RBS TV

RBS TV is a regional Brazilian television network owned and operated by Grupo RBS. Its roots date to the creation of TV Gaúcha in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, in 1962. The station initially operated as an affiliate of Rede Excelsior, before joining Rede Globo in 1967. That affiliation became the foundation of RBS TV's role as one of Globo's oldest regional partners and gave the network a combination of national programming and locally produced content. The network expanded beyond Porto Alegre during the late 1960s, adding stations in Santa Maria and Caxias do Sul in 1969. Its footprint later broadened into Santa Catarina. In 1979, Grupo RBS began operating in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina. Because the name TV Gaúcha was closely associated with Rio Grande do Sul, the expansion prompted a broader network identity: the operation was renamed RBS TV, reflecting the corporate name Rede Brasil Sul de Televisão. Although the acronym originally referred to that full name, the network generally uses RBS TV as its on-air identity rather than spelling out the expression. At its peak regional structure, RBS TV operated 12 stations in Rio Grande do Sul, with RBS TV Porto Alegre serving as its flagship. The stations have traditionally combined Rede Globo's national schedule with local and regional programming. News has been the core of the local offering, supplemented by sports, documentaries, drama series, variety programming, and youth-oriented shows. This model allows the network to serve both the metropolitan Porto Alegre audience and viewers in inland communities through a distributed station network. RBS TV has also used a succession of community-oriented brand messages. Its slogans have emphasized regional identity, service to the community, audience relationships, and television's connective role. These themes reflect the network's positioning as a locally rooted broadcaster rather than merely a retransmitter of national content. The Santa Catarina operation was later separated from RBS TV. In 2016, the stations in that state were sold to new owners and subsequently rebranded NSC TV. Following that transaction, RBS TV's continuing station network was concentrated in Rio Grande do Sul. The brand remains associated with Grupo RBS and with regional television production, local news, and the distribution of Rede Globo programming across the state.

RBS TV originated as TV Gaúcha, established in Porto Alegre in 1962. The station was created to serve Rio Grande do Sul and initially became affiliated with Rede Excelsior in 1963. After Rede Globo launched in Rio de Janeiro in 1965, TV Gaúcha joined Globo's affiliate network in 1967. This relationship became central to the station's development, combining Globo's national schedule with locally produced programming. The network expanded into the interior of Rio Grande do Sul in 1969, when stations began broadcasting in Santa Maria and Caxias do Sul. The broader regional strategy gave Grupo RBS a presence beyond the state capital and enabled local versions of news and other programming for different communities. Over time, the group assembled a larger network of stations throughout Rio Grande do Sul. A major transformation occurred in 1979, when Grupo RBS began operating a station in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. The TV Gaúcha name was strongly tied to the adjective gaúcha and therefore to Rio Grande do Sul. To support its presence in a second state, the network adopted the RBS TV name. The acronym originally represented Rede Brasil Sul de Televisão, although the full expression was later used less prominently than the short on-air brand. RBS TV developed a station-based model in which regional outlets carried Rede Globo programming while producing content for their own audiences. Local news became the principal form of original programming, joined by sports coverage, documentaries, drama, variety, and youth programming. RBS TV Porto Alegre became the flagship station, while the rest of the network served communities across Rio Grande do Sul. During its wider geographic phase, RBS TV also operated stations in Florianópolis, Blumenau, Joaçaba, Chapecó, Criciúma, and Joinville in Santa Catarina. The network's public identity was reinforced by changing corporate slogans. Earlier messages stressed regional representation and community service, while later campaigns presented the station as a partner in viewers' lives and as a medium connecting people. These themes supported RBS TV's role as a regional institution within the larger Rede Globo affiliate system. Grupo RBS's concentration of media assets became the subject of regulatory and legal scrutiny. In 2008, the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Santa Catarina initiated a public civil action alleging oligopolistic or monopolistic practices involving the group's television, radio, and newspaper holdings. The action included demands that the company reduce its number of stations and undo its 2006 purchase of the newspaper A Notícia. In 2009, a related administrative inquiry in Rio Grande do Sul sought information about the group's stations, affiliates, and repeaters and examined possible problems involving market concentration and broadcasting concessions. In 2016, Grupo RBS sold its Santa Catarina television stations. The outlets were transferred to new ownership and rebranded NSC TV. This transaction ended RBS TV's direct station presence in Santa Catarina and returned the network to a primarily Rio Grande do Sul identity. RBS TV continues as a Grupo RBS television brand, centered on regional broadcasting, local news, and the delivery of Rede Globo programming in Southern Brazil.

