A Crítica

A Crítica, formally known as TV A Crítica, is a Brazilian television network based in Manaus, Amazonas. It operates as the principal broadcast property of Rede Calderaro de Comunicação, a locally rooted media group whose holdings also include the newspapers A Crítica and Manaus Hoje, radio stations, and other television outlets. The station serves as one of the most prominent regional broadcasters in the Brazilian North, combining locally produced journalism, entertainment, cultural programming, sports and imported or acquired programming with distribution through terrestrial stations and affiliates. The channel began broadcasting on June 2, 1972, under the name TV Baré. Its concession had been awarded in 1968 after a federal competition for a second television service in Manaus. The station was initially organized by a group of shareholders associated with Diários Associados, with businessman and journalist Umberto Calderaro Filho, owner of the newspaper A Crítica, among the participants. TV Baré initially affiliated with Rede Tupi. Because network programming was delivered to Manaus on tapes and films, often with substantial delays compared with broadcasts in São Paulo, the station developed a significant local programming presence from an early stage. Following the collapse of Rede Tupi in 1980, the station operated independently for a period before joining Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão, commonly known as SBT, in 1981. Ownership changed during the financial difficulties affecting Diários Associados. Umberto Calderaro Filho ultimately consolidated control of the station in 1986, and the broadcaster adopted the name TV A Crítica, aligning it with the group's flagship newspaper and broader corporate identity. The station later became affiliated with Rede Record. Representatives of the two broadcasters signed an agreement on July 5, 2007, and the affiliation formally began on September 1 of that year. The relationship was commercially significant but also generated tensions over scheduling, network standards and the balance between national programming and local content. TV A Crítica launched its digital signal on August 10, 2009, becoming the first Record affiliate in Brazil's North Region to broadcast digitally. Its signal initially covered Manaus and nearby municipalities, reaching a large regional audience. In 2019, after negotiations concerning the future of the relationship with Record, A Crítica decided to leave the network and return to an independent programming model. The station announced the decision on May 10, 2019, citing the need to focus more directly on Amazonas and to expand its own programming. It ended the affiliation earlier than initially expected, interrupting Record programming shortly after midnight on June 3, 2019. The transition was marked by a historical video and promotional material presenting the station's new independent schedule, including material connected with the Parintins Folklore Festival. Since becoming independent, A Crítica has pursued broader distribution beyond its original Manaus base. The network has established owned-and-operated outlets and affiliate relationships in several Brazilian states, including Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, the Federal District, Paraná and São Paulo, as well as markets in the North and Center-West. Its programming strategy emphasizes regional identity, news and entertainment made for Brazilian audiences outside the dominant national network centers. The station remains active under Rede Calderaro de Comunicação, with Manaus as its core operating and editorial base.

TV A Crítica originated in the expansion of television service in Manaus during the late 1960s. In 1968, the federal government organized a competition for a second television concession in the city. Diários Associados won the concession, and a company with 30 shareholders was formed to establish the station. Among the participants was Umberto Calderaro Filho, the businessman and journalist who owned the newspaper A Crítica. The new broadcaster was named TV Baré and began operating on June 2, 1972, from Manaus's channel 4. Its launch ceremony was held at Palácio Rio Negro and was attended by Amazonas governor João Andrade. TV Baré entered the market as a Rede Tupi affiliate. At the time, network programs were sent northward on physical tapes and films, meaning that telenovelas, football matches and other national material could reach Manaus weeks after their original transmission in southeastern Brazil. This logistical limitation encouraged the station to develop local output and gave regional news and entertainment an important role in its schedule. Between 1974 and 1976, the station also carried programming produced by the Independent Television Network, while continuing to lead the audience in Amazonas for part of the period. Rede Tupi's worsening financial and administrative crisis affected its affiliates. After the network went bankrupt in 1980, TV Baré temporarily operated with an independent schedule. In 1981, it joined SBT. The ownership structure changed during the crisis affecting Diários Associados, and the station's shares were subsequently acquired by Umberto Calderaro Filho. In 1986, after Calderaro had taken control, the station was renamed TV A Crítica, taking its name from the newspaper that anchored the Calderaro media group. The station remained affiliated with SBT until the 2000s. Management became dissatisfied with what it regarded as frequent and disruptive changes to the network's programming strategy. In 2007, TV A Crítica negotiated a move to Rede Record. An agreement was signed on July 5, and the Record affiliation began on September 1. The change was followed by speculation about a possible return to SBT after audience performance weakened during the first months, but the Record relationship continued for more than a decade. A significant technical milestone occurred on August 10, 2009, when TV A Crítica launched digital transmission. It was described as the first Record affiliate in Brazil's North Region to make the transition to digital broadcasting, initially serving more than two million viewers in Manaus and neighboring municipalities. The network also used relay infrastructure to reach communities in the interior of Amazonas and other parts of the region. The broadcaster has also been involved in disputes illustrating the political sensitivity of regional television. On the eve of the 2006 Brazilian federal and state elections, an Amazonas electoral judge ordered the station's transmitters sealed for roughly 24 hours. The action followed a complaint by the coalition supporting gubernatorial candidate Eduardo Braga over the station's treatment of him during a candidates' debate. The suspension interrupted normal broadcasting and threatened to affect election coverage. In 2019, TV A Crítica reassessed its relationship with Record. According to the station's president, Dissica Calderaro, the affiliation made it difficult for the broadcaster to expand its focus on Amazonas and to maintain a schedule built around local priorities. The parties had also disagreed over network standards, the treatment of national programs and the station's investments in international content. TV A Crítica announced on May 10 that it would leave Record and operate independently. Although June 17 had initially been considered the transition date, the station ended the affiliation shortly after midnight on June 3, interrupting an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and replacing network material with a historical video, promotional announcements and festival-related music. As an independent broadcaster, A Crítica has expanded its presence through owned-and-operated stations and affiliations. The network has developed distribution in markets including Belo Horizonte, Recife, Brasília, Curitiba and São Paulo, while also working with affiliates across northern and central Brazilian states. Its current identity is therefore both local and regional: Manaus remains its base, while the broader network provides a vehicle for Amazonian and non-Southeastern programming to reach a wider Brazilian audience.

