Canal 13 (Chilean TV network)

Canal 13

Country	Chile
Broadcast area	Chile
Headquarters	Santiago, Chile
Programming
Language(s)	Spanish
Picture format	1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner	Canal 13 SpA Grupo Luksic (through TV Medios Investments Ltd.)
Sister channels	Canal 13.2 Canal 13 Internacional Canal 13 Cable REC TV T13 Móvil
History
Launched	21 August 1959 (1959-08-21)
Former names	Canal 2 UC (1959–1961) Canal 13 UC (1961–1970) Corporación de Televisión de la Universidad Católica de Chile (1970–1982) Universidad Católica de Chile Televisión (1982–1999) Corporación de Televisión de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (secondary, 2000–2002)
Links
Website	www.13.cl
Availability
Terrestrial
Analog VHF	Listings may vary
Digital VHF	Listings may vary

Canal 13 is a Chilean free-to-air television channel. Informally known in Chile as El 13 (The Thirteen), it is the second oldest television station in the country. It was launched on 21 August 1959, on VHF channel 2 of Santiago, in a broadcast led and founded by a group of engineers from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Subsequently, the TV station moved its frequency to VHF channel 13, which gave rise to its current name. In its beginnings, one of its most important milestones was the broadcast of the 1962 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in Chile.

It was originally named Corporación de Televisión de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Television Corporation of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile) until 2010, when the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile sold most of its shares to Andrónico Luksic Craig's Grupo Luksic. In 2017, Grupo Luksic acquired full ownership of the channel.

Its central studios are located in the Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte Television Centre, which since the 1980s has housed the channel's production and broadcast facilities. The complex is located in Providencia, Santiago Metropolitan Region and has 5 hectares of infrastructure. Since 1998, these dependencies have been named after the station's deceased executive director, Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte, who was one of the longest-serving men in this position.

History

1952-1973: Experimental tests and early years of the channel

David Raisman at studio A of Canal 13 (1965).

On November 25, 1952, the first RCA Victor brand industrial television equipment was received in Santiago, Chile, which was acquired by the Catholic University in association with the Chilean subsidiary of the North American firm. Two teams were immediately created at the university to supervise the use of the system: a technical team, led by engineer Julio del Río, and an artistic team under the direction of Germán Becker. On December 12 of that year, the first experimental program was broadcast in closed circuit from the Auditorium of the School of Physics of the Catholic University; The broadcast had several technical errors, but was seen as a success. In January 1953, the University's television department collaborated with Radio Minería for a special broadcast of its program La Cadena de la Amistad, becoming the first public television broadcast in Chile.

In 1959, Pedro Caraball was appointed head of the Electronics Department; At the same time, a 100 W audio transmitter was built and new Philips industrial equipment was purchased, with which the first test transmissions were made on July 17. On August 21 of the same year at 7:00 p.m., the experimental transmissions formally began from an attic on the fourth floor of the Central House and with a receiver installed in the reception of El Diario Ilustrado, through VHF channel 2 and broadcasting a schedule of three films per week; these transmissions would be interrupted on December 31 of that year due to an accident that affected the transmitter. In January 1960, the Television Department was created, and Juan Ángel Torti was appointed as its director in order to officially shape up the station.

The test transmissions end on Saturday, April 15, 1961 at 6:00 p.m., when the television station of the Catholic University begins its official transmissions through channel 13; since the 3rd of the same month, test broadcasts had begun between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to adjust the equipment. To do this, a studio was built in the University's Central House, from which Recuerdos de la Pérgola de las Flores, the channel's first program, was broadcast. Also, El show de Antonio Prieto and Tricotilandia, the first entertainment programs on Chilean television, were made in the same studio. These two were the first to introduce commercial advertising to television.

