RedeTV! Fortaleza
A RedeTV!-owned television station serving Fortaleza and nearby areas in Ceará, Brazil.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
RedeTV! Fortaleza is a television station licensed to Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, and operated as an owned-and-operated outlet of the RedeTV! network. The station broadcasts on channel 2 and primarily relays the network schedule produced in São Paulo. Unlike a fully independent local broadcaster, it has a limited local production role: its Fortaleza operation maintains reporting capacity and contributes reports to the national network, while it does not generally produce a continuous slate of locally originated programs. The station's history goes back to the redistribution of television licenses following the closure of TV Ceará, a Rede Tupi affiliate, in 1980. After the Brazilian communications authorities ordered the shutdown of the station, the former license became part of a wider government tender involving several former Tupi and Excelsior concessions. In 1981, Adolpho Bloch obtained the Fortaleza concession as part of the group of licenses used to establish Rede Manchete. Rede Manchete began broadcasting in southeastern capitals in 1983, but Fortaleza joined the network later, on February 12, 1984. The delay was attributed to technical difficulties affecting the planned northeastern operations and to the network's effort to meet its technical standards. The Fortaleza station was initially based on Antônio Sales Avenue in the Dionísio Torres neighborhood, in a building designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Its opening schedule consisted of a repeat of network material already shown in the southeast, including the variety special O Mundo Mágico and the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Local programming was initially absent, although the station maintained a reporting team under Ruy Lima. Local news production expanded in 1987 under the Ceará em Manchete name, when Rede Manchete required its owned-and-operated stations to increase their production capacity. The Fortaleza operation subsequently contributed to local editions of Manchete Esportiva and, during the network's later period, programs such as Tarde Jovem and Programa Paulo Oliveira. Rede Manchete entered a severe financial crisis in the late 1990s. In May 1999, its five owned-and-operated stations were sold to Amílcare Dallevo. The transaction led to the creation of a transitional network that became RedeTV! in November of the same year. Fortaleza therefore continued operating under a new national network identity while retaining its role as a local transmission and reporting operation. The station began digital broadcasting on August 17, 2010, using virtual UHF channel 34 while relaying RedeTV!'s São Paulo feed. Local programming began in 2012, but the station returned to carrying the network feed without local inserts in April 2016. Its transmission power was increased in September 2017, and local programming was subsequently broadcast in high definition. The analog channel 2 signal was discontinued on September 27, 2017, as part of Fortaleza's analog television switch-off. A supplementary 2.2 digital feed, initially associated with a 3D simulcast, was discontinued in 2015 and later reactivated on February 19, 2021, carrying Universo EADTV under a RedeTV! partnership with Cesumar University. RedeTV! Fortaleza's contemporary identity is therefore defined by network distribution rather than extensive local production. Its main functions are to deliver RedeTV!'s national schedule to Fortaleza and surrounding areas, operate a small reporting presence, and occasionally support regional news, election debates, and network-level reporting.
History
The station's concession originated with TV Ceará, a Rede Tupi affiliate that ceased operations on July 18, 1980, after an order from DENTEL. The Brazilian government subsequently opened a tender to redistribute seven former Tupi licenses, together with former Excelsior and Continental concessions, among two planned new television networks. On March 19, 1981, Adolpho Bloch received the Fortaleza concession along with concessions in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Recife, as well as the former TV Excelsior license in São Paulo. These licenses became the foundation of Rede Manchete. Rede Manchete launched in southeastern capitals on June 5, 1983. Fortaleza joined the network on February 12, 1984, after technical problems delayed the northeastern stations. The local facility operated from Antônio Sales Avenue in Dionísio Torres, in a building designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Its launch largely repeated programming shown at the network's southeastern stations, including O Mundo Mágico and the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The station did not initially produce local programs, but it maintained a reporting team directed by Ruy Lima. Local production expanded in 1987. Under the Ceará em Manchete identity, the station began producing local news as Rede Manchete sought to strengthen the output of its five owned-and-operated stations. The Fortaleza operation also produced a local edition of Manchete Esportiva and later carried programs including Tarde Jovem, presented by Ênio Carlos, and Programa Paulo Oliveira. These initiatives gave the station a more visible regional role, although its principal function remained the distribution of the national network schedule. Rede Manchete's financial crisis culminated in the sale of its five owned-and-operated stations in May 1999 to Amílcare Dallevo. The buyer created a transitional network that became RedeTV! in November 1999. The Fortaleza outlet consequently changed network affiliation and identity while remaining an owned-and-operated station serving the Ceará capital. The station's digital transition began on August 17, 2010, when it started broadcasting on virtual UHF channel 34 and relaying RedeTV!'s São Paulo feed. Local programming was introduced in 2012. In April 2016, the station reverted to carrying the national feed without local inserts. A transmitter-power increase in September 2017 was followed by high-definition local programming. Analog channel 2 ended on September 27, 2017, alongside the broader digital transition in Fortaleza. The station initially carried a 3D simulcast on digital channel 2.2, but that service ended in June 2015. Channel 2.2 continued to simulcast the main signal until it was deactivated in April 2016. It was reactivated on February 19, 2021, carrying Universo EADTV through a partnership between RedeTV! and Cesumar University. The Fortaleza operation has maintained a small reporting structure rather than a large local newsroom. Emerson Tchalian served as regional news editor, reporter, and a manager responsible for the Fortaleza operation from 2009 to 2022. After his return to São Paulo to become an editor-in-chief and special reporter, Marcelo Espíndola became the regional reporter. The station has also hosted electoral debates and supplied occasional reports for RedeTV!'s national programming.
