Conta Lá

Conta Lá is a Portuguese television company and broadcaster created to develop regional and rural television services for audiences across Portugal. The company was registered in October 2024 with plans for two principal channels: TV Rural, focused on agriculture and rural life, and + Regiões, devoted to regional affairs. Its stated operating model combines linear television with online and over-the-top distribution, allowing the brand to present local information through conventional broadcasting as well as digital services. The project was associated with several former TVI professionals, who made up a substantial part of the initial staff and on-air team. Sérgio Figueiredo was identified as one of the company's chief executives. Conta Lá publicly introduced itself through a private presentation on 15 October 2024, before testing its production and broadcasting capabilities with FNA 2025, a temporary channel covering Portugal's National Agriculture Fair from 7 to 10 June 2025. The pop-up service featured presenters including Rita Ferro Rodrigues, Paulo Salvador, Marcos Pinto and Luís Varela de Almeida. Rather than immediately launching a permanent nationwide schedule, Conta Lá used political and civic coverage as an early route to market. The company announced plans to cover the 2025 Portuguese local elections across all 278 municipalities. On 29 August 2025, Portugal's media regulator, ERC, approved three regional services using the Conta Lá identity: Conta Lá Norte, Conta Lá Centro and Conta Lá Sul. These services were scheduled to begin on 5 September with twelve local-election debates per day. The election operation was described as a test phase rather than the beginning of a fully developed permanent service. Following the election coverage, the channel suspended broadcasts on 14 October while preparing its regular schedule; the full website launched on 1 December and regular broadcasting began on 11 December 2025. The subsequent schedule expanded beyond election programming. One example was Juca, a talk show presented by Júlio Magalhães. The company has described itself as a multiplatform operation, combining linear television, web distribution and OTT services. It has also explored artificial-intelligence applications, including personalized online services and a virtual recreation of Sousa Veloso, a television presenter associated with TV Rural who died in 2014. Conta Lá's early development was accompanied by efforts to establish facilities in different parts of Portugal. In August 2025, the company was reported to be discussing the rental of Porto Canal's studios as a northern office, with negotiations involving former secretary of state Miguel Alves. By mid-2026, however, the company faced serious financial pressure. Staff were reportedly placed on lay-off at the end of June, and wages had allegedly not been paid since May. On 15 July 2026, Sérgio Figueiredo said he would leave the channel and announced plans for a general meeting to consider a restructuring plan. A meeting was scheduled for 6 August 2026. The available material does not establish whether the restructuring succeeded or whether the channel continued operating thereafter, so the brand's current status remains uncertain.

Conta Lá emerged in Portugal as a television project centered on regional information, rural affairs and multiplatform distribution. The company was registered in October 2024 to develop two proposed services, TV Rural and + Regiões. Its initial public identity was connected to experienced Portuguese television personnel, including former TVI staff, and Sérgio Figueiredo was identified as one of its chief executives. A private presentation held on 15 October 2024 introduced the project before it had established a permanent broadcast schedule. The company first demonstrated its production capabilities through FNA 2025, a temporary service dedicated to the National Agriculture Fair. The pop-up channel broadcast from 7 to 10 June 2025 and used presenters including Rita Ferro Rodrigues, Paulo Salvador, Marcos Pinto and Luís Varela de Almeida. This event gave Conta Lá an early association with agriculture and rural communication while also serving as a practical test of its editorial and technical operation. The company subsequently sought to broaden its shareholder base. Conta Lá then used the 2025 local elections as the foundation for a regional broadcasting strategy. It announced coverage plans extending to all 278 Portuguese municipalities. On 29 August 2025, ERC approved three regional services under the Conta Lá name: Norte, Centro and Sul. The services were scheduled to start on 5 September and to carry twelve local-election debates each day. The operation was temporary and election-oriented rather than a complete permanent schedule. After the election coverage, broadcasts were suspended on 14 October while the company prepared its regular service, which was announced for the end of the year. The full Conta Lá website launched on 1 December 2025, followed by the start of regular broadcasting on 11 December. Programming gradually expanded, including Juca, a talk show hosted by Júlio Magalhães. The company presented itself as a multiplatform media operation, distributing content through linear television, online channels and OTT services. Its technology plans included artificial-intelligence tools for personalizing online services. It also proposed using AI to recreate Sousa Veloso, the late presenter associated with TV Rural, linking the new service to an earlier Portuguese rural-television tradition. The company also worked to build a geographic presence beyond its initial base. In August 2025, it was reported to be negotiating the rental of Porto Canal's studios as a northern office, with former secretary of state Miguel Alves involved in the negotiations. The available material does not identify the final outcome of that arrangement. By mid-2026, Conta Lá faced a severe financial crisis. Staff were reportedly placed on lay-off at the end of June, and wages had allegedly gone unpaid since May. On 15 July, Figueiredo announced his departure and said a general assembly would be convened to approve or consider a restructuring plan. A meeting was scheduled for 6 August 2026. The available references do not document the result of that meeting, subsequent ownership, or the broadcaster's continuing operational status. Conta Lá should therefore be treated as a Portuguese television brand with an uncertain current status.

• 2026

  Financial crisis and proposed restructuring

  [1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Staff were reportedly placed on lay-off, Sérgio Figueiredo announced his departure, and a general meeting was scheduled to consider restructuring.

• 2025

  FNA 2025 pop-up channel

  [1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Conta Lá made its first television broadcast through a temporary channel covering the National Agriculture Fair from 7 to 10 June.

• 2025

  Regional services approved

  [1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  ERC approved Conta Lá Norte, Conta Lá Centro and Conta Lá Sul on 29 August for regional local-election coverage.