1. 2016Santa Catarina stations are sold and renamed NSC TV

   The RBS TV stations in Santa Catarina are sold to new owners and later rebranded NSC TV.

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2. 2009Administrative inquiry requests broadcasting-asset information

   A federal inquiry in Rio Grande do Sul seeks details about Grupo RBS television and radio holdings, affiliates, and repeaters.

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3. 2008Public civil action over media concentration

   Federal prosecutors in Santa Catarina bring a civil action concerning alleged oligopoly or monopoly practices involving Grupo RBS media assets.

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4. 1979Network expands into Santa Catarina and adopts the RBS TV name

   Grupo RBS begins operating in Florianópolis and changes the network identity from TV Gaúcha to RBS TV to reflect its multistate scope.

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5. 1969First inland Rio Grande do Sul stations sign on

   Stations begin operating in Santa Maria and Caxias do Sul, extending the network beyond Porto Alegre.

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6. 1967TV Gaúcha becomes a Rede Globo affiliate

   TV Gaúcha joins Rede Globo's affiliate network, establishing the relationship that continues to define RBS TV's programming model.

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7. 1963TV Gaúcha joins Rede Excelsior

   The Porto Alegre station becomes affiliated with Rede Excelsior.

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8. 1962TV Gaúcha is established in Porto Alegre

   TV Gaúcha begins broadcasting in Porto Alegre, creating the operation that would later become RBS TV Porto Alegre.

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A locally rooted Southern Brazilian broadcast network combining Rede Globo programming with regional news, sports, entertainment, and community-focused content.

• RBS TV Porto AlegreFlagship television station1962

  The flagship RBS TV station serving Porto Alegre and the surrounding metropolitan region. It combines Rede Globo programming with locally produced news, public-affairs content, sports, and other regional programming.

• RBS TV Rio Grande do Sul station networkRegional television network1969

  A distributed group of stations serving communities across Rio Grande do Sul. The network adapts news and other local programming to regional audiences while carrying the broader Rede Globo schedule.

• RBS TV Santa Catarina stationsFormer regional television network1979

  The former Santa Catarina branch included stations in Florianópolis, Blumenau, Joaçaba, Chapecó, Criciúma, and Joinville. These outlets were sold in 2016 and subsequently became part of NSC TV.

• 2019Well for you

  Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  RBS TV adopted the slogan “Well for you,” continuing its emphasis on audience connection and a positive relationship with viewers.

  Outcome. The slogan is identified as the network's 2019-present corporate message in the reference material.

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• 2016Sold the Santa Catarina television operationM&A

  Grupo RBS reorganized its television assets after operating stations in both Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

  What changed. The Santa Catarina stations were sold to new owners and subsequently rebranded NSC TV.

  Aftermath. RBS TV's remaining television footprint became concentrated in Rio Grande do Sul.

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• 1979Adopted the RBS TV network identityStrategy

  Grupo RBS expanded from Rio Grande do Sul into Santa Catarina, making the TV Gaúcha name too geographically narrow for the enlarged operation.

  What changed. The network was renamed RBS TV, based on the corporate name Rede Brasil Sul de Televisão.

  Aftermath. The new identity supported a multistate regional network until the Santa Catarina stations were later sold.

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• 2009Inquiry into media holdings and broadcasting concessionsControversy

  A federal administrative proceeding in Rio Grande do Sul examined possible monopolistic practices and irregularities in radio and television concessions held by or associated with Grupo RBS.

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• 2008Allegations of oligopoly and monopoly practicesControversy

  A public civil action filed by the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Santa Catarina alleged excessive media concentration by Grupo RBS. The requested remedies included reducing the group's television and radio holdings and reversing its acquisition of the newspaper A Notícia.

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• 2016RBS TV divests its Santa Catarina stations

  Grupo RBS sold its television stations in Santa Catarina to new owners. The former RBS TV outlets in the state were subsequently renamed NSC TV, leaving RBS TV focused on its Rio Grande do Sul operation.

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1. RBS TV
2. RBS TV official website