Chilevisión

Chilevisión, commonly abbreviated as CHV, is a Chilean free-to-air television channel based in Santiago. It is one of the country’s oldest continuously operating television services and developed from a University of Chile broadcasting project established in the early 1960s. The station began as Channel 9, an institutional and educational initiative intended to use television for public education, cultural extension, scientific communication, and national development. Its founding framework combined the university’s academic and cultural objectives with the technical expertise required to operate a permanent television service. The channel’s origins were shaped by the University of Chile rectorate after university engineers concluded that experimental work had reached the point where regular broadcasting was feasible. A dedicated Audiovisual Department was created in 1960, bringing together television, experimental cinema, cinematheque, and photography activities. The early management structure linked institutional oversight, cultural direction, and broadcast engineering. This heritage gave the station a more explicitly educational and public-service orientation than a conventional commercial broadcaster, although its later business model became increasingly dependent on advertising, audience ratings, and commercial programming. The University of Chile gradually moved toward private participation. In 1993 it sold a significant share of the channel to Grupo Cisneros, and the station adopted the Chilevisión name. The business subsequently passed to Claxson Interactive Group in 2000 and to Chilean investor Sebastián Piñera in 2006. In 2010, Turner Broadcasting System Latin America agreed to acquire the channel. That transaction was completed in October of the same year and placed the broadcaster within the corporate structure later associated with Time Warner and WarnerMedia. The transaction did not transfer ownership of the terrestrial frequency itself; the University of Chile retained that asset and made it available through a usufruct arrangement. Chilevisión changed corporate ownership again during the consolidation of the global television and streaming industries. ViacomCBS, subsequently known as Paramount, agreed to acquire the channel from WarnerMedia Latin America in 2021. Regulatory approval was granted in July 2021, and completion followed in October. Under that ownership, Chilevisión was part of an international portfolio that included CBS, Telefe, Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, and Network 10 in Australia. In November 2025, Paramount Skydance announced an agreement to sell the broadcaster to Vytal Group; the transaction was completed on January 13, 2026, subject to the relevant regulatory process. Chilevisión’s domestic schedule is built around news, morning television, talk and discussion formats, talent competitions, reality and factual entertainment, and locally produced adaptations of international formats. Its prominent programming includes Contigo en la mañana, Chilevisión Noticias, The Voice in its Chilean version, La divina comida, and Podemos hablar. The channel is described as one of the leading Chilean broadcasters by audience performance, ranking behind Mega in television viewership in the reference material. The brand has also pursued distribution beyond Chile. Chilevisión International operated as an overseas feed for audiences in Australia and Oceania, launching in Australia in 2007 and reaching New Zealand through UBI World TV in 2008. Some Chilevisión programming has also been carried by TVN’s TV Chile subscription service in the Americas. Alongside the principal channel, the current owner is described as operating related services including Canal CHV Noticias, CHV de Culto, and UChileTV. Chilevisión’s identity therefore combines a historically university-linked origin, a commercially competitive national broadcast operation, and a broader family of television and news services.