In 1962, and now definitively using channel 13, the channel successfully broadcast the World Soccer Championship that took place in Chile, thanks to new equipment—which included 5 cameras, a transmitter and a link team—that it received. on March 29 of that year; Canal 13 was in charge of broadcasting the matches of Chile vs Italy, Germany vs Switzerland, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final of the championship.​ After the World Cup ended, the channel closed its broadcasts for almost a month to make technical adjustments, resuming these on Sunday, July 22 with the broadcast of the first part of La pérgola de las flores,​ which was divided into four parts broadcast every Sunday; that day, presentations by the musical groups The Dreamers, The Strangers, and María Teresa Larraín were also broadcast.

In August of that year, Show dominical began to air; in 1965, it moved to Saturdays as Sábados alegres, and later with its extension in length it was renamed Sábados Gigantes: the oldest and most successful variety program in Latin America, hosted by Mario Kreutzberger, better known as Don Francisco.​ On October 2, 1962, the channel's studios were officially inaugurated, in a ceremony headed by Darío Aliaga, Eduardo Tironi and Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez.

In 1963, the creation of the first Press Department of Chilean television took place, under the direction of journalist Leonardo Cáceres. In the same year, the Dramatic Department was created, under the direction of Hugo Miller, and the teletheater The Greenhouse (1963) debuted, starring Malú Gatica —who was returning to the country after her time in Hollywood —and which marked the debut of Sonia Viveros. The following year, the first national fiction series began to be broadcast: This is my family, starring Malú Gatica herself. In 1964, Channel 13 began broadcasting seven days a week, also covering the presidential elections on September 4 of that year, where Eduardo Frei Montalva was elected president. On April 1, 1965, the series El liter 4916 premiered with great ratings success; Meanwhile, The Secret History of the Big News became the first documentary program on Chilean television, and on December 27 of that same year the videotape system debuted on the channel by recording the teletheater The Browning Version with received equipment. in the middle of that year, launched with the help of Argentine technicians; Four days later, at 11:45 p.m. on December 31, 1965, the channel broadcast its first program recorded on videotape: a musical presentation by Marianela and Los Gatos, as well as a greeting from Eduardo Tironi (station director).

In 1967, the channel achieved another success with the comedy Juani en society, starring Sonia Viveros and Silvia Piñeiro. In October of the same year, it received new mobile transmission equipment that included a videotape system, thus allowing the recording of outdoor scenes. On August 9, 1968, the first satellite transmission was received , corresponding to a live transmission from the Chilean Embassy in Washington D.C. ( United States) and occurred on the occasion of the inauguration of the Longovilo earth station;​ on July 20 and 21, 1969, it covered via satellite the transmission of man's arrival on the Moon in conjunction with Channel 9 and National Television of Chile —the latter, still in experimental transmissions—. On March 1, 1970, the Teletrece news program debuted, the oldest news program on Chilean television currently on air; in 1971, the channel becomes an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union; and in 1972, the Angelito de Canal 13, the first mascot of Channel 13, created by Enrique Bustamante, and priest Raúl Hasbún took over as the channel's new director.

On December 24, 1972, the channel extended its transmissions to the cities of San Fernando and Curicó on frequency 5, known in both cities as "Canal 5", officially beginning its broadcasts on January 3. 1973. On February 8, 1973, Channel 5's broadcasts, a subsidiary station of Channel 13 in Concepción, began.​ The current legislation (dated in 1970) did not clearly contemplate the geographical expansion of the university channels, so there was great controversy regarding a campaign led by Channel 13 to achieve national coverage, largely due to its editorial line, which was in opposition to the then-current government, in notorious counterpart with National Television of Chile and Channel 9 of the University of Chile. On September 11, 1973 - the day of the coup d'état against the government of Salvador Allende - Channel 13 was the only television outlet authorized to go on the air by order of the Military Government Junta; for three days, Channel 13 broadcast throughout the country using TVN's frequency network, which was left off the air, as was Channel 9.

1974-1999: New television center and expansion

Advertisement from Channel 13 in 1971 featuring the slogan used at the time, "For the country, God and the university".