1. 2019Independent broadcasting begins

   TV A Crítica ended its Record affiliation on June 3 and adopted an independently programmed schedule.

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2. 2009Digital broadcasting launched

   The station launched its digital signal on August 10 and was identified as the first Record affiliate in Brazil's North Region to broadcast digitally.

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3. 2007Record affiliation begins

   Following an agreement signed on July 5, TV A Crítica became a Rede Record affiliate on September 1.

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4. 1986Station becomes TV A Crítica

   After Umberto Calderaro Filho consolidated control, the broadcaster adopted the name of the group's flagship newspaper.

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5. 1981Station affiliates with SBT

   TV Baré joined Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão after the end of its Tupi affiliation.

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6. 1980Rede Tupi collapses

   After Tupi's bankruptcy, TV Baré temporarily broadcast independently.

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7. 1972TV Baré begins broadcasting

   The station launched on June 2 on channel 4 in Manaus as a Rede Tupi affiliate.

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8. 1968Federal concession awarded for a second Manaus television channel

   Diários Associados won the competition for the concession that would eventually become TV Baré, with a 30-shareholder company formed to establish the station.

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A regional Brazilian broadcaster centered on Amazonian identity, locally produced programming and independent distribution, with Manaus as its principal market and editorial hub.

• TV A CríticaFree-to-air television network1972

  The core terrestrial television service headquartered in Manaus. It combines regional news, entertainment, cultural programming and acquired content, with a schedule designed to serve Amazonas and broader northern Brazilian audiences. Since 2019, its programming has been controlled independently rather than supplied through a national network affiliation.

• Play A CríticaOnline video platform

  The network's online video destination, used for streaming or presenting A Crítica programming and related video content. It extends the broadcaster's reach beyond its terrestrial distribution footprint.

• Regional news and current affairsTelevision programming1972

  Locally oriented journalism and current-affairs programming focused on Manaus, Amazonas and the wider North Region. This programming is central to the station's regional identity and was a major consideration in its decision to operate independently of Record.

• Parintins Folklore Festival coverageCultural broadcasting

  Television coverage and promotional content associated with the Parintins Folklore Festival, a major cultural event in Amazonas. Festival material has been used to reinforce the network's Amazonian identity and distinguish its schedule from nationally standardized programming.

• 2019End Record affiliation and adopt independent programmingStrategy

  The station said the Record relationship limited its ability to expand local programming and focus on Amazonas. Disagreements also concerned network standards, the cutting of national programs and the station's investment in international content.

  What changed. The broadcaster announced its departure from Record on May 10 and ended the affiliation shortly after midnight on June 3, 2019.

  Aftermath. A Crítica resumed independent scheduling and subsequently expanded its terrestrial and affiliate footprint in multiple Brazilian states.

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• 2009Launch digital terrestrial televisionProduct launch

  Brazilian television broadcasters were transitioning from analog transmission to digital broadcasting.

  What changed. TV A Crítica launched its digital signal on August 10, 2009, using UHF channel 17.

  Aftermath. The move made it the first Record affiliate in Brazil's North Region identified in the reference material as broadcasting digitally.

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• 2007Move from SBT to Rede RecordStrategy

  TV A Crítica's management objected to repeated changes in SBT's programming and explored a new national affiliation.

  What changed. The station signed an agreement with Rede Record on July 5 and began carrying Record programming on September 1.

  Aftermath. The affiliation lasted until 2019, although early audience losses prompted speculation that the station might return to SBT.

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• 1981Join SBT after the collapse of Rede TupiStrategy

  Rede Tupi's bankruptcy left TV Baré without its previous national network relationship.

  What changed. The station affiliated with Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão in 1981 after a period of independent broadcasting.

  Aftermath. The affiliation provided access to a new national programming source and continued the station's role as a major Manaus broadcaster.

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• 2006Electoral court suspension over gubernatorial debateControversy

  On September 30, 2006, an Amazonas electoral court ordered TV A Crítica's transmitters sealed for approximately 24 hours after a complaint that a gubernatorial debate associated candidate Eduardo Braga with administrative scandals. The interruption occurred immediately before the federal and state elections and affected the station's planned election coverage.

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• 2019TV A Crítica ends its Record affiliation and becomes independent

  The station ended its long-running Record affiliation on June 3, 2019, earlier than the date initially anticipated, and moved to a programming schedule controlled independently by Rede Calderaro de Comunicação.

  Leadership change
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• 2009TV A Crítica launches digital television signal

  The station began digital broadcasting on August 10, 2009, becoming the first Record affiliate in Brazil's North Region to transmit digitally.

  Product launch
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• 2009Attack targets TV A Crítica relay station in Manicoré

  A relay station in Manicoré, Amazonas, was attacked on August 13, 2009. The reference material states that the incident was not investigated by authorities.

  Other
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1. TV A Crítica
2. Play A Crítica