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Teleamazonas

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Teleamazonas
TypeFree-to-air television network
CountryEcuador
HeadquartersQuito
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerGrupo Teleamazonas
History
Launched22 February 1974; 51 years ago (1974-02-22)
Links
Websitewww.teleamazonas.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital VHFChannel 4.1 (Quito)
Channel 5.1 (Guayaquil)

Teleamazonas is an Ecuadorian television network that was launched on 22 February 1974. It is one of the major television networks in the country. It was founded by Antonio Granda Centeno and has two feeds: one produced in Quito and broadcast in the rest of the country, and the other one produced in and available in Guayaquil and Guayas.

History

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Teleamazonas was created from the sale of frequencies that belonged to HCJB-TV, owned by the HCJB radio ministry, in April 1972, to Antonio Granda Centeno.[1]: 124  The color equipment used arrived in February 1973, becoming the first network to broadcast in color when launched.[2] Experimental color broadcasts started in November 5, 1973[3] under the new owner[4] and began regular broadcasts on February 22, 1974, as the first network with color television transmissions in Ecuador, positioning itself as the third country in Latin America, behind Brazil and Mexico.[4] Its headquarters and main studios are located in Quito. Teleamazonas got the most powerful microwave radio relay, acquired the first mobile television unit, and built in Guayaquil the biggest self-supported antenna. From the start, it was the first ever color TV station in Spanish-speaking Latin America, a move that would inspire its neighboring countries to make the switch to color TV. Its signals were also received in border areas of Peru.[3]

In addition, the network made history as Ecuador's first true national network - while the Quito station had been opened during its first weeks, plans were underway to build a number of transmitter towers to relay programming to the provinces as well as to Guayaquil in the south as well as dedicated studios for regional news bureaus. In 1978, the station was shut down for a week during the government of Guillermo Rodríguez Lara, following controversial comments in its newscast, 24 Horas.[4] Since the beginning, Teleamazonas was the most technologically-advanced network in Ecuador.[2] The first mobile unit was installed in 1981, enabling the station to broadcast soccer matches and bullfighting events. In 1984, the network created Ecuador's first television miniseries, El teniente Parodi.[4]

In September 1998, it received support from Itelco, sponsored by state company Petroproducción, where ten transmitters were connected by means of thirteen microwave hops, in the country's southwestern region, including the border with Peru.[5]

On November 6, 1988, during a soccer match, it was announced that Teleamazonas' founder, Granda Centeno, died in the United States. All programming was suspended for three days and his shares and assets were put in hands of his sons and heirs.[2]

Founded by Antonio Granda Centeno, the channel was under control of his family until 2001, when Eduardo Granda Garcés paid a high debt to Banco del Pichincha. Fidel Egas Grijalva, major shareholder of the bank, took charge of Teleamazonas. The managing position was taken over by Sebastián Corral in 2002.[2]

On November 19, 2003, it gained an output deal with Buena Vista International Television, to gain access to its catalog of series and movies. The contract encompassed its animated series (House of Mouse, 101 Dalmatians, Timon & Pumba, The Legend of Tarzan), those acquired from Saban from Disney's takeover of Fox Family Worldwide (Spiderman, Hulk, Power Rangers), live-action series (8 Simple Rules, Boy Meets World, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) and movies from its ensemble of labels (102 Dalmatians, Chocolat, Unbreakable, The Wedding Planner, Spy Kids, Remember the Titans, The Kid, Cider House Rules).[6] Between 2002 and 2005, Teleamazonas had invested US$8 million in technology, and was set to buy its own equipment for the unified La Tri network for the 2006 FIFA World Cup (with Ecuavisa and RTS). The network was set to invest US$1.2 million in equipment in 2006 alone, including the combined World Cup network.[7]

During the presidency of Rafael Correa, the network, particularly its flagship opinion maker and pundit Jorge Ortiz, has found itself at odds with the government, which accuses it of manipulating public opinion to suite the interests of the companies and shareholders who provide the capital for Teleamazonas such as the Banco del Pichincha. Several proceedings have taken place against Teleamazonas, culminating on December 22, 2009, when the network was ordered a 72-hour shutdown.[8] At closing time (5:08pm), the channel was airing an episode of Malcolm in the Middle, while the staff in Quito was facing an uncertain situation. Manager Sebastián Corral called the measure "illegal". During the 72-hour period, programming continued on Teleamazonas Internacional and the channel's website.[9] This government move immediately prompted a backlash from advocacy groups who claimed to be acting in the interests of freedom of expression.

