Nicavisión
Nicaraguan television company and broadcaster operating the national terrestrial channel Canal 12.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nicavisión is a Nicaraguan television company associated with Canal 12, a national terrestrial television channel. The company was founded in 1993 by Mariano Valle, and Canal 12 began broadcasting on December 11, 1994. Its launch followed a much earlier television-license history: Valle had held a license for channel 3 as early as 1960, although that proposed station was never built because Nicaragua's television market was then small and had only two operating channels. Nicavisión therefore entered a substantially changed media environment in the 1990s, when commercial television distribution and imported entertainment programming had broader room to develop. Canal 12's initial schedule included internationally known children's and action programming such as Power Rangers and X-Men, alongside Spanish-language telenovelas. In the middle of 1995, the broadcaster added Noticias 12, establishing a news operation that became an important part of its identity. In addition to general entertainment and news, the channel has maintained a national terrestrial distribution footprint. Its principal transmitter is located at Las Nubes, a major broadcast site serving the Managua area. Repeaters in Estelí, Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Chinandega extend the signal, with the listed transmitters operating on channel 5 and collectively reaching much of Nicaragua's Pacific side. The Nicavisión business has also included radio. The company is described as owning a local group of radio stations, including Radio Amor, Radio Sonora, Estación X, Radio Magic, and 106.7 FM. This gives the organization a broader audiovisual and audio-media presence than a single television outlet, although Canal 12 remains its best-known public-facing property. Canal 12's news role became particularly consequential during Nicaragua's 2018–2022 protests. The national broadcasting regulator, TELCOR, ordered cable operators to remove Canal 12 and other stations that were carrying coverage of the demonstrations from their cable systems. In early 2019, according to reporting referenced in the channel's historical account, pressure from TELCOR led to the removal of the programs Esta noche, Esta semana, and Danilo Lacayo en vivo. Carlos Fernando Chamorro, described as a director associated with the first two programs, said that production equipment was stolen and that police took over the facilities where the programs were made. Danilo Lacayo, the channel's news chief and host of the program bearing his name, subsequently left Nicaragua after receiving threats from supporters of the Nicaraguan state. These events place Nicavisión and Canal 12 within the wider history of Nicaragua's contested broadcast environment, in which terrestrial television, cable distribution, regulatory decisions, and independent news production have intersected. Publicly available reference material identifies the Valle Peters family as the ownership group and documents the channel's broadcast infrastructure, programming history, radio interests, and pressure on its news operations. Detailed current corporate information, financial data, and a complete list of present executives are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Nicavisión was established in 1993 by Mariano Valle and launched Canal 12 on December 11, 1994. Its origins reach back to Valle's television license for channel 3, granted as early as 1960. That earlier project was not constructed, reportedly because Nicaragua's television market was too small and had only two channels at the time. The 1990s launch thus represented a later attempt to build a commercial television operation in a larger and more developed broadcasting environment. The early Canal 12 schedule combined imported popular entertainment with Spanish-language programming. Power Rangers, X-Men, and telenovelas were among the initial offerings. In mid-1995, the station introduced Noticias 12, creating a dedicated news operation and adding a public-affairs dimension to its entertainment schedule. Canal 12 developed a national terrestrial footprint centered on a transmitter at Las Nubes, a major broadcast location serving Managua. Repeaters were installed at Estelí, Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Chinandega. The listed transmitters broadcast on channel 5 and enabled the signal to reach the Pacific side of Nicaragua. Nicavisión also expanded beyond television by owning a local radio network that included Radio Amor, Radio Sonora, Estación X, Radio Magic, and 106.7 FM. The channel's news activities became politically sensitive during the Nicaraguan protests of 2018–2022. TELCOR directed cable operators to remove Canal 12 and other stations that were providing coverage of the demonstrations. In early 2019, pressure attributed to TELCOR resulted in the removal of Esta noche, Esta semana, and Danilo Lacayo en vivo. Carlos Fernando Chamorro reported that equipment had been stolen and that police had taken over the production facilities for the first two programs. Danilo Lacayo, the channel's news chief and host of the program named after him, left Nicaragua after threats from government sympathizers. The available sources do not provide a complete account of later programming, ownership changes, finances, or current management.
- 2019
News programs removed amid regulatory pressure
[1]Esta noche, Esta semana, and Danilo Lacayo en vivo were removed after reported threats from TELCOR; related production facilities and equipment were also reported seized or stolen.
- 2018
Canal 12 affected during protest coverage
[1]During the Nicaraguan protests, TELCOR ordered cable providers to remove Canal 12 and other broadcasters covering the demonstrations.
- 1995
Noticias 12 launched
[1]The channel began its news operation, Noticias 12, in the middle of 1995.
- 1994
Canal 12 began broadcasting
[1]Canal 12 signed on for the first time on December 11, beginning Nicavisión's terrestrial television operation.
- 1993
Nicavisión founded
[1]Mariano Valle founded Nicavisión, the company associated with Canal 12.
- 1960
Mariano Valle held an earlier television license
[1]Mariano Valle had a license for channel 3, but the proposed station was never built because the Nicaraguan television market was then small.
Products and positioning
A Nicaraguan national broadcaster combining general television entertainment, news programming, terrestrial transmission, and a local radio-station network.
National terrestrial television channel · 1994
Canal 12
Nicavisión's principal television property and a national terrestrial channel in Nicaragua. Its transmission network is centered on Las Nubes near Managua, with repeaters in Estelí, Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Chinandega. Its schedule has included entertainment, imported series, telenovelas, and news.
Television news · 1995
Noticias 12
Canal 12's news operation, introduced in 1995. It forms part of the broadcaster's public-information and current-affairs output.
Radio broadcasting
Nicavisión radio network
A local group of radio stations associated with Nicavisión, including Radio Amor, Radio Sonora, Estación X, Radio Magic, and 106.7 FM.
Controversies
2019
Suppression of news programs and reported seizure of production resources
Programs including Esta noche, Esta semana, and Danilo Lacayo en vivo were removed amid reported pressure from TELCOR. Carlos Fernando Chamorro also reported stolen equipment and police occupation of production facilities.
2019
Threats against news chief Danilo Lacayo
Danilo Lacayo left Nicaragua after threats attributed to sympathizers of the Nicaraguan state.
2018
Cable removal during Nicaraguan protest coverage
TELCOR ordered cable providers to remove Canal 12 and other broadcasters that were covering demonstrations during the 2018–2022 protest period.
Brand decisions
2019
Removed several current-affairs programsStrategyBackground
The decision occurred amid reported threats from TELCOR and wider pressure on broadcasters covering Nicaragua's protests.
Action taken
Esta noche, Esta semana, and Danilo Lacayo en vivo were taken off the channel's programming.
Aftermath
The removals coincided with reports of stolen equipment, police occupation of production facilities, and Danilo Lacayo's departure from Nicaragua.
1995
Established a dedicated news operationStrategyBackground
After launching with entertainment and imported programming, Canal 12 expanded its editorial role in Nicaragua's television market.
Action taken
Nicavisión introduced Noticias 12 in the middle of 1995.
Aftermath
The channel developed a recognizable news presence that later became important during political protests and regulatory pressure.
Sources2 sources
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