Chilevisión began as a University of Chile project rather than as a conventional private broadcasting company. In 1959, engineers associated with the university’s Institute for Electrical Research and Testing advised the rectorate that experimental work had advanced sufficiently to support permanent television operations. Rector Juan Gómez Millas instructed Secretary-General Álvaro Bunster to organize the institutional contacts and technical resources needed to establish a channel. The project was debated within the University Council: some faculties were concerned that television would draw the university into an expensive quasi-industrial venture, while others viewed it as a powerful instrument for cultural extension and public education. The advocates of university television prevailed. In May 1960, the university created an Audiovisual Department reporting directly to the General Secretary. The department incorporated television alongside experimental cinema, a cinematheque, and photography. Historian Leopoldo Castedo was brought from Berkeley to direct the new audiovisual structure, while journalist Raúl Aicardi took responsibility for the channel’s direction and audiovisual journalism. Together with Bunster’s institutional coordination, this arrangement joined rectorate control, cultural management, and technical execution. The channel’s original purpose was explicitly educational and developmental. University leaders saw television as a way to support public education, scientific and technological development, and cultural participation. Early planning also emphasized reaching people who had been left outside conventional educational systems, including rural and farming communities. This mission established a long-lasting association between the channel and university-based public communication, even as later ownership and programming became commercial. The station operated as Channel 9 during its early period. In 1993, the University of Chile sold a significant share to Grupo Cisneros, and the broadcaster adopted the Chilevisión name. Ownership changed again in 2000, when Claxson Interactive Group acquired the channel, and in 2006, when it was purchased by Chilean investor Sebastián Piñera. These transfers marked the channel’s movement from an institutionally controlled university service toward a privately owned national television business. Turner Broadcasting System Latin America agreed to acquire Chilevisión in 2010, completing the transaction on October 6. The sale did not convey ownership of the terrestrial frequency: the University of Chile retained that asset and made it available under a paid usufruct arrangement comparable to a lease. The arrangement illustrates the distinction between the commercial broadcaster operating the service and the university’s continuing interest in the underlying frequency infrastructure. In 2021, ViacomCBS agreed to acquire Chilevisión from WarnerMedia Latin America. Regulatory approval was reported on July 5, and completion took place on October 1. The broadcaster consequently joined a multinational portfolio that included CBS in the United States, Telefe in Argentina, Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, and Network 10 in Australia. In November 2025, Paramount Skydance announced a sale to Vytal Group, which completed the transaction on January 13, 2026. Programming has evolved toward a broad commercial schedule centered on news, morning television, talk shows, talent competitions, lifestyle formats, reality programming, and other factual entertainment. Notable programs include Contigo en la mañana, Chilevisión Noticias, the Chilean edition of The Voice, La divina comida, and Podemos hablar. The channel has also participated in nationally significant broadcasting events, including Teletón coverage since 1978. Its international distribution has included Chilevisión International, launched in Australia in 2007 and extended to New Zealand through UBI World TV in 2008. Limited Chilevisión programming has also been carried by TVN’s TV Chile subscription channel in the Americas. The broadcaster has experienced recurring scrutiny over editorial judgment and commercial relationships. A 2012 interview involving Inés Pérez generated criticism after the broadcast appeared to remove context and encouraged online hostility toward the interviewee. Another 2012 controversy concerned alleged racist mockery of Bora people during Amazonas and was followed by a reported website hack. In 2019, advertisers including Agrosuper and businessman Juan Sutil withdrew advertising in connection with programming and protest coverage. These episodes form part of the continuing tension between Chilevisión’s role as a mass-market commercial broadcaster and its responsibilities as a news and public-affairs outlet.

• 2026

  Vytal Group ownership began

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  Vytal Group completed its acquisition of Chilevisión on January 13, 2026.

• 2021

  ViacomCBS acquisition completed

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  ViacomCBS completed its purchase of Chilevisión from WarnerMedia Latin America on October 1.

• 2010

  Turner acquisition completed

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  Turner Broadcasting System Latin America completed its purchase of Chilevisión on October 6.

• 2008

  International feed reached New Zealand

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  Chilevisión International became available in New Zealand through UBI World TV.

• 2007

  Chilevisión International launched in Australia

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  The channel introduced an international feed for Chilean and other Spanish-speaking audiences in Australia.

• 1993

  Renamed Chilevisión after Grupo Cisneros investment

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  Grupo Cisneros acquired a significant share of the university channel, which adopted the Chilevisión name.

• 1978

  Began broadcasting Teletón

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  Chilevisión began carrying Teletón, a relationship that continued for decades and later generated controversy over broadcast practices and commercial participation.

• 1960

  Audiovisual Department established

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  The University of Chile created an Audiovisual Department in May, consolidating television and related cultural production activities.

• 1960

  Channel 9 founded

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  The University of Chile launched the institutional television service that later became Chilevisión.

• 1959

  University research prepared for permanent broadcasting

  [1]Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org

  University of Chile engineers reported that television experiments had advanced sufficiently to support a permanent channel.

A major Chilean general-interest broadcaster combining mass-market entertainment and news with a legacy connected to the University of Chile.

• Free-to-air television · 1960

  Chilevisión broadcast channel

  The core Chilean terrestrial service broadcasts a general-interest schedule combining national news, morning television, talk shows, talent competitions, lifestyle programming, reality formats, and factual entertainment.

