Editing Teleamazonas (section)

== History ==
Teleamazonas was created from the sale of frequencies that belonged to [[HCJB-TV]], owned by the [[HCJB]] radio ministry, in April 1972, to Antonio Granda Centeno.<ref name=catchthevision>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Station-Books/Catch-the-Vision-HCJB-1989.pdf |title=Catch the Vision |date=1989 |accessdate=27 July 2023 }}</ref>{{Rp|124}} The color equipment used arrived in February 1973, becoming the first network to broadcast in color when launched.<ref name="UCE">[https://www.dspace.uce.edu.ec/server/api/core/bitstreams/33f0a3c0-0b35-4ee6-a42d-a6eb63519992/content TÉCNICAS Y PROCESOS OPERATIVOS PARA LA TELEVISIÓN. MANUAL NORMATIVO PARA EL DEPARTAMENTO DE OPERACIONES, INGENIERÍA Y RADIOFRECUENCIA EN TELEAMAZONAS.]</ref> Experimental color broadcasts started on November 5, 1973<ref name=":0"/> under the new owner<ref name=creación>Aura Catalina Mier Sanmartín, ''Creación y Desarrollo de Ecuador TV'', Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 2015</ref> and began regular broadcasts on February 22, 1974, as the first network with color television transmissions in [[Ecuador]], positioning itself as the fourth country in Latin America, behind [[Brazil]], the [[Dominican Republic]] and [[Mexico]], to introduce the technology.<ref name=creación/> Its headquarters and main studios are located in [[Quito]]. Teleamazonas got the most powerful [[microwave]] radio relay, acquired the first mobile television unit, and built in [[Guayaquil]] the biggest self-supported antenna. From the start, it was the first ever color TV station in Spanish-speaking Latin America, a move that would inspire its neighboring countries to make the switch to color TV. Its signals were also received in border areas of [[Peru]].<ref name=":0">[https://www.teleamazonas.com/teleamazonas-cumple-48-anos-informando/ Teleamazonas cumple 48 años informando]</ref>

In addition, the network made history as Ecuador's first true national network - while the Quito station had been opened during its first weeks, plans were underway to build a number of transmitter towers to relay programming to the provinces as well as to Guayaquil in the south as well as dedicated studios for regional news bureaus. In 1978, the station was shut down for a week during the government of [[Guillermo Rodríguez Lara]], following controversial comments in its newscast, ''24 Horas''.<ref name=creación/> Diego Oquendo was its director, having arrived due to the network's connections with the El Tiempo newspaper (which Antonio Granda Centeno also owned), becoming a national figure.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com.ec/columnistas/homenaje-diego-oquendo-n19903 Homenaje a Diego Oquendo]</ref> Since the beginning, Teleamazonas was the most technologically-advanced network in Ecuador.<ref name="UCE"/> The first mobile unit was installed in 1981, enabling the station to broadcast soccer matches and bullfighting events. In 1984, the network created Ecuador's first television miniseries, ''El teniente Parodi''.<ref name=creación/>

On November 6, 1988, during a soccer match, it was announced that Teleamazonas' founder, Granda Centeno, died in the United States. All programming was suspended for three days and his shares and assets were put in hands of his sons and heirs.<ref name="UCE"/> On August 12, 1996, the network started airing ''[[Nada personal (1996 TV series)|Nada personal]]'', [[TV Azteca]]'s first breakout hit, competing against ''Marisol'' and a Brazilian telenovela on other networks. Before its premiere in Ecuador, the channel aired a special program describing its plot, footage from its recording and interviews. The series ended up becoming a smash hit for Teleamazonas, which even made car sweepstakes and US$20,000 in prizes, and becoming the most-watched telenovela in its first week on air.<ref>Llega 'Nada personal' con exito a Ecuador. (1996, Aug 18). Reforma</ref>

In September 1998, it received support from Itelco, sponsored by state company Petroproducción, where ten transmitters were connected by means of thirteen microwave hops, in the country's southwestern region, including the border with Peru.<ref>[https://www.produ.com/tecnologia/noticias/itelco-inicia-proyecto-con-teleamazonas-en-el-ecuador/ Itelco inicia proyecto con Teleamazonas en el Ecuador]</ref>

Founded by Antonio Granda Centeno, the channel was under control of his family until 2001, when Eduardo Granda Garcés paid a high debt to Banco del Pichincha. Fidel Egas Grijalva, major shareholder of the bank, took charge of Teleamazonas. The managing position was taken over by Sebastián Corral in 2002.<ref name="UCE"/>

On November 19, 2003, it gained an output deal with Buena Vista International Television, to gain access to its catalog of series and movies. The contract encompassed its animated series (House of Mouse, 101 Dalmatians, Timon & Pumba, The Legend of Tarzan), those acquired from Saban from Disney's takeover of Fox Family Worldwide (Spiderman, Hulk, Power Rangers), live-action series (8 Simple Rules, Boy Meets World, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) and movies from its ensemble of labels (102 Dalmatians, Chocolat, Unbreakable, The Wedding Planner, Spy Kids, Remember the Titans, The Kid, Cider House Rules).<ref>[https://www.produ.com/television/noticias/teleamazonas-con-derechos-de-buena-vista-latam/ Teleamazonas con derechos de Buena Vista LatAm]</ref> Between 2002 and 2005, Teleamazonas had invested US$8 million in technology, and was set to buy its own equipment for the unified La Tri network for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] (with Ecuavisa and RTS). The network was set to invest US$1.2 million in equipment in 2006 alone, including the combined World Cup network.<ref>[https://www.produ.com/tecnologia/noticias/antonio-montalvo-de-teleamazonas-us8-millones-invertidos-en-tres-anos/ Antonio Montalvo de Teleamazonas: US$8 millones invertidos en tres años]</ref>

