El Nueve
El Nueve is an Argentine free-to-air television network based in Buenos Aires, historically known as Canal 9.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
El Nueve is an Argentine free-to-air television network headquartered in Buenos Aires and focused on general entertainment, news, talk programming, series, films and other mass-market broadcast content. Although commonly known for many years as Canal 9, the network currently presents itself principally as elnueve or El Nueve. It operates a terrestrial Buenos Aires service together with satellite and interior feeds intended to extend its programming beyond the capital. The channel's origins date to the award of the Buenos Aires channel 9 license on April 28, 1958, to Compañía Argentina de Televisión, commonly identified as CADETE. The station began broadcasting in 1960 under the call sign LS 83 TV. Its early output included comedy and variety programming, and the service quickly became a significant participant in Argentina's competitive television market. The original ownership structure included Argentine interests and participation connected with the United States network NBC, subject to the ownership restrictions imposed by Argentine broadcasting law at the time. A decisive phase began in 1963, when Alejandro Saúl Romay, already a prominent radio operator and media entrepreneur, became the channel's manager. He subsequently acquired the foreign-held interests, making the station the first Buenos Aires television network to be financed entirely with Argentine capital. Under Romay, Canal 9 developed a strong popular identity and competed closely with Canal 13 and Canal 11 for audience leadership. The station became particularly associated with variety entertainment and a distinctive visual identity featuring a dove beside the number 9, which led to the nickname “the channel of the little dove.” The network was taken into state ownership in 1974, along with channels 11 and 13, during the government of Juan Perón. It remained under state control through the subsequent military regime, with administration connected to the Argentine Army. The channel began color broadcasting in 1980. Following the return to democracy, the station was privatized again. Romay regained control in 1984 and operated it until 1997. During this period, it was renamed Canal 9 Libertad and returned to a prominent position in the ratings. New studios were built in the Colegiales neighborhood in 1997. From 1997 to 2002, the network went through a turbulent period under the Azul Televisión name. Australia's Prime Television acquired the station in 1997, and a large rebranding program changed Canal 9 Libertad to Azul Televisión in January 1999. The initiative coincided with Argentina's severe economic downturn and failed to deliver the expected audience and financial results. Prime subsequently withdrew, while ownership interests passed through JP Morgan and Telefónica-related transactions. Telefónica's existing ownership of Telefe created a regulatory conflict, and Argentine broadcasting authorities required the disposal of its interest in Azul. On August 20, 2002, the network returned to the Canal 9 name after interests associated with Prime and Telefónica were transferred to a group led by journalist and media businessman Daniel Hadad. In 2007, Hadad sold the network to Mexican investor Remigio Ángel González through Albavisión. In November 2020, Grupo Octubre acquired 90% of the channel, with the remaining 10% entrusted to Carlos Lorefice Lynch, who continued as president of Telearte. El Nueve remains an active Argentine television service with a broad generalist programming position.
History
The Buenos Aires channel 9 license was granted on April 28, 1958, to Compañía Argentina de Televisión, or CADETE. The company was associated with Curt G. Lowe, Frederick Lowe and support from NBC, although Argentine broadcasting rules restricted direct foreign ownership of station licensees. The station's first studios were located in Palermo. Broadcasting began in 1960 under the LS 83 TV call sign, initially with comedy and variety programming. In 1963, Alejandro Saúl Romay became manager of the station. He later acquired the foreign-held shares and turned Canal 9 into a fully Argentine-financed broadcaster. His management made the channel a major competitor in the Buenos Aires ratings market. The station developed a popular, entertainment-oriented style and became identified with a dove symbol beside the number 9. In 1972, the program Almorzando con Mirtha Legrand was transmitted experimentally in color, while regular color broadcasting began in 1980. The government seized Canal 9 in 1974 together with channels 11 and 13. The station remained state-owned through the military government that followed, with its administration connected to the Argentine Army. After the restoration of democracy, the network was privatized again. Romay regained control in 1984 and held it until 1997. During his ownership, the station adopted the Canal 9 Libertad name and continued to compete strongly for national attention. The network's later headquarters and studios included a major facility built in Colegiales in 1997. Prime Television purchased the network in 1997 and introduced the Azul Televisión identity in January 1999 as part of a major repositioning effort. The rebrand was undertaken during a severe Argentine economic crisis and did not produce the hoped-for commercial improvement. Prime recorded substantial losses from its Argentine operation and eventually sold its interest to JP Morgan in 2001. Telefónica also became involved in the ownership structure, but its existing interest in Telefe raised competition and regulatory concerns. COMFER required Telefónica to dispose of its Azul stake. The Canal 9 identity returned on August 20, 2002, after the relevant interests were acquired by a group headed by Daniel Hadad. Hadad later sold the network to Remigio Ángel González and Albavisión in 2007. On November 20, 2020, Grupo Octubre acquired 90% of the channel. The remaining 10% was entrusted to Carlos Lorefice Lynch, who remained president of Telearte. The active network now operates under the El Nueve or elnueve branding and distributes generalist programming through its Buenos Aires service, satellite feed and interior feed.
