Television in Chile

Television is one of the major mass media of Chile. It was introduced in 1957.

There are 63 broadcast stations throughout the country (plus 121 repeaters) (1997).^[1] The broadcast television system used is NTSC.

The primary regulator of television content is the National Television Council (CNTV). The technical aspects are regulated by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, through the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel).

History

The first television transmission in Chile took place on October 5, 1957 from the Catholic University of Valparaíso's main campus, giving birth to UCV, the country's first television channel. Two years later, on August 21, 1959, the Catholic University of Chile made an experimental transmission between its main campus and the El Mercurio newspaper headquarters, both in Santiago's downtown, inaugurating the country's second channel, Canal 13, occupying frequency 2 for a few years (now 13).

Color television debuted in 1978.

Users

According to the 2002 census, 87% of Chilean households had at least one color television set. According to a June–July 2010 nation-wide poll by CEP, 93% of households had at least one television set (90% color only, 1% black and white only, and 3% of both) with 50% of all households having cable or satellite television.

Digital television

On September 14, 2009, President Michelle Bachelet announced the government's decision to adopt the Japanese standard ISDB-T with MPEG-4 for digital terrestrial television, joining Argentina and Perú.^[2] The analog switchoff is scheduled for 2019.^[3]

Chile delayed its decision on which digital terrestrial television standard to adopt. In late October 2008, the Chilean government submitted a bill to Congress detailing the legal framework for DTTV broadcasting in the country. The document did not define which standard will be used. TVN, Chile's state-owned channel, has made digital terrestrial television broadcast tests since 1999. Canal 13 has been doing so since 2007 in Santiago only, transmitting in three DTV formats (ATSC, DVB and ISDB). In Valparaiso, UCV TV is starting on June 2010 demonstrative ISDB-Tb broadcasting for the Valparaíso/Viña del Mar area, using an 800 watts transmitter.

Alfredo Moreno Charme, Minister of Foreign Affairs, asked Japanese government to support seismological observation and it's earthquake/disaster warning system utilizing digital television including 1seg on 26 April 2010.^[4]

HDTV-ready television sets are available in Chile and cable and satellite television companies transmit limited HD content to its subcribers.

ISDB-Tb on Air: Santiago de Chile, June 2010: TVN on Channel 33

See also

• List of television stations in Chile

References

1. ^ "Chile". CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ci.html#Comm. Retrieved 2007-02-29. 
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ [2]
4. ^ "Joint Press Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Republic of Chile". Tokyo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/latin/chile/jointstate_1004.html. Retrieved 2010-04-29.