Television in Bensonia

Television in Bensonia has grown significantly since the first broadcasts in 1950, becoming one of largest and most productive commercial television systems in the world. Its biggest network, Sentry Broadcasting Corporation, is the tenth largest commercial network in the world, behind Hopelandian, Veracrucian and Sierran networks, and has grown to become one of the largest television exporters around the world, particularly of soap operas, which have become popular in many countries.

History

1950s

The first broadcasts in Bensonia were held on September 18, 1950, with the launch of the now-defunct Inca Television in Grand Rapids by the Associated Newspapers. It was the third country in South Sierra to introduce television, after Hopeland and Vera Cruz. It was also the seventh nation in the world to have a television station with daily broadcasts, behind the United States, Hopeland, Nashland, Saria, Étienne and Huasco. The first image to appear in Inca TV was that of five-year-old Mary Ford, who, dressed up as a native Bensonian, said: "Good evening. You are welcome into the bright new world of television". Inca's symbol was the head of a Quechuan leader.

In the 1950s, Bensonian television was marked by informality, since there were no trained professionals in the country with any experience in this media field. Another characteristic of television productions of this early period was live impromptu, as there was no videotape. The high costs of TV sets, which were imported, restricted the access of the media to the urban elites of major cities. Technical resources were primary, offering broadcasters just enough to keep the stations on the air. It was during that period that TV news and soap operas were established.

Initially television was constrained around the Grand Rapids-Galveston axis. Inca also bought a license for Galveston, which was supposed to be the first site of the regionar television service, but was transferred to Grand Rapids because it was deemed "more important". The former capital of Bensonia started television transmissions on January 20, 1951. There soon was a television bonanza that swept the two largest cities by storm, as there were two new licenses given to Grand Rapids: one for Burton Broadcasting, on channel 5, and one for the Sentry Organization, on channel 7. The Sentry Broadcasting Corporation eventually started operations in December 1954. During the first couple of years on air, most broadcasts were quick and lasted for less than an hour. An additional license was given to Galveston on channel 13. In 1952, the Inca Network imports Your Esso Reporter from Bensonian radio, which lasted for nearly two decades before the SBC standard of quality was conceded. SBC responded by importing the Sentry Radio News under the Sentry Television News brand.

Galveston Television began broadcasts in June 1955. It quickly started making bonds with Burton Television in Grand Rapids to the extent that both stations had to interchange programs.

Punku Television, the third station from the Associated Newspapers, technically affiliated to the Inca TV network, started operations on September 5th, 1955. The name was chosen because the station was the "gateway" to television outside of the Grand Rapids-Galveston axis. Expanding television outside of the country wouldn't become a reality until the late-50s.

1960s

Bensonland, the much-coveted inland capital district that the government was planning, was formally inaugurated on April 21st, 1960, and the city was given three television licenses: a government entity on channel 3, the Associated Newspapers got Bensonland TV on channel 6, and the Galveston TV consortium got channel 8, Capital Television. Television also arrived to the Northulic region. Channel 2 in Grand Rapids was given to Culture TV, operated by the Associated Newspapers, who had to move Inca TV to channel 4 in order to avoid interferences in August 1960, a month before it started. In July, channel 9 was given to Supreme TV.

After an intense legal battle over the channel 4 frequency in Galveston, SBC's second station and the forst outside of Grand Rapids started broadcasting on April 26th, 1965. It quickly got a license for Bensonland where it started broadcasting in 1966. The modern-day SBC network was born.

1970s

The decade started with Supreme TV shutting down. By 1974, regular color broadcasts have increased on a national level.

1980s

Inca Television shut down in July 1980.

Channels

Terrestrial

• SBC
• NTS
• Burton Television
• ETV
• Today TV
• Culture TV
• Bensonia TV

Cable

These channels are defined as "must-carry channels" under federal law.

• artsOne

Programming

Reality television

A genre that started appearing in the early 2000s. The most popular show is Big Brother Bensonia. Talent competitions under international formats are also popular.