MASTV

MASTV was a Mexican wireless subscription-television operator belonging to MVS Comunicaciones. It originated as MVS Multivisión, beginning service in Mexico City on September 1, 1989, and later extending its coverage to ten additional Mexican markets. The service used a wireless television distribution model and competed principally with Televisa’s Cablevisión, giving viewers a multichannel alternative to conventional cable television. At launch, MVS Multivisión offered a relatively compact channel lineup, but its programming strategy and distribution technology allowed it to build a substantial subscriber base in the Valley of Mexico. The service expanded its channel count from eight to twelve in 1991, from twelve to sixteen in 1992, and to twenty by 1993. Digital compression, introduced during the early 1990s, increased the efficiency of the network. By 1995, the company was using the Solidaridad satellite system to transmit eighteen channels to cable companies outside Mexico City and to support channel coverage for cable operators in Central and South America. The business grew rapidly in its principal market. Subscribers in the Valley of Mexico increased from 8,900 in December 1989 to approximately 407,000 in December 1995. MVS also developed and distributed programming, including entertainment, sports, cinema, general-interest, and international channels. Programming associated with the group included Tele Uno, Multideporte, Multicinema, Zaz, USA Network, Antena 3 Internacional, MAS, and a service channel carrying schedules and subscriber information. Before the shutdown, MASTV distributed seventeen channels, including several MVS-owned or affiliated services such as 52MX, Exa TV, Multicinema, Multipremier, and Cinelatino. The brand adopted the name MASTV in 2002 as part of the evolution of the MVS Multivisión service. MVS Comunicaciones also participated in the Dish Mexico direct-broadcast satellite platform with EchoStar, creating a related pay-television operation. MASTV ultimately ceased operations in July 2014. Its remaining subscribers were migrated to Dish Mexico, making the closure part of a broader consolidation of MVS’s subscription-television activities rather than a continuation of the MASTV service as an independent platform.

MASTV’s history began with the launch of MVS Multivisión in Mexico City on September 1, 1989. The service was created as a wireless television platform within MVS Comunicaciones and entered a market in which Televisa’s Cablevisión was the principal established multichannel competitor. MVS Multivisión sought to expand the reach of subscription television while offering an alternative distribution model to fixed cable networks. The early service expanded its programming capacity in response to demand. It carried eight channels initially, increased that number to twelve in 1991, reached sixteen in 1992, and offered twenty channels by 1993. The company also extended beyond Mexico City into other Mexican markets. Digital compression technology, introduced from March 1993, improved the use of available transmission capacity. By 1995, the company was using the Solidaridad satellites to deliver eighteen channels to cable companies outside Mexico City and to support programming coverage for operators in Central and South America. Subscriber growth was particularly strong in the Valley of Mexico. The customer base rose from 8,900 subscribers at the end of 1989 to 407,000 by the end of 1995. Alongside distribution, MVS developed a portfolio of television services. By 1997, the group was producing or carrying channels and services including Tele Uno, Multideporte, Multicinema, Zaz, USA Network, Antena 3 Internacional, MAS, and a channel dedicated to schedules and service information. The service later operated across eleven Mexican cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, León, Mérida, Monterrey, Pachuca, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Toluca, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and Villahermosa. In 2002, MVS Multivisión was renamed MASTV. The rebranded operation remained part of MVS Comunicaciones’ wider subscription-television portfolio. MVS and EchoStar also operated Dish Mexico, a direct-broadcast satellite platform that became important to the group’s later distribution strategy. Before its closure, MASTV carried seventeen channels. Five were identified as MVS-owned or associated services: 52MX, Exa TV, Multicinema, Multipremier, and Cinelatino. The broader lineup was delivered in Spanish or with subtitles, and the service used the same channel numbering across the cities it served. MASTV closed in July 2014, after which subscribers were migrated to Dish Mexico. The shutdown ended the brand’s standalone wireless television operation and reflected the increasing importance of the group’s satellite pay-television platform.

1. 2014MASTV shuts down

   The service closes in July and its subscribers are transferred to Dish Mexico.

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2. 2002The service is renamed MASTV

   MVS Multivisión adopts the MASTV name.

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3. 1997MVS develops a broader channel portfolio

   The group’s programming portfolio includes entertainment, sports, cinema, international, and subscriber-information services.

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4. 1995Satellite-supported distribution expands

   Using the Solidaridad satellites, the company delivers eighteen channels to cable companies outside Mexico City and supports channel coverage in Central and South America.

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5. 1993Digital compression enters the service

   Digital compression begins being used, enabling more efficient delivery and supporting later expansion of the service.

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6. 1992Channel capacity expands to sixteen

   MVS Multivisión raises its available channel count from twelve to sixteen.

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7. 1991Channel capacity expands to twelve

   The service increases its lineup from eight to twelve channels.

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8. 1989MVS Multivisión begins service

   MVS Multivisión starts operating in Mexico City on September 1 with a wireless multichannel television service.

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A Mexican multichannel television alternative to cable, built around wireless distribution, expanding channel capacity, and programming supplied by the MVS group.

• MASTVWireless subscription television2002

  The core MASTV offering was a subscription-based, multichannel television service distributed wirelessly across Mexican markets. It began in Mexico City and later served eleven cities, using a standardized channel numbering scheme. Before closure, the service carried seventeen channels, with programming transmitted in Spanish or with subtitles. MASTV was positioned as an alternative to conventional cable television and was ultimately discontinued in July 2014.

• MVS MultivisiónWireless subscription television1989

  MVS Multivisión was the original name of the television operation that later became MASTV. Launched in Mexico City in 1989, it expanded its lineup from eight channels to twenty by 1993 and used digital compression and satellite distribution as it grew. The service built a significant subscriber base in the Valley of Mexico before its rebranding in 2002.

• MVS channel portfolioTelevision channels

  Channels associated with the MASTV and MVS television portfolio included 52MX, Exa TV, Multicinema, Multipremier, Cinelatino, Tele Uno, Multideporte, Zaz, USA Network, Antena 3 Internacional, and MAS. The portfolio covered cinema, sports, entertainment, general programming, and international content, alongside a service channel providing schedules and subscriber information.

• 2014Close MASTV and transfer subscribers to Dish MexicoStrategy

  MVS Comunicaciones also operated the Dish Mexico direct-broadcast satellite platform with EchoStar.

  What changed. MASTV ended operations in July, and its subscribers were migrated to Dish Mexico.

  Aftermath. The MASTV brand and standalone wireless television service became defunct, while subscribers moved to the related satellite pay-television platform.

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• 2002Rebrand from MVS Multivisión to MASTVStrategy

  The MVS wireless television service had expanded beyond its original Mexico City market and was operating within a broader MVS Comunicaciones media portfolio.

  What changed. MVS changed the service name from MVS Multivisión to MASTV.

  Aftermath. MASTV continued as the branded wireless television operation until its closure in 2014.

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• 2014MASTV ceases operations and migrates subscribers to Dish Mexico

  MASTV closed its Mexican wireless television operations in July 2014. Subscribers were transferred to Dish Mexico, the related MVS and EchoStar direct-broadcast satellite operation.

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• 2002MVS Multivisión is renamed MASTV

  The MVS Multivisión service adopted the MASTV name as the group continued developing its subscription-television activities in Mexico.

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1. MASTV