• Television news

  Chilevisión Noticias

  Chilevisión’s news operation and branded newscast output provide domestic and international reporting within the channel’s schedule. News is one of the principal editorial pillars of the broadcaster.

• International television feed · 2007

  Chilevisión International

  An overseas feed created to distribute Chilevisión programming to audiences outside Chile. It launched in Australia in 2007 and was made available in New Zealand in 2008 through UBI World TV.

• Morning television

  Contigo en la mañana

  A prominent morning program combining current-affairs coverage, interviews, discussion, and general-interest segments. It is identified among Chilevisión’s most popular current offerings.

• Talent competition

  The Voice Chile

  Chilevisión’s local adaptation of the international singing competition format The Voice, forming part of the channel’s entertainment and talent-programming portfolio.

• Lifestyle and factual entertainment

  La divina comida

  A Chilean lifestyle and social-entertainment format built around food, hosting, and interaction among invited participants. It is listed among the channel’s popular local programs.

• Talk show

  Podemos hablar

  A discussion and interview program featuring public figures and conversational segments. It is one of the channel’s named flagship entertainment offerings.

• 2019

  Advertiser withdrawals over protest coverage

  Juan Sutil and Agrosuper withdrew advertising, including Super Pollo advertising, from CNN Chile and Chilevisión. The action was reportedly related to CNN Chile’s Agenda Agrícola and its presentation of video connected with anti-government protests.

  Source

• 2012

  Decontextualized Inés Pérez interview

  A televised interview was criticized after the broadcast appeared to portray Inés Pérez as classist while omitting context present in the complete recording. Online hostility initially focused on Pérez and later shifted toward Chilevisión’s editorial handling. The channel defended the authenticity of the broadcast and dismissed an employee who released the full video, prompting further criticism.

  Source

• 2012

  Amazonas controversy and website hack

  Chilevisión faced criticism over alleged racist comments and mockery directed at Bora people during filming of the reality program Amazonas. The channel’s website was subsequently reported to have been hacked by a faction associated with LulzSec.

  Source

• Teletón commercial and broadcast-practice criticism

  Chilevisión’s long-running Teletón participation has been associated with criticism over whether participating channels benefited financially, as well as disputes involving programming changes, employee strikes, and the right to continue broadcasting the event.

  Source

Read more

• 1978Teletón broadcasting

  Chile

  Chilevisión began broadcasting Teletón in 1978, making the channel part of one of Chile’s most visible televised fundraising and public-service events.

  Outcome. The relationship continued over subsequent decades, although the channel later faced criticism concerning commercial benefits, schedule changes, employee disputes, and competition over broadcasting rights.

  Source

• 2026

  Vytal Group acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Paramount Skydance announced in 2025 that it intended to sell the Chilean broadcaster.

  Action taken

  Vytal Group completed the acquisition on January 13, 2026.

  Aftermath

  Chilevisión became part of Vytal Group, which is also described as owning Canal CHV Noticias, CHV de Culto, and UChileTV.

  Source

• 2021

  ViacomCBS acquisitionM&A

  Background

  The channel was being operated within WarnerMedia Latin America, while global media groups were consolidating television assets.

  Action taken

  ViacomCBS agreed to acquire Chilevisión, received reported approval in July, and completed the purchase on October 1.

  Aftermath

  Chilevisión joined ViacomCBS’s multinational television portfolio alongside brands such as CBS and Telefe.

  Source

• 2010

  Turner Broadcasting System Latin America acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Chilevisión had passed through several private owners after the University of Chile’s 1993 transaction.

  Action taken

  Turner agreed to purchase the channel and completed the transaction on October 6, 2010.

  Aftermath

  The broadcaster entered the Turner and later WarnerMedia corporate orbit, while the University of Chile retained ownership of the terrestrial frequency.

  Source

• 1993

  Adopted the Chilevisión identityStrategy

  Background

  The University of Chile sought private participation in its television operation and sold a significant share to Grupo Cisneros.

  Action taken

  The Channel 9 service adopted the Chilevisión name and moved further toward a commercial broadcasting model.

  Aftermath

  The change marked a major transition from a university-linked institutional service to a privately participated national television brand.

  Source

1. 1Chilevisiónen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Chilevisión official websitechilevision.cl