 1988

  Televen national network

  The core Televen service is a national Venezuelan free-to-air television network. It combines news, talk, entertainment, films, imported series, telenovelas, children's content and sports, delivered through a terrestrial transmission network supplemented by satellite distribution.

• Sports television

  Sports broadcasting

  Televen has carried Venezuelan national baseball and Major League Baseball programming. The network obtained Venezuelan baseball rights in partnership with Venevisión after those rights moved away from RCTV, making sport an important component of its general-interest schedule.

• 2004

  Prime-time and production restructuringStrategy

  Background

  Televen sought to strengthen its schedule and increase locally produced programming.

  Action taken

  The network increased production activity and reorganized its prime-time schedule.

  Aftermath

  The changes reinforced Televen's role as a general-interest broadcaster with a larger original-content component.

  Source

• 1996

  Return of Camero family control and satellite modernizationStrategy

  Background

  Televen was seeking greater national coverage and technical capacity.

  Action taken

  The Camero family regained control, while the network expanded investment and began digital transmission through Intelsat 709.

  Aftermath

  Televen continued its transition toward broader national distribution and more advanced transmission infrastructure.

  Source

• 1994

  Move to continuous programmingStrategy

  Background

  Televen was expanding its national reach and programming offer in a competitive Venezuelan television market.

  Action taken

  The network introduced an uninterrupted 24-hour schedule.

  Aftermath

  The move extended the network's programming availability and supported its development as a full-service national broadcaster.

  Source

1. 1Televenen.wikipedia.org