- 2021
Universo EADTV returns on channel 2.2
[1]The station reactivated digital subchannel 2.2 to carry Universo EADTV.
- 2017
Analog signal discontinued
[1]Analog channel 2 was shut down on September 27 during Fortaleza's digital television transition.
- 2010
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]Digital transmission began on August 17 using virtual channel 34.
- 1999
Station transferred into the RedeTV! network
[1]After the sale of Rede Manchete's owned-and-operated stations, the Fortaleza outlet became part of the RedeTV! network.
- 1987
Local news production begins
[1]The station expanded its regional role with Ceará em Manchete and other local programming initiatives.
- 1984
Fortaleza joins Rede Manchete
[1]The Fortaleza station began broadcasting as a Rede Manchete outlet on February 12.
- 1981
Fortaleza concession assigned to Adolpho Bloch
[1]Adolpho Bloch received the former Fortaleza Tupi concession as part of the license group that became Rede Manchete.
- 1980
TV Ceará closes
[1]TV Ceará, the former Rede Tupi affiliate serving Fortaleza, ceased operations after a DENTEL order, setting the stage for redistribution of its license.
Products and positioning
A local owned-and-operated broadcast outlet that extends RedeTV!'s national programming to Fortaleza and nearby areas, with a limited regional reporting and production role.
television broadcasting · 1999
RedeTV! national television feed
The station's principal service is the terrestrial distribution of RedeTV!'s national schedule, generated mainly at the network's São Paulo headquarters. This feed supplies entertainment, news, and other network programming to viewers in Fortaleza and nearby areas. The local station generally functions as a network relay rather than as a separate full-service broadcaster.
news production · 1984
Regional reporting
RedeTV! Fortaleza maintains a limited regional reporting operation. Its journalists produce reports for the national network and have supported regional news coverage and election debates. The station's reporting capacity has varied over time and does not represent a continuous schedule of locally produced programs.
digital subchannel · 2021
Universo EADTV
Universo EADTV is carried on the station's digital subchannel 2.2 following its reactivation in February 2021. The service operates within a partnership involving RedeTV! and Cesumar University.
Brand decisions
2021
Reactivation of digital subchannel 2.2Product launchBackground
The station's secondary digital channel had previously carried a 3D simulcast and was later deactivated.
Action taken
Channel 2.2 was reactivated on February 19 to carry Universo EADTV through a RedeTV! partnership with Cesumar University.
Aftermath
The subchannel resumed service as a separate digital offering alongside the main RedeTV! transmission.
2016
Return to a network-only feedStrategyBackground
After a period that included local programming, the station adjusted its digital operating model.
Action taken
In April 2016, it resumed relaying RedeTV!'s national feed without local inserts.
Aftermath
The station remained primarily a network relay, with local reporting continuing as a more limited activity.
2010
Launch of digital terrestrial transmissionProduct launchBackground
The station needed to migrate from analog broadcasting to Brazil's digital terrestrial television system.
Action taken
Digital broadcasting began on August 17, initially using virtual UHF channel 34 and relaying the São Paulo network feed.
Aftermath
The station later introduced local programming in digital operations and eventually completed its analog shutdown.
1999
Transfer from Rede Manchete to RedeTV!M&ABackground
Rede Manchete's financial crisis led to the sale of its five owned-and-operated stations, including the Fortaleza outlet.
Action taken
Amílcare Dallevo acquired the stations and developed a transitional network that became RedeTV! in November 1999.
Aftermath
The Fortaleza station continued operating as an owned-and-operated network outlet under the RedeTV! identity.
Recent events
- 2021
RedeTV! Fortaleza reactivates digital subchannel 2.2[1]
Product launch · Other
On February 19, the station reactivated channel 2.2 to carry Universo EADTV through a partnership involving RedeTV! and Cesumar University.
- 2017
Analog transmission ends in Fortaleza[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station's analog channel 2 signal was shut down on September 27 as part of Fortaleza's transition to digital television.
- 2016
RedeTV! Fortaleza returns to a network-only feed[1]
Other
In April 2016, the station again relayed the national RedeTV! feed without local inserts.
- 2012
Fortaleza station resumes local programming in digital operations[1]
Product launch
Local programming began after the station's initial digital phase, although the outlet continued to operate mainly as a relay of RedeTV!'s national schedule.
- 2010
RedeTV! Fortaleza begins digital broadcasting[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The station launched its digital transmission on August 17, using virtual UHF channel 34 and initially relaying RedeTV!'s network feed from São Paulo.
- 1999
Rede Manchete's Fortaleza operation becomes part of RedeTV![1]
M&A · Leadership change
Following Rede Manchete's financial crisis, the network's owned-and-operated stations, including the Fortaleza outlet, were sold to Amílcare Dallevo and incorporated into the emerging RedeTV! operation.
Sources1 sources
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