El Trece

El Trece is an Argentine free-to-air television network whose principal station broadcasts on VHF channel 13 and digital UHF channel 33 in Greater Buenos Aires. The service is based in the national capital and distributes programming throughout Argentina through cable and satellite operators, affiliated or commercially represented stations, and Artear-owned outlets such as El Doce in Córdoba and Canal Siete in Bahía Blanca. Its programming portfolio combines national and international news, current affairs, entertainment, reality and competition formats, fiction, comedy, talk shows, cultural programming, sports-related coverage, and locally produced special events. The station began broadcasting on 1 October 1960 after a government tender awarded the license to Río de la Plata S.A. TV, a company established by Cuban businessman Goar Mestre and the United States network CBS. Operations were handled by Mestre's production company PROARTEL. During its first decade, the channel developed a strong popular and general-interest identity, establishing an audience through comedy, variety and fiction. Early successes included Viendo a Biondi, centered on comedian Pepe Biondi, The Falcón Family, and the Uruguayan sketch-comedy ensemble Telecataplum. The station also conducted an experimental color transmission in 1971, preceding its eventual transition to regular color broadcasting. The network's ownership and institutional history were deeply affected by Argentina's political changes. In 1974, the government of Isabel Perón nationalized Canal 13 along with two other private Buenos Aires stations. During the 1976–1983 military dictatorship, its administration was assigned to the Argentine Navy. The station remained under public control until the return of democratic government, and it transitioned to color broadcasting in 1980. A fire partially damaged the channel's studios on 2 July 1980, although no employees were killed. Privatization followed a prolonged period of state ownership. In December 1989, Arte Radiotelevisivo Argentino, commonly known as Artear, formally assumed management of the station. Artear is linked to AGEA, the publishing company associated with the Clarín newspaper and Grupo Clarín. Under private management, the channel consolidated a position as one of Argentina's leading general-interest broadcasters, generally ranking second in Buenos Aires audience measurements and competing most directly with Telefe. It built a notable fiction and entertainment production ecosystem, including a long-running relationship with Pol-ka Producciones beginning in 1996. Adrián Suar later became the channel's programming manager in 2001. During the 1990s and 2000s, El Trece expanded its profile through acclaimed comedy, drama, news and documentary programming. It tested high-definition production around the 1999–2000 New Year and introduced recurring annual changes to its visual identity from 2002. The brand used Canal Trece during the 2000s, launched an international subscription feed under the El Trece Internacional name in 2009, and adopted the lowercase eltrece styling in June 2016. The network reached the top of Argentina's annual general television ratings in 2010 and 2011, ending a long period in which Telefe had generally led the market. Showmatch was a central audience driver in that period, supported by Telenoche, fiction series, entertainment programs and reality formats. El Trece returned to second place from 2012 onward, while continuing to operate as a major national broadcaster. Its recognizable programming figures have included Marcelo Tinelli, Mirtha Legrand, Guido Kaczka and Adrián Suar. The network also renewed its association with Legrand in 2014, when she returned after a 34-year absence to host Almorzando con Mirtha Legrand and La noche de Mirtha.

El Trece traces its origins to the 1960 tender for Buenos Aires television channel 13. The winning company, Río de la Plata S.A. TV, was associated with Cuban entrepreneur Goar Mestre and CBS, while day-to-day production was carried out through PROARTEL. The station began broadcasting on 1 October 1960 at 8:30 p.m. Its early schedule established the broad entertainment profile that would remain central to the brand, with comedy, variety and fiction attracting large audiences. Programs such as Viendo a Biondi, The Falcón Family and Telecataplum helped the station compete with Buenos Aires channels 9 and 11. The channel underwent ownership changes during the 1960s, when Editorial Atlántida and Mestre's wife acquired shares. In June 1971, it transmitted an experimental color program consisting largely of still imagery and a color-equipped studio. Three years later, the national government nationalized Canal 13 along with two other private terrestrial channels. During the military government that ruled from 1976 to 1983, the Argentine Navy administered the station. Public control continued after the restoration of democracy until the station was privatized. The Navy-era administration oversaw the move to color transmissions on 1 May 1980. A partial studio fire occurred on 2 July of the same year without reported worker fatalities. In December 1989, Artear S.A. took over management. Artear was majority-linked to AGEA, the publishing company behind Clarín and a core component of Grupo Clarín's multimedia interests. The change placed Canal 13 within a privately managed media group and began its modern phase as a national commercial broadcaster. Throughout the 1990s, the network strengthened its position through political comedy, cultural programs, documentary production, drama and popular series. The relationship with Pol-ka Producciones, established in 1996, became especially important to the channel's locally produced fiction strategy. Adrián Suar became programming manager in 2001. The 2000s brought repeated visual refreshes, technical development and continued competition with Telefe. The channel used Canal Trece as its principal brand during this period and began changing its graphical package annually from 2002. It tested high-definition broadcasting around the 1999–2000 New Year and launched El Trece Internacional in 2009 for subscription distribution in foreign markets. The same year, satellite feeds associated with Artear experienced interference; public accusations initially focused on political responsibility, but the reported explanation ultimately attributed the disruptions to a Mexican broadcasting company. El Trece's strongest recent ratings period came in 2010 and 2011, when it ranked first in Argentina's general annual audience average. Showmatch was the most prominent driver, complemented by Telenoche, fiction titles, entertainment programs and reality formats. Telefe regained the leading position in 2012, and El Trece remained broadly in second place in the years covered by the reference material. Important programming figures during this period included Marcelo Tinelli, Guido Kaczka and Mirtha Legrand. Legrand's 2014 return expanded the channel's weekend schedule with two long-running interview and meal-based programs. In 2016, the network adopted the lowercase eltrece identity. It continues to operate as Artear's flagship free-to-air station, reaching Buenos Aires through terrestrial transmission and the rest of Argentina through distribution partners.

