Canal Maximo Televisión
Former Venezuelan free-to-air television network that operated under the CMT brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Canal Maximo Televisión, commonly identified as CMT, was a Venezuelan free-to-air television network whose principal operations were based in Caracas. It began in 1993 under the name Canal Metropolitano Televisión after founder Umberto Petricca Zugaro obtained government authorization to conduct test broadcasts. The station was an early Venezuelan user of ultra-high-frequency terrestrial television, initially transmitting on UHF channel 51 from Caracas. During its first year, CMT broadcast for approximately five hours each day, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Its transmitter, located in Colinas de los Caobos, reached a reported 75 percent of Caracas. In 1995, the network expanded its schedule to 18 hours per day and moved its studios to Boleíta Norte. The change reflected an effort to develop from a limited local station into a broader general-interest broadcaster. In 1999, Canal Metropolitano Televisión adopted the name Canal Maximo Televisión while retaining the CMT identity. A satellite teleport inaugurated in 2000 gave the network the technical capacity to distribute its programming beyond the Caracas area. During 2001, CMT used satellite distribution to extend its signal to San Cristóbal on channel 21, Barinas through the Telellanos designation, Calabozo, Puerto Ordaz, Zulia State, and some small cable operators. Its terrestrial frequencies varied by market: channel 51 served the Caracas metropolitan area, Barquisimeto, and Miranda State; channel 43 was used in Calabozo, Puerto Ordaz, and Zulia; and channel 21 was used in San Cristóbal. The network carried a mixed schedule typical of a small general-entertainment broadcaster. Its programming included news, current affairs, opinion, sports, food and lifestyle shows, travel, health, home improvement, culture, music, children's programs, and entertainment. Programs associated with CMT included CMT Noticias, Teodoro Que Dice?, Mujeres y Algo Más, Sabor a Chef, CMT Deportes, Basket Report, Futbol Report, Conexión Con el Beisbol, and several Venezuelan and international magazine formats. CMT also obtained rights connected with Miss Global Venezuela 2006 and Miss Global International 2006. CMT remained a comparatively small broadcaster. Reference material describes limited network scale, weaker broadcast quality than larger Venezuelan television outlets, and restricted availability on cable systems. The network was also criticized in the political context of Venezuela and, like other Venezuelan stations, was accused of participating in the attempted coup against President Hugo Chávez. The accusation is part of the political controversy surrounding the broadcaster rather than evidence of a formally established finding in the supplied material. On December 11, 2006, the Venezuelan government purchased the channel's installations so that teleSUR could use them for over-the-air broadcasting in parts of the country. This transaction ended CMT's role as an independent broadcaster and marks the effective end of the brand as a television network. The supplied reference material does not establish a later relaunch, successor operation, or current corporate owner.
History
Canal Maximo Televisión originated in Caracas in 1993 as Canal Metropolitano Televisión. Founder Umberto Petricca Zugaro received authorization for the station's testing phase, placing it among the early Venezuelan broadcasters to use an ultra-high-frequency channel. Its initial UHF transmission used channel 51 in the Caracas area. The station's first-year schedule was limited to roughly five evening hours, but its transmitter at Colinas de los Caobos reportedly reached most of the metropolitan area, with coverage estimated at 75 percent of Caracas. In 1995, CMT expanded to 18 hours of daily broadcasting and moved its studios to Boleíta Norte. The change supported a broader programming strategy, with the station carrying news, entertainment, lifestyle, sports, children's material, cultural features, and opinion programs. It later became known for a schedule that included CMT Noticias, cooking and health programs, home and construction shows, travel and music formats, sports reports, and political discussion. The network's local identity was retained even as it sought a larger geographic footprint. The station changed its name in 1999 from Canal Metropolitano Televisión to Canal Maximo Televisión, while continuing to use the CMT abbreviation and branding. In 2000, it inaugurated a satellite teleport, providing the infrastructure needed to send its programming outside the original terrestrial service area. During 2001, satellite distribution helped CMT reach San Cristóbal, Barinas under the Telellanos name, Calabozo, Puerto Ordaz, Zulia State, and some small cable operators. Its reported terrestrial channel assignments included channel 51 in Caracas, Barquisimeto, and Miranda; channel 43 in Calabozo, Puerto Ordaz, and Zulia; and channel 21 in San Cristóbal. CMT never developed the scale of Venezuela's largest television networks. Reference material characterizes it as having a limited network, relatively modest broadcast quality, and incomplete carriage among cable providers. The broadcaster also became part of the country's intense political media disputes. It was accused, together with other Venezuelan networks, of involvement in the attempted coup against Hugo Chávez. The supplied reference does not provide a detailed adjudication of that accusation. In 2006, CMT held rights associated with Miss Global Venezuela and Miss Global International. On December 11 of the same year, the Venezuelan government purchased the channel's installations for use by teleSUR in over-the-air broadcasting. This acquisition removed the infrastructure from CMT's control and brought its independent broadcasting history to an end. The available material does not document a subsequent revival, successor brand, or current operating presence.