- 2020
Grupo Octubre becomes majority owner
[1]Grupo Octubre acquired 90% of the channel, with the remaining 10% entrusted to Carlos Lorefice Lynch.
- 2007
Transfer to Albavisión
[1]Daniel Hadad sold the network to Remigio Ángel González through Albavisión.
- 2002
Canal 9 name restored
[1]The Azul Televisión identity was abandoned and the network returned to the Canal 9 name.
- 1999
Azul Televisión rebrand
[1]The network replaced the Canal 9 Libertad identity with Azul Televisión in a major rebranding campaign.
- 1997
Prime Television ownership and new studios
[1]Prime Television acquired the network, while new studios were built in Buenos Aires's Colegiales neighborhood.
- 1984
Romay regains the privatized network
[1]Following re-privatization after the military period, Romay regained control and relaunched the station as Canal 9 Libertad.
- 1980
Regular color broadcasting
[1]The network commenced color television broadcasting.
- 1974
Nationalization
[1]Canal 9 was seized by the government along with channels 11 and 13 and remained state-owned for several years.
- 1963
Romay takes management control
[1]Alejandro Saúl Romay became manager and later consolidated Argentine ownership of the station.
- 1960
Broadcasting begins
[1]The station began broadcasting as LS 83 TV with comedy, variety and other general entertainment programming.
Products and positioning
A generalist Argentine free-to-air broadcaster serving mass audiences through entertainment, news, talk, variety and acquired programming, with a strong historical identity in Buenos Aires.
Free-to-air television channel · 1960
El Nueve Buenos Aires
The network's principal terrestrial service in Buenos Aires. It carries a generalist schedule combining news, current affairs, talk, variety, entertainment, series and films for a broad Argentine audience.
Satellite television feed
elnueve Satelital
A satellite distribution feed used to make the network's programming available beyond its primary Buenos Aires terrestrial footprint.
Interior television feed
elnueve Interior
A distribution feed intended for audiences and affiliated transmission arrangements in Argentina outside the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.
Marketing campaigns
- 1999Azul Televisión rebranding
Argentina
After Prime Television acquired the network, Canal 9 Libertad was repositioned under the Azul Televisión name. The campaign sought to soften the station's prior image and improve its ratings through a large-scale visual and editorial refresh.
Outcome. The rebrand did not reverse the network's ratings and financial difficulties during Argentina's economic crisis, and the Canal 9 name was restored in 2002.
Brand decisions
2020
Grupo Octubre majority acquisitionM&ABackground
The channel changed ownership after its period under Albavisión.
Action taken
Grupo Octubre acquired 90% of the network, while the remaining 10% was entrusted to Carlos Lorefice Lynch.
Aftermath
Grupo Octubre became the controlling owner of the active El Nueve television service.
2002
Return to Canal 9 brandingStrategyBackground
The Azul Televisión ownership structure changed after Prime Television and Telefónica-related interests were transferred.
Action taken
The network restored its historic Canal 9 identity on August 20, 2002.
Aftermath
The Canal 9 name again became the network's principal public identity.
1999
Azul Televisión rebrandStrategyBackground
Prime Television sought to change the station's image and respond to a ratings decline after acquiring the network.
Action taken
The network replaced Canal 9 Libertad with the Azul Televisión brand and undertook a major repositioning program.
Aftermath
The strategy coincided with Argentina's 1998–2002 economic crisis and did not deliver the intended improvement; the network later returned to the Canal 9 name.
1984
Repositioning as Canal 9 LibertadStrategyBackground
After state ownership ended and the station was returned to private control, the network needed to re-establish its identity in the newly democratic media market.
Action taken
Alejandro Romay relaunched the service under the Canal 9 Libertad name and introduced a new visual identity.
Aftermath
The network returned to strong audience competition during much of the 1980s and 1990s.
Sources2 sources
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