Television in Napión

Television was introduced in Napión in 1953. Napión is in a unique situation in which the only national networks are a government-mandated commercial network and the government-funded entity Sinart.

History

1950s

In April 1950, students of the Tajamar Technical University created an experimental television station. The government found out about the experiment and finally conceded the first television licenses in 1951. There were two licenses, one in the Marello area on channel 13 and one in the Tajamar area on channel 6. Finally in 1953 the government greenlighted the two stations as they had sufficient equipment. Although Canal 6 in Tajamar was the first to get a license, Canal 13 del Marello was the first to sign on, on April 3, 1953. The Tajamar station would follow suit on June 1 of the same year. The Marello station was owned by El Faro del Marello while the Tajamar station was owned by El Día de Tajamar.

Soon there would be competition in Tajamar on channel 4. Telecentro signed on on July 12, 1954 and was the first television station in Napión not to be owned by a newspaper.

The onset of television in Napión led to increased interest in neighboring Mérida, whose national television service didn't start until 1954, and it wasn't until at least 1963 that television reached the fringes of the border.

Channels

• TVN: National commercial network operated by local investors (40%) and companies linked to Disney (60%).
• TVMax: Formerly a subchannel of TVN, it relies on sports and imports.