During the presidency of [[Rafael Correa]], the network, particularly its flagship opinion maker and pundit Jorge Ortiz, has found itself at odds with the government, which accuses it of manipulating public opinion to suite the interests of the companies and shareholders who provide the capital for Teleamazonas such as the [[Banco del Pichincha]]. Several proceedings have taken place against Teleamazonas, culminating on December 22, 2009, when the network was ordered a 72-hour shutdown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-23 |title=Ecuador: canal de televisión suspendido |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/america_latina/2009/12/091222_0328_ecuador_teleamazonas_gm |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=BBC News Mundo |language=es}}</ref> At closing time (5:08pm), the channel was airing an episode of [[Malcolm in the Middle]], while the staff in Quito was facing an uncertain situation. Manager Sebastián Corral called the measure "illegal". During the 72-hour period, programming continued on Teleamazonas Internacional and the channel's website.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supertel cerró Teleamazonas ayer, tal como lo pidió Correa |url=https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2001/08/01/economia/767870-cinco-dcadas-despus |access-date=24 November 2023 |website=La Prensa |date=23 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226154018/https://www.eluniverso.com/2009/12/23/1/1355/supertel-cerro-teleamazonas-ayer-tal-como-lo-pidio-correa.html/ |archive-date=26 December 2009}}</ref> Upon returning to the air, the network aired a message aimed at its viewers.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/world/us/canal-teleamazonas-de-ecuador-vuelve-al-aire-idUSSIE5BM0KR/ Canal Teleamazonas de Ecuador vuelve al aire]</ref> This government move immediately prompted a backlash from advocacy groups who claimed to be acting in the interests of [[freedom of expression]]. In his presidency, new television channel unions were created, where it and [[Ecuavisa]] were notable absentees.<ref name="Hoy15102008">{{cite web|access-date=19 May 2010 |archive-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213171026/http://www.hoy.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/mayoria-de-aectv-en-manos-del-estado-311880.html |date=15 October 2008 |publisher=Diario Hoy, Quito |title=Mayoría de AECTV, en manos del Estado |url=http://www.hoy.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/mayoria-de-aectv-en-manos-del-estado-311880.html}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

In September 2010, Fidel Egas, banned from owning media outlets in Ecuador, sold his shares on Teleamazonas to several groups: 30% to the [[Peruvian]] media group [[La República (Peru)|La República]], 48% to a group of Teleamazonas employees and 22% to a group of Fidel Egas' personal friends.<ref name="Egas">{{Cite web |last=Jara |first=Mónica |date=2016-05-19 |title=Fidel Egas: 'Teleamazonas no es mío desde hace mucho tiempo' |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/negocios/fidelegas-niega-propietario-teleamazonas.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=El Comercio |language=es-EC}}</ref><ref name="Expreso 22102010">{{cite web|url=http://www.expreso.ec/ediciones/2010/10/22/nacional/actualidad/diario-de-peru-compro-parte-de-teleamazonas/|title=Diario de Perú compró parte de Teleamazonas.|access-date=22 October 2010|publisher=Diario Expreso, Quito|date=22 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130521/http://www.expreso.ec/ediciones/2010/10/22/nacional/actualidad/diario-de-peru-compro-parte-de-teleamazonas/|archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref> Teleamazonas' sale was the result of the mandate of the [[Ecuadorian]] Constitution of 2008, which provides that no person may simultaneously hold shares in banks and media. Egas appealed his decision on May 19, 2016,<ref name="Egas"/> having questioned the decision when the president talked about the issue two days prior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jara |first=Mónica |date=2016-05-19 |title=Rafael Correa cuestionó la venta de Teleamazonas |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/negocios/rafaelcorrea-cuestionamiento-venta-teleamazonas-ecuador.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=El Comercio |language=es-EC}}</ref> Later that year, the president attacked the network again, claiming it to be part of "one of the country's largest and most closed monopolies".<ref>[https://www.fundamedios.org.ec/alertas/presidente-correa-ataca-teleamazonas-y-sus-periodistas-despues-de-entrevista/ Presidente Correa ataca a Teleamazonas y a sus periodistas después de entrevista]</ref>

The station announced a relocation of its headquarters to a new location in September 2021, in northern Quito.<ref>[https://www.teleamazonas.com/teleamazonas-cambia-de-casa-se-vienen-nuevas-cosas/ Teleamazonas cambia de casa, se vienen nuevas cosas]</ref> The new building was first conceived in August 2019.<ref>[https://trama.ec/web/proyectos/estudio-a0-edificio-teleamazonas-estacion-de-tv Estudio A0: Edificio Teleamazonas – Estación de TV]</ref>

The network and Xtrim started sharing rights to the local football league in 2024. No concrete information about the sublicensing to Teleamazonas was given in public.<ref>[https://tavilatam.com/ecuador-xtrim-y-teleamazonas-se-hacen-con-los-derechos-de-tv-de-la-liga-local-de-futbol/ Xtrim y Teleamazonas se hacen con los derechos de TV de la liga local de fútbol]</ref>