During 1974, due to problems with the new rector of the Catholic University , Jorge Swett Madge - appointed by the Military Junta -, Raúl Hasbún resigned from his position; In his place, Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte took over. Likewise, the programming increases and starting in March of that year it begins its daily broadcasts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 a.m., subsequently, it retransmitted its programs on a delayed basis to La Serena and Coquimbo after signing an agreement with Canal 8 UCV Televisión in 1975. In 1976, it broadcast for the first time in conjunction with National Television the matches of the Chilean team in the Davis Cup of that year. in addition to the playoff match of the Copa Libertadores final between Cruzeiro and River Plate at the National Stadium. It also managed to extend its signal to other places in Chile, since in November 1976 it inaugurated a repeater in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar through channel 8, a frequency that until February 1969 belonged to UCV Televisión. In December 1976, the channel's authorities signed an agreement with the Universidad del Norte Television Network that allowed it to retransmit its programs in Antofagasta, Arica, Calama, Chuquicamata, Iquique, María Elena and Tocopilla.

In 1975, the Treasury ended the subsidies that it had periodically granted to university television stations since their inception. In this way, Canal 13 began to finance itself solely with advertising and contributions from the Catholic University . However, soon the advertising revenues allowed the channel to operate as a commercial station and additionally deliver profits to the studio. A symbol of this new situation were the programs made by director Gonzalo Bertrán and presenter César Antonio Santis, both arriving from National Television in 1976, first with musical specials with the participation of foreign artists, and then with two-hour variety shows, beginning with Esta noche fiesta in 1977.

On April 12, 1978, color television transmissions were authorized in Chile, establishing the American NTSC standard as official ; It took Canal 13 only three months to adapt - acquiring four RCA TK-760 cameras and a TK-28 equipment -, and in the month of June, together with National Television, it broadcasts the Soccer World Cup from Argentina with this technology. On December 2 of that year, together with TVN and the channels of the University of Chile and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, they organized and broadcast the OTI Song Festival of that year, which was held at the Municipal Theater of Santiago. Meanwhile, on December 8 and 9, the channels come together again to broadcast the first Teletón.

During 1981, the soap operas La madrastra and Casagrande , and the news programs Teletarde and Telenoche, premiered . Since then, the channel's own production increased, and on May 15, 1983, it inaugurated its Television Center in Providencia, leaving behind the studios on Lira Street; Studio D in said place - where La madrastra was recorded - had suffered a fire on July 20, 1981. One of the first programs produced in the new studios is the variety program Martes 13, launched on July 7 of that year live from Studio 3. On the other hand, Canal 13 continued to expand, and on August 21, 1984 it premiered its signal in Talca through channel 8, while on December 18 it extended to Chillán and Los Angeles through channel 13.

On March 3, 1985, Channel 13 extended the edition of Teletrece that day until around 1 in the morning in the context of the earthquake in Algarrobo. Likewise, on March 8 and 9, the channel organized the first edition of the Chile ayuda a Chile campaign to gather help for the victims of the earthquake, in a broadcast that lasted more than 30 hours. On September 6 of that year, it began broadcasting in Constitución through channel 9. In 1986, in conjunction with National Television, it again broadcast the match that the Chilean team played in the Davis Cup that year and premiered in the first half of the year the telenovela Ángel malo, adaptation of a Brazilian telenovela from 1975. Likewise, during the second half of the year it broadcasts Secreto de familia. That same year, Canal 13 continued its expansion, reaching Cauquenes (channel 7) and Temuco (channel 4), beginning its transmissions in the latter city on July 18. In June, it again broadcasts the World Cup together with TVN, this time Mexico 1986, and on July 30 it inaugurates the studios of Channel 5 in Concepción, built in the likeness of the Providencia Television Center.

In 1987, Channel 13 reached the cities of Puerto Montt (channel 13), Osorno (channel 9, since October 28), Angol (channel 10), San Felipe, Lebu, Lautaro, Traiguén and Saladillo.​ From April 1 to 5, it broadcast the visit of Pope John Paul II to Chile live as the official channel at the request of the Chilean episcopate, being the only television station that broadcast the entire events of the visit. On the other hand, on August 7 and 8 Sábados Gigantes celebrates 25 years of existence in a 25-hour program. Finally, between October 10 and 25, it broadcasts jointly with National Television the U-20 Soccer World Cup held in Chile that year.

