Television in Real

Television is much appreciated in Real, with regular broadcasts starting in 1954. Technologically, it has made a switch to color between 1975 and 1980, the first widescreen tests were in 2002 (regular from 2011) and the first HD broadcasts in 2005. Television broadcasts have been entirely digital on the terrestrial service since April 26, 2012.

History

1950s

Television arrived to Real on August 18, 1954. RTR started broadcasting to Braga on that evening for two hours. NTR followed suit in 1957. During this phase, televisions were limited and expensive, not to mention that television broadcasts were constrained to the evening hours in this period.

1960s

In the early 1960s, Realese television grew somewhat. By the year 1960, more than half of the population owned a television set. In order to combat adult illiteracy, RTR decided to make an experimental program inspired on the Iterian Non è mai troppo tardi: Nunca é Tarde Demais, which ran until 1972 when education was normalized.

RTR started a second channel in 1967.

Overview

Public broadcasting

Currently there are two public broadcasters in Real, RTR and NTR, respectively in Portuguese and English. Both broadcasters are regulated by the government. There is also the legislative broadcaster Canal Parlamento, which broadcasts exclusively in Portuguese, yet the NTR channels air subtitled highlights.

Private broadcasting

The private broadcasting sector was opened in 1992. There are four dominant companies: Impresa which owns SIC, Media Capital which owns TVI, We Are Press which ones TV5 Nacional and Cofina which owns CM TV. Recently, Veracrucian broadcaster Globo decided to launch its basic cable channel to the terrestrial platform, and ratings have substantially grown since then, making it a "rising broadcaster".

Cable and satellite

The pay-TV industry is dominant in the country. Four nationwide providers, Realcom, MEO, Vodafone and Nowo operate their own services.

Regional

RTR has nine regional-level channels. District-level television stations are operated by commercial companies, usually local newspapers or radio stations.

In Galicia, a separate entity for regional broadcasting, CRTVG, operates two channels, TVG 1 and TVG 2.

Overseas

The six overseas territories are served by RRU, operating one television channel in each territory. RRU used to operate the local television station in Caima until 1982, where it was taken over by Teledifusão da Caima under new legislations.

Abroad

RTR and NTR operate international channels. RTR Internacional, first launched in 1992, is a global promotor of the Portuguese language and airs programming made by RTR to an international audience. It also operates RTR Bulungi which is also broadcast terrestrially in Huamba, the Martine Islands and South Bulungi. NTR, on its side, operates NTR World, a predominantly news-centric channel. SIC, TVI and to a lesser extent TV5 also operate their own channels.

SPORT.TV has opened channels in Lusophone Bulungi and Nosghel, where Portuguese is an official language. SPORT.TV has also acquired rights to some sporting events in these territories.

Channels

International

• RTR Internacional
• SIC Internacional

Platforms

Terrestrial

Terrestrial television is entirely digital since April 2012. RTR operates the terrestrial network in partnership with its competitors through Teledifusão de Real. In overseas territories, RRU owns the networks.

Cable

There are currently three nationwide cable operators using the technology: Realcom, UPC and Nowo.

IPTV

MEO and Vodafone operate services using fiber, initial IPTV services relied on ADSL broadband connection. The first service was Clix's, between 2005 and 2014. During its first year, privately-owned MEO was a competitor of Clix before competing against ZON/Realcom.

Satellite

Realcom and MEO operate satellite services.