• 2025

  Regular broadcasting begins

  [1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  The permanent Conta Lá service began regular broadcasts on 11 December 2025.

• 2024

  Company registered

  [1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Conta Lá was registered in October 2024 to develop TV Rural and + Regiões.

• 2024

  Private presentation

  [1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  The company held a private presentation ceremony on 15 October 2024.

A Portuguese regional and rural television brand combining local journalism, civic coverage and agricultural programming across linear TV, web and OTT platforms.

• Rural television channel

  TV Rural

  TV Rural was one of the two television services planned when Conta Lá was registered. It was intended to focus on agriculture, rural life and related Portuguese communities. The project also connects with the planned AI recreation of former TV Rural presenter Sousa Veloso, indicating an effort to combine rural-media heritage with new digital production methods.

• Regional-affairs television channel

  + Regiões

  + Regiões was the second principal service proposed at the company's registration. Its intended editorial role was regional affairs, providing coverage of local communities and issues across Portugal. The available material does not establish whether it became a separately branded permanent channel after Conta Lá's regional services were approved.

• Regional television service · 2025

  Conta Lá Norte

  Conta Lá Norte was one of three regional services approved by ERC in August 2025. It formed part of the company's North, Centre and South structure and was scheduled to carry local-election debates during the 2025 test operation.

• Regional television service · 2025

  Conta Lá Centro

  Conta Lá Centro was approved as the brand's Centre-region service for the 2025 local-election operation. Together with the Northern and Southern services, it supported geographically distributed programming rather than a single Lisbon-centered television model.

• Regional television service · 2025

  Conta Lá Sul

  Conta Lá Sul was the Southern regional service approved by ERC in August 2025. It participated in the election-focused test phase, which included multiple municipal debates each day.

• Pop-up television channel · 2025

  FNA 2025

  FNA 2025 was Conta Lá's first broadcast operation. Running from 7 to 10 June 2025, the temporary channel covered Portugal's National Agriculture Fair and introduced several presenters later associated with the company.

• Talk show · 2025

  Juca

  Juca is a talk show that became part of Conta Lá's regular schedule after the broadcaster began permanent programming. It is presented by Júlio Magalhães.

• 2025FNA 2025 National Agriculture Fair coverage

  Portugal

  Conta Lá operated a pop-up channel from 7 to 10 June 2025 to cover the National Agriculture Fair, using the event to test its television production and rural-media proposition.

  Outcome. The operation became the company's first television broadcast and preceded its regional-election project.

  Source
• 20252025 local-election coverage

  Portugal

  Conta Lá planned coverage of local elections across all 278 Portuguese municipalities and arranged twelve local-election debates per day through its regional services.

  Outcome. The election operation ran as a test phase; the service suspended broadcasts on 14 October while preparing regular programming.

  Source

• 2026

  Prepare a restructuring planStrategy

  Background

  The company faced financial problems, including reported unpaid wages and staff lay-offs.

  Action taken

  Sérgio Figueiredo announced his departure and a general assembly to consider a restructuring plan.

  Aftermath

  A general assembly was scheduled for 6 August 2026, but the available material does not record its outcome.

  Source

• 2025

  Launch regional services for local-election coverageProduct launch

  Background

  Conta Lá sought to establish a regional television presence before its permanent schedule was ready.

  Action taken

  The company launched the Conta Lá Norte, Conta Lá Centro and Conta Lá Sul services for a temporary election-focused operation after ERC approval.

  Aftermath

  The test phase concluded after the election coverage, and the channel paused before regular broadcasting began in December.

  Source

• 2025

  Adopt artificial intelligence for digital personalization and archival recreationStrategy

  Background

  Conta Lá planned to differentiate its online and OTT services while drawing on the heritage of rural television.

  Action taken

  The company incorporated AI plans for personalized online services and for recreating former TV Rural presenter Sousa Veloso.

  Aftermath

  The available material does not document the implementation or audience response to these plans.

  Source

• 2024

  Create a regional and rural television operationStrategy

  Background

  The company was established to develop TV Rural and + Regiões for Portuguese audiences.

  Action taken

  Conta Lá adopted a multiplatform model spanning linear television, online services and OTT distribution.

  Aftermath

  The company proceeded with a temporary agriculture-fair channel, regional election services and regular broadcasting.

  Source

• 2026

  Conta Lá staff placed on lay-off amid financial problems[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  At the end of June 2026, the company's staff reportedly moved to lay-off as the broadcaster experienced financial difficulties.

• 2026

  Sérgio Figueiredo announces departure and restructuring meeting[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Bankruptcy

  On 15 July 2026, chief executive Sérgio Figueiredo announced that he would leave and that a general meeting would consider a restructuring plan. The company was reported not to have paid staff wages since May.

• 2025

  Conta Lá tests broadcasting with FNA 2025[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The company operated a pop-up channel from 7 to 10 June 2025 to cover Portugal's National Agriculture Fair.

• 2025

  Conta Lá explores Porto Canal studio facilities[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company was reported to be discussing the rental of Porto Canal's studios for a northern office.

• 2025

  ERC approves Conta Lá regional services[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Product launch

  Portugal's media regulator approved the Conta Lá Norte, Conta Lá Centro and Conta Lá Sul services for regional election coverage.

• 2025

  Conta Lá begins regular television broadcasts[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  After an election-focused test phase and a December website launch, Conta Lá began regular broadcasts on 11 December 2025.

• 2024

  Conta Lá is registered to develop two Portuguese television channels[1]Conta Láen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company was registered in October 2024 with plans for TV Rural and + Regiões, and held a private presentation ceremony on 15 October.

1. 1Conta Láen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Conta Lá official websiteconta-la.pt