In September 2010, Fidel Egas sold his shares on Teleamazonas to several groups: 30% to the Peruvian media group La República, 48% to a group of Teleamazonas employees and 22% to a group of Fidel Egas' personal friends.[10] Teleamazonas sale was the result of the mandate of the Ecuadorian Constitution of 2008, which provides that no person may simultaneously hold shares in banks and media. In 2019, Teleamazonas joined forces with Endemol Shine Group to create the first ever Ecuadorian version of MasterChef.

Programming

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Teleamazonas has produced important national series and films like "Sucre", "En un rincón del alma", "Recuerdos en Paita", "El Gran Retorno", "J. J., El Ruiseñor de América", among others. The channel also airs dramas (including K-dramas), films as well as anime shows like Doraemon. (both modern and classic versions), and Yo soy Betty, la fea, one of Colombia's most popular romantic telenovelas.

Administrative issues

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Since May 2009, the channel has been facing problems, due to four administrative issues against Teleamazonas issued by Consejo Nacional de Radio y Televisión (CONARTEL) under the grounds that it was infracting the Broadcasting Law.[11]

The four situations were:

  • Having aired, in a report, images of the Bullfighting Fair of Ambato 2009. This happened in the 24 Horas news program. Since November 18, 2008, by resolution of CONARTEL, the broadcast of images and advertising in which "evidence scenes of violence and express cruelty against animals and/or people, with respect to events related to the so-called "bullfights" or "bullfighting fairs" at the national level were prohibited."[12]
  • Broadcasting live the alleged discovery, by politicians from the Madera de Guerrero Movement, of a "Clandestine Computer Center" in Guayaquil, where according to these politicians electoral data was processed and electoral fraud could occur. This was later denied and clarified by the National Electoral Council. According to CONARTEL, Teleamazonas would have transmitted an "alleged" event that violates literal "e" of article 58 of the Radio and Television Law.[13]
  • Presenting, in its newscast, a report about the work of the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA in Puná Island as well as the statements of the residents. The report talked about the impact that would be produced by PDVSA's gas exploration work, which caused the residents of Puná Island to take over the Oil Company's facilities. In this way, concern about possible mass hysteria on the part of the residents was the reason for the process.
  • Disseminating, during an interview by journalist Jorge Ortiz, a "clandestine recording", where Fernando Balda, affiliated with the PSP, denounced the alleged modifications to the text of the Constitution prepared in Montecristi and involving the head of State, Rafael Correa.[14]

Sanctions

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  • The first process has already been judged and sanctioned with a fine of 20 USD.
  • The second process ended in a fine of 40 USD. Both this sanction and the previous one were declared "without legal value" in a ruling by the District Court of Administrative Litigation of Pichincha in March 2010.[15]
  • The third process was sanctioned by the Superintendency of Telecommunications on December 22, 2009 at 5:09 p.m., ordering the closure of the station for 72 hours.[16] which sparked protests at the channel's facilities by its employees in the cities of Quito and Guayaquil.[17] This closure was appealed and on February 3, 2010, in a final ruling, the First Chamber of the Provincial Court of Pichincha ruled that the closure "violated constitutional procedures" and ordered that damages be paid to the station.[18] The court ruling was harshly criticized by President Rafael Correa.[19] A few days after the sanction, in what was seen as retaliation to the judges who issued the verdict,[20] they were fined for alleged irregularities in a different process.
  • After the Organic Law for Media was approved in Ecuador, in 2014, several social organizations of Afro-Ecuadorians, indigenous people, Montubios, women, homosexuals, among others, led by the trans activist Diane Rodríguez, filed a legal complaint against the media.[21][22] The reason was due to a sketch of the comedy program La pareja feliz which was considered discriminatory due to its content. The Ombudsman's Office of Ecuador became the supervisory body for the complaint filed, and later the Superintendence of Information and Communication (Supercom) prepared an evidentiary technical report.[23] On October 6, 2014, this litigation chapter against the media and comedy corporation of Ecuador closed, establishing a legal precedent in favor of the homosexual community.[24][25][26] The report of the Council for the Regulation and Development of Information and Communication (Cordicom) established a resolution in which it indicates that the homosexual community was discriminated against for reasons of sexual orientation,[27][28] thus allowing the Superintendence of Information and Communication (Supercom) to issue the final ruling.