1. 2016eltrece brand adoption

   The network changed its principal visual name to the lowercase eltrece styling.

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2. 2010Annual ratings leadership

   El Trece ranked first in the general annual audience average, driven in part by Showmatch.

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3. 2009International channel launch

   El Trece Internacional was launched as a subscription television service for foreign markets.

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4. 2001Adrián Suar becomes programming manager

   Actor and producer Adrián Suar assumed the network's programming management role.

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5. 1996Pol-ka production relationship begins

   The channel began operating with Pol-ka Producciones, strengthening its locally produced fiction and entertainment output.

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6. 1989Artear assumes management

   Artear formally took over the station in December, beginning its current privately managed phase.

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7. 1980Color broadcasting and studio fire

   The network moved to color broadcasting on 1 May; a partial studio fire occurred in July without reported deaths.

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8. 1974Nationalization

   The Argentine government nationalized Canal 13 together with two other Buenos Aires private television stations.

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9. 1971Experimental color transmission

   The channel transmitted an experimental color program featuring studio imagery and still pictures.

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10. 1960Launch of Canal 13

    The Buenos Aires station began regular broadcasting on 1 October under the Río de la Plata S.A. TV concession.

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A major Argentine general-interest broadcaster combining free-to-air national television, locally produced entertainment and fiction, journalism, and distribution through affiliated and subscription platforms.

• Free-to-air El Trece networkBroadcast television1960

  The core service is a general-interest Argentine television network centered on the Buenos Aires Channel 13 signal. It carries news, current affairs, entertainment, fiction, reality, comedy, cultural programs and special broadcasts. In Greater Buenos Aires it uses terrestrial VHF and digital UHF transmission, while national reach is extended through cable, satellite, affiliated stations and Artear's regional outlets.

• El Trece InternacionalInternational television distribution2009

  Introduced in 2009, El Trece Internacional was the network's subscription television service for audiences outside Argentina. It extended selected El Trece programming to more than one foreign market through pay-television distribution, complementing the domestic terrestrial network.

• TelenocheTelevision news

  Telenoche is a flagship El Trece news and current-affairs offering. It has been repeatedly identified as one of the network's important audience and brand anchors, helping position the channel as a full-service broadcaster rather than an entertainment-only outlet.

• ShowmatchEntertainment and reality television

  Showmatch was a major entertainment and reality-format program associated with Marcelo Tinelli. Its strong audience contribution was central to El Trece's ratings leadership in 2010 and 2011 and made it one of the network's most prominent prime-time properties.

• Almorzando con Mirtha LegrandTalk show2014

  This interview and meal-based television program returned to El Trece in 2014 as part of Mirtha Legrand's return to the network. The format combines celebrity, political and public-affairs conversation with a hosted lunch setting.

• La noche de MirthaTalk show2014

  La noche de Mirtha was introduced alongside Legrand's 2014 return and provided a Saturday-night counterpart to her Sunday program. It extended the network's weekend interview and conversation programming.

• 2016eltrece rebrand

  Argentina · International distribution

  The network replaced its prior Canal Trece presentation with a single lowercase eltrece wordmark and associated visual identity.

  Outcome. The lowercase name became the network's principal contemporary brand styling.

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• 2002Annual graphical identity refresh

  Argentina

  The channel began a recurring practice of renewing its on-air graphical package each year, using presentation design to keep the Canal Trece identity current.

  Outcome. The practice became a continuing part of the network's brand management during the 2000s.

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• 2016Adoption of eltrece identityStrategy

  The channel had used several related names and visual packages, including Canal Trece during the 2000s.

  What changed. Effective 24 June, the network restyled its name as the lowercase single word eltrece.

  Aftermath. The new spelling became the primary contemporary consumer-facing identity.

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• 2009Launch of El Trece InternacionalProduct launch

  The network sought to extend its programming beyond Argentina through subscription television.

  What changed. Artear launched an international El Trece channel reported to be distributed in more than twenty countries.

  Aftermath. The service added an international distribution layer to the domestic free-to-air operation.

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• 1989Artear privatization takeoverM&A

  After approximately fifteen years under government ownership, the station returned to private management.

  What changed. Artear formally assumed management of Canal 13 in December 1989.

  Aftermath. The station became the flagship television outlet associated with the Clarín media group and developed its modern commercial network model.

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• 1974Acceptance of state nationalizationStrategy

  The government of Isabel Perón nationalized Canal 13 along with two other private Buenos Aires television channels as part of a broader state-centered media policy.

  What changed. The station moved from private operation into government ownership and administration.

  Aftermath. Public control continued through the democratic transition and ended with the station's privatization in 1989.

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• 2016Channel adopts lowercase eltrece branding

  The network restyled its name as the single lowercase word eltrece, effective 24 June 2016.

  CampaignOther
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• 2014Mirtha Legrand returns to El Trece

  After a 34-year absence from the network, Mirtha Legrand returned with Almorzando con Mirtha Legrand and La noche de Mirtha.

  Leadership changeProduct launch
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• 2011El Trece again leads the annual television audience

  El Trece retained first place in the general audience average before returning to second place the following year.

  Other
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• 2010El Trece reaches first place in annual audience ratings

  The network overtook Telefe in the general annual audience average, helped by Showmatch and a strong entertainment, news and fiction schedule.

  OtherProduct generation
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• 1960Canal 13 begins broadcasting

  The station began regular transmissions on 1 October 1960 from Buenos Aires.

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1. El Trece
2. El Trece official website