SBT Rio

SBT Rio is a Brazilian television station based in Rio de Janeiro and operated as part of Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão, commonly known as SBT. The station broadcasts on channel 11 in the Rio de Janeiro market and combines SBT's national schedule with locally produced journalism, sports and variety programming. Its terrestrial service reaches the metropolitan area, while its role was expanded in 2012 when it became the state hub for SBT programming in Rio de Janeiro through the addition of SBT Interior RJ from Nova Friburgo. The station originated with a concession won by presenter and businessman Silvio Santos in a federal bid for VHF channel 11 in Rio de Janeiro. The concession was historically significant because it was the first television concession granted to a television artist. With encouragement from comedian Manuel de Nóbrega, Santos pursued the opportunity in 1975 and prepared the operation in a former refrigerated warehouse on Rua General Padilha in São Cristóvão. Equipment from the bankrupt TV Continental estate helped complete the station's transmission system. The station went on air on 14 May 1976 under the TVS name, usually explained as an abbreviation of TV Studios or TV Studios Silvio Santos. During its early years, TVS operated with a relatively limited schedule, relying on films, cartoons, imported series, repeat showings and programs connected with Silvio Santos and other presenters. Programming began to diversify in 1977, when the station added telenovelas, short news services and other locally scheduled material. A new tower and transmitter inaugurated that year improved signal quality and coverage. TVS also developed programming relationships with other stations, including TV Record and stations associated with the former Rede de Emissoras Independentes. The creation of SBT in August 1981 transformed the station's institutional role. After Silvio Santos obtained several concessions formerly associated with Rede Tupi, the Brazilian Television System was established as a national network headquartered operationally from São Paulo. The Rio channel became one of the network's owned-and-operated stations while retaining a distinct local operation. The station continued to use the TVS identity locally until 1990, when it adopted the SBT name, initially as SBT Rio de Janeiro. On 19 August 2012, the local brand was shortened to SBT Rio. Local journalism has been an important part of the station's identity, although its intensity has varied over time. Early services included Plantão 11, Por Dentro do Lance, Jornal da Manhã and Jornal da Noite. Later local formats included Jornal da Cidade, Cidade 11, TJ Rio and Agenda. A renewed local-news effort began in 1999 with SBT Rio and Câmera em Ação. The news operation adopted a strongly popular and community-oriented tone, emphasizing urban problems and issues affecting Rio's peripheral neighborhoods. Present and recent local offerings have included SBT Rio, SBT Rio 2° Edição, SBT Sports Rio and the variety program Cariocou. The station completed its analog-to-digital transition under Brazil's national timetable. Its analog VHF channel 11 signal was shut down on 22 November 2017. In 2020, SBT announced an R$8 million relocation project after structural problems affected the Campo de São Cristóvão facilities. The pandemic delayed the move, but the new Charles de Gaulle Business Center headquarters opened on 19 August 2021, with local production following on 20 September. The new facility consolidated administrative, commercial and production functions and provided updated studios for local journalism and sports programming. SBT Rio remains an active regional broadcaster whose role is to localize SBT's national television brand for Rio de Janeiro.

SBT Rio traces its origins to a federal concession for Rio de Janeiro's VHF channel 11. In 1975, comedian Manuel de Nóbrega encouraged presenter Silvio Santos to compete for the concession, which Santos won. Preparations took place in a former refrigerated warehouse on Rua General