[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Catch the Vision" (PDF). 1989. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d TÉCNICAS Y PROCESOS OPERATIVOS PARA LA TELEVISIÓN. MANUAL NORMATIVO PARA EL DEPARTAMENTO DE OPERACIONES, INGENIERÍA Y RADIOFRECUENCIA EN TELEAMAZONAS.
  3. ^ a b Teleamazonas cumple 48 años informando
  4. ^ a b c d Aura Catalina Mier Sanmartín, Creación y Desarrollo de Ecuador TV, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 2015
  5. ^ Itelco inicia proyecto con Teleamazonas en el Ecuador
  6. ^ Teleamazonas con derechos de Buena Vista LatAm
  7. ^ Antonio Montalvo de Teleamazonas: US$8 millones invertidos en tres años
  8. ^ "Ecuador: canal de televisión suspendido". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  9. ^ "Supertel cerró Teleamazonas ayer, tal como lo pidió Correa". La Prensa. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 26 December 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  10. ^ Jara, Mónica (2016-05-19). "Fidel Egas: 'Teleamazonas no es mío desde hace mucho tiempo'". El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  11. ^ "Él encausa los procesos contra Teleamazonas". Diario El Comercio, Quito. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  12. ^ "Resolución sobre la prohibición de corridas de toros es para radio y televisión". Retrieved 20 June 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |fecha= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Conartel pidió abrir expediente administrativo contra Teleamazonas". Diario El Comercio, Quito. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  14. ^ "Correa pidió que se clausure al canal de TV Teleamazonas". Diario El Comercio, Quito. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  15. ^ "'Sin valor jurídico sanción a televisora'". Diario El Universo, Guayaquil. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  16. ^ "SUPERTEL emitió Resolución (caso Teleamazonas - Isla Puná)". December 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  17. ^ "Continúan protestas por sanción a Teleamazonas". Diario El Universo, Guayaquil. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  18. ^ "Fallo final favorece a Teleamazonas". Diario El Universo, Guayaquil. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  19. ^ "R. Correa respalda al Superintendente". Diario El Comercio, Quito. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  20. ^ "Multa a los jueces del caso Teleamazonas". Diario El Comercio, Quito. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  21. ^ Diario el Telégrafo Archived 2014-05-23 at the Wayback Machine, Los grupos GLBTI lanzan debate sobre discriminación en la TV. Accessed 22 May 2014.
  22. ^ Diario Hoy, 33 organizaciones denuncian a La pareja feliz y Mi recinto. Accessed 22 May 2014.
  23. ^ Diario el Mercurio Archived 2014-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, Se espera un Informe Técnico. Accessed May 22, 2014.
  24. ^ Diario Metro Ecuador Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, Serie la Pareja feliz fue sancionada por la Supercom y deberá disculparse públicamente. Accessed 18 November 2014.
  25. ^ Agencia Los Andes Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, Programa cómico del Ecuador deberá disculparse públicamente por violentar derechos de población GLBTI. Accessed 18 November 2014.
  26. ^ Alternos, Batalla legal entre la Corporación Mediática y GLBTI en Ecuador - En español. Consultado el 18 de noviembre de 2014.
  27. ^ , Canal debe pedir perdón por Pareja Feliz. Accessed 18 November 2024.
  28. ^ Diario el Comercio, Silencio ante resolución por la Serie la Pareja Feliz - En español. Accessed 18 November 2014.
  29. ^ El Telégrafo Archived 2014-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, Teleamazonas se disculpa por capítulo de la Pareja Feliz - En español. Accessed 18 November 2014.
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