During 1990, Universidad Católica de Chile Televisión achieved national coverage, reaching from Arica (channel 8) to Quellón (channel 5)​. On May 29, 1991, the channel broadcast together with Televisión Nacional de Chile the final match of the 1991 Copa Libertadores with equal high ratings for both channels. The broadcast was presented by Pedro Carcuro, Ignacio Hernández (for TVN) and Alberto Fouillioux (for Channel 13). On June 5, both channels again broadcast the final of the 1991 Copa Libertadores, this time being the second leg, also with high ratings for both stations. The broadcast was directed by Gonzalo Bertrán and presented by Pedro Carcuro, Sergio Livingstone (for TVN), Alberto Fouillioux and Julio Martínez (for Channel 13). Additionally, on June 28, it adds to its program schedule the American series The Simpsons, which has been successful over the years and has established itself as an iconic program on Channel 13. National coverage is expanded once again, arriving during 1991 to Vallenar, Rancagua and Punta Arenas. At the beginning of 1992, the channel began to broadcast in the communes of Petorca and Illapel. In Punta Arenas the signal began transmitting on May 15, 1991. Its broadcast was one day later than in Santiago and consisted of 6 hours of programming, which was extended over time. This continued until April 1993, when this system was replaced by the live signal via satellite from Santiago.

Other services

Channel 13 also controls 3 sister channels, 4 radio stations via 13 Radios (see the section below), and 2 free online streaming services.

Sister channels

• 13C: formerly called "Canal 13 Cable". Its programming is focused on cultural-themed series.
• Canal 13 HD: it was the country's first HD channel and one of its kind in Latin America. It was launched in 2009 and it is currently treated as Channel 13's main feed, airing most of its content in high-definition.
• Rec TV: Channel 13's cable network which broadcasts older programs. Available through Cable TV and online.
• T13 Móvil: Teletrece's mobile radio network is available online. It is also available on Channel 13.2, where it is named Canal 13.2.

Regional networks

Channel 13 also had regional stations that broadcast local news. However, as the years passed, they were closed as the primary signal began reaching those regions.

• Canal 13 Valparaíso: Channel 13's television affiliate from the Valparaíso Region. Closed in 2019.
• Canal 13 Concepción: Channel 13's television affiliate from the Bío Bío Region. It initially worked between 1973 and 1996 but was relaunched in 2004 until it closed in 2019.
• Canal 13 Antofagasta: Channel 13's television affiliate from the Antofagasta Region. It worked between 2004 and 2009. One side fact is that it initially replaced Channel 13's affiliation with a local TV station Telenorte.
• Canal 13 Temuco: Channel 13's television affiliate from the Araucanía Region. Closed in 2009 alongside Canal 13 Antofagasta.

Online services

• 13Now: Channel 13's TV streaming service, which contains various contents including previous programs made by the station. It is available online and on Samsung Smart TVs sold locally since 2016. It was launched in 2017 as Loop 13, but renamed in 2019 to the current name.
• Emisor Podcasting: Channel 13's podcasting service, with a catalog of various podcasts made by 13 Radio's program hosts. It is available online since 2019 and has a mobile app on both iOS and Android.

13 Radios

Channel 13 also has a radio brand known as 13 Radios, founded in 2013. It has the following 4 stations:

• Oasis FM: radio station purchased by Channel 13, only available in Santiago and the southern half of the country. It airs programming designed for young adults. It is available for all Chile via Cable TV, on VTR's Channel 654.
• Play FM: radio station airing English-language mainstream pop music. It also airs Spanish-language music but not as frequently. Its broadcasts on the 100.9 FM band in Santiago. Its programming is based on Pop, Rock, Soul, Blues and R&B music styles.
• Sonar FM: local radio station that broadcasts Rock and Hard rock music. It is only available in Santiago. Its programming is based on the Rock music style.
• Tele13 Radio: local news radio station which is part of the News Department of the channel. Its name comes from Channel 13's newscast, Teletrece (which is often abbreviated to Tele13). Began operations on April 21, 2015, replacing Top FM.