- 2006
Government acquisition of installations
[1]The Venezuelan government purchased CMT's installations on December 11 for teleSUR's over-the-air service.
- 2001
Regional signal expansion
[1]Satellite delivery extended CMT's reach to several Venezuelan cities and selected cable systems.
- 2000
Satellite teleport inaugurated
[1]CMT added satellite transmission infrastructure to support distribution beyond its original terrestrial footprint.
- 1999
Renaming as Canal Maximo Televisión
[1]The station adopted the Canal Maximo Televisión name while retaining the CMT brand.
- 1995
Expansion to an 18-hour schedule
[1]CMT expanded daily transmission and moved its studios to Boleíta Norte.
- 1993
Launch of authorized test broadcasts
[1]Canal Metropolitano Televisión began testing as a Caracas UHF broadcaster under founder Umberto Petricca Zugaro.
Products and positioning
A small Venezuelan general-interest broadcaster that combined local news, opinion, entertainment, lifestyle, children's, and sports programming with a gradually expanding UHF and satellite footprint.
News
CMT Noticias
CMT's news operation, listed as having two daily editions. It formed part of the network's core information programming alongside current-affairs and opinion formats.
Television programming
General entertainment programming
CMT carried a broad collection of magazine, cooking, health, travel, home-improvement, cultural, music, and variety programs, including Mujeres y Algo Más, Sabor a Chef, Cocina Internacional, Viajeros, and Grandes Musicales.
Sports programming
CMT Deportes
The sports offering included CMT Deportes and specialist programs covering basketball, football, baseball, motorsport, horse racing, and international football tournaments.
News and opinion programming
Opinion and current affairs
CMT's discussion and opinion schedule included Visión Informativa con Italo Luongo, Compas Internacional, María Elvira Confronta, and Teodoro Que Dice?, hosted by politician and commentator Teodoro Petkoff.
Event broadcasting rights · 2006
Miss Global Venezuela 2006 and Miss Global International 2006
CMT obtained broadcasting rights associated with the 2006 Miss Global Venezuela and Miss Global International pageants shortly before the network's installations were acquired by the Venezuelan government.
Controversies
Allegations concerning the attempted coup against Hugo Chávez
CMT, along with other Venezuelan television networks, was accused of participating in the attempted coup against President Hugo Chávez. The supplied reference identifies the criticism but does not provide a detailed legal or official determination.
Brand decisions
2006
Acquisition of CMT installations by the Venezuelan governmentM&ABackground
The government sought facilities from which teleSUR could provide over-the-air broadcasting in parts of Venezuela.
Action taken
On December 11, 2006, the Venezuelan government purchased CMT's installations.
Aftermath
The transaction ended CMT's independent broadcasting operation and made the facilities available for teleSUR.
2000
Investment in satellite distributionStrategyBackground
CMT needed transmission infrastructure capable of supporting distribution outside its original Caracas-area UHF footprint.
Action taken
The network inaugurated a satellite teleport and subsequently used satellite delivery to reach additional Venezuelan markets.
Aftermath
The signal reached several cities and some small cable systems, although the network remained comparatively limited in scale and carriage.
1999
Adoption of the Canal Maximo Televisión nameStrategyBackground
The broadcaster sought to operate under a new public name while preserving the established CMT identity.
Action taken
Canal Metropolitano Televisión was renamed Canal Maximo Televisión and continued using CMT branding.
Aftermath
The renamed network continued as a Venezuelan local and regional broadcaster until its installations were acquired in 2006.
Recent events
- 2006
CMT receives Miss Global Venezuela and Miss Global International rights[1]
Product launch
The broadcaster obtained rights associated with Miss Global Venezuela 2006 and Miss Global International 2006 before its facilities were acquired later that year.
- 2006
Venezuelan government purchases CMT installations[1]
M&A · Regulation
On December 11, the Venezuelan government purchased CMT's installations so that teleSUR could broadcast over the air in parts of Venezuela, ending CMT's independent network operation.
- 2001
CMT extends signal distribution across Venezuela[1]
Other
Satellite distribution expanded the network's reach to San Cristóbal, Barinas through Telellanos, Calabozo, Puerto Ordaz, Zulia State, and selected cable systems.
- 2000
CMT inaugurates a satellite teleport[1]
Product launch
A satellite teleport enabled CMT to distribute its signal to additional areas of Venezuela.
- 1999
Canal Metropolitano Televisión adopts the Canal Maximo name[1]
Other
The broadcaster changed its corporate or public name to Canal Maximo Televisión while preserving the CMT branding.
- 1995
CMT expands its broadcast schedule and relocates studios[1]
Other
The station increased its daily transmission schedule to 18 hours and moved its studios to Boleíta Norte in Caracas.
- 1993
CMT begins authorized test broadcasting[1]
Product launch
Canal Metropolitano Televisión began its testing phase after receiving government authorization, becoming one of Venezuela's early UHF television stations.
Sources1 sources
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