Unicanal

Last updated
Unicanal
Country Paraguay
Headquarters Asunción
Programming
Language(s) Spanish
Picture format 1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerGrupo JBB
Key peopleGerman Gonzalez
Sister channels Trece
History
LaunchedJune 15, 1989
Former namesTV Cable 8 Asunción (1978-1989)
Canal 4 TV Cinema (1989-1996)
Links
Website www.unicanal.com.py
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital VHF Channel 3.2

Unicanal is a Paraguayan digital television network owned and operated by Grupo JBB.

Contents

History

The channel started broadcasting on September 15, 1989 as CVC's in-house channel, broadcast on channel 4 of the cable system. As of 1993, the channel was branded as TV Cinema, while channel 8 carried a sister channel, kids channel Kablito, which is no longer in operation. [1]

Until 2015, Unicanal was attached to the leading cable company (CVC, later Multicanal, later Cablevisión, now Tigo). The channel under Multicanal control hired journalists from Artear to improve the quality of its news operation, reportedly becoming one of the most watched in Paraguay. [2] It also aired El Trece's variety show Showmatch. [3] In January 2014, it signed a deal to create a Paraguayan version of an international format, Paraguay's Next Top Model, in order to become more competitive in the local television market. [4] In 2015, the channel was sold to Grupo JBB. The sale enabled Tigo to improve the Paraguayan version of Tigo Sports. [2]

Under JBB, the channel broke its longtime exclusivity agreement with Tigo, which owned the channel for over 25 years. On September 15, 2015, it was added to channel 20 of Claro TV. [5] Facing this growth, on December 28, 2015, it announced an increase in local productions in 2016, ending the relays of El Trece programming. [6] In May 2016, it acquired the rights to air Copa América Centenario. [7]

On March 30, 2017, Unicanal announced the launch of its HD feed, initially on Tigo Star channel 708. The conversion to new equipment began in late 2016 [8]

References

  1. Emisión de TV por Cable por la Compañía Más Grande de TV por Cable
  2. 1 2 Venta de Unicanal trae novedades al mercado televisivo
  3. HOY arranca SHOWMATCH sin Larissa
  4. Unicanal emitirá la versión paraguaya de America´s Next Top Model
  5. Unicanal se incorpora a la grilla de Claro Tv
  6. Unicanal anuncia mayor producción nacional en el 2016
  7. Unicanal adquiere derechos de la Copa América
  8. Unicanal lanza su señal HD