Previous stations

• Radio Horizonte: former radio station on the 103.3 FM dial, born in 1985 and purchased by Channel 13 in 2012. Its programming was based on Indie and Electronic songs. It was replaced by Top FM (current Tele13 Radio) on 19 March 2013, but it still worked online until May 2017. On 31 March 2021 Returned Via Internet.
• Top FM: former radio station by Channel 13, that had programming created for young to old adults between 17 and 45 years. It replaced Radio Horizonte on the 103.3 FM dial, but ended regular broadcasts on 20 April 2015, being replaced with Tele13 Radio the following day. Like Horizonte, Top FM was still available online until May 2017.

Digital terrestrial television

Channel	Aspect	Programming
13.1	16:9	Canal 13
13.2	16:9	T13 Móvil/Canal 13.2
24.3	4:3	Canal 13 Móvil

Logos

• 
  first logo, 1961–1969 (note that color TV didn't yet exist in Chile, so the blue rectangles were black on-air)
• 
  1969-1970
• 
  1970-1973
• 
  1973-1978
• 
  1978-1979 (when color TV began testing in Chile and they used to have a sky blue background during these times. This was made for 1978 and 1979 Teleton which was the first time a special event would be in color in Chile)
• 
  1979–1999
• 
  1999–2000
• 
  2000–2002
• 
  2002–2005
• 
  2005–2010
• 
  November 1, 2010 – March 22, 2018 (a variant of the previous logo, but without the "UC" text).
• 
  Current logo, in use since March 23, 2018.

Corporate slogans

Period	Slogan
1959–1961	Transmite, Canal 2 de la Universidad Católica de Chile (Channel 2 broadcasting from the Catholic University of Chile)
1961–1963	Transmite, Canal 13 de la Universidad Católica de Chile (Channel 13 broadcasting from the Catholic University of Chile)
1968–1973	Por la patria, dios y la Universidad (For the fatherland, God, and the university)
1978	Bienvenido al mundo del color (Welcome to the world of color!)
1979-1982	Universidad Católica de Chile Televisión
1980	¡El canal con todo! (The channel with everything!)
1984–1997	Esta es Universidad Católica de Chile Television (This is Catholic University of Chile Television.)
1988–1992	En sus hogares, Universidad Católica de Chile Television (In your households, Catholic University of Chile Television.)
1992–1999	Transmite Universidad Católica de Chile Television (Broadcasting Catholic University of Chile Television.)
1996–1999	Su canal de Siempre (Your same old channel)
1999–2000	Siga la señal del 13 (Follow the signal from 13)
2000–2002	Transmite/Esta es/Con usted, Corporación de Televisión de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Canal 13. (Broadcasting/This is/With you Television Corporation of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Channel 13)
2002–2005	Está bueno el 13 (13 is so good)
2005–2009	Nos vemos en el 13 (We'll see you at 13)
2009–2010	Todo lo bueno suma 13 (Everything good adds up to 13)
2010	El 13 en tu vida siempre (The 13 in your life always)
2010	Ahora es Cuando (Now is the time)
2011	Prendete con el 13 (Turn yourself on with 13)
2012–present	Por el 13 (On 13)
2018–2020	Estamos aquí para compartir por el 13 (We're here to share on 13)
2020–present	Estamos por ti (We are here for you)

Programming

Teletrece editions

Main Programs

Edition	Date(s)	Main Host(s)	Some Weekend Host(s)	Sports Commentator(s)	Schedule on programming
Teletrece Central (main, evening)	1970 – Present	Ramón Ulloa Soledad Onetto	Alfonso Concha Cristián Pino Chantal Aguilar	Juan Cristobal Guarello Ignacio Valenzuela	Every day, starting at 9:00 PM and ending at 10:30 PM.
Teletrece AM (morning)	1998 – Present	Paulo Ramírez Natalia López	None	Juan Cristóbal Rojas	Every Weekday, starting at 6:30 AM and ending at 8:00 AM.
Teletrece Tarde (afternoon)	1970 – Present	Iván Valenzuela Monica Pérez	Alfonso Concha Cristián Pino Chantal Aguilar	Felipe Espina Luis Marambio	Every day, starting at 1:00 PM and ending on various hours: 2:30 PM (weekdays) 3:00 PM (weekends)
Teletrece Noche (midnight)	1972-2019; since 2021	Álvaro Paci	None	None	Mondays to Thursdays, starting at 12:30 AM and ending at 01:15 AM.
Avance de Teletrece (news bullets)	Sporadically broadcast	Varies depending on hour	Alfonso Concha Chantal Aguilar	None	Usually, it is broadcast when certain hours (like 7:00 PM) begin. On Sundays, it is broadcast before program Mesa Central.

Other Programs

Edition	Date(s)	Schedule	Notes
Informate en un 3x3	2005-2020; since 2021	Weekdays at 6:00 AM	3x3 stopped being broadcast on 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. It returned first for the 2020 plebiscite for a new constitution (as part of Canal 13's special programming), and then returned definitely in 2021, this time linked to T13.
Mesa Central	Since 2018	Sundays at 10:45 AM	This program is also broadcast on Tele13 Radio on Weekdays (in fact, the program was born on that radio station). Hosted by Ivan Valenzuela.
Sin despertador T13	Since 2020	Saturdays at 9:00 AM	It originally was broadcast on weekdays at 8:30 PM and initially named T13 Ciudadanos. Hosted by Natalia Lopez.
Teletrece C	1995-2014	Various Schedules	This was a version exclusive to cable TV channel 13C. After that version ended, a simulcast of regular T13 was broadcast on 13C.

Current own programming

Name	Type	Date	Seasons	Notes
Tu Día	Breakfast TV	Since 2021	1 (as of 2022)
Lugares que hablan	Travel documentary	Since 2012	10
De tú a tú	Talk Show	Since 2021	2
¡Qué dice Chile!	Game Show	Since 2021	2 (as of 2022)	Local variant of Family Feud, distributed by Fremantle

Former programming

Name	Type	Date	Seasons	Notes
Acoso Textual	Dating Show	2004–2010	2
El Mundo del Profesor Rossa	Children's television series	1984–2001	17
Cachureos	Children's television series	1998–2003	Around 5
Si se la puede, gana	Variety show	1998–2004	Around 7
El Rival Más Débil	Quiz show	2003–2004	2
Gigantes con Vivi	Variety show	2003–2009	7	Chilean version of Sábado Gigante
El Tiempo es Oro	Quiz show	1994–2000	7
Maravillozoo	Quiz show	1995–2002	8	Due to his host, Javier Miranda, also hosting Teletrece back then, he was replaced by other reporters when Maravillozoo was broadcast.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?	Quiz show	2006–2010	Around 4
¿Quien quiere ser Millonario?: Alta Tensión	Quiz show	2011–2012	4
Supermarket	Quiz show	1995–1996	2
Trato Hecho	Quiz show	2004	1
Video Loco	Viewer-submitted videos	1991–2002	12
Venga Conmigo	Variety show	1993–2003	10
Viva el Lunes	Variety show	1995–2001	10
Sábado Gigante	Variety show	1962–2015	50	Called Sábados Gigantes in Chile; coproduction with Univision.
En su propia trampa	Investigation show	2011-2018	8
Vértigo	Variety Show	2003–2008; 2012–2018	10
Martes 13	Variety show	1983–1995	Around 13	Replaced by Viva el Lunes
Alfombra Roja	Entertainment newsmagazine	2006–2013	11
Mi Nombre Es...	Talent show	2011–2014	5
AR Prime	Variety show	2013	1
Bienvenidos	Breakfast TV	2011–2021	10	Replaced by Tu Día.
Aquí Somos Todos	Collaboration; News	2020–2022	2
Starstruck	Talent Show	2022	1	Local variant of Starstruck, distributed by ITV Studios

See also

• Angelito de Canal 13- former mascot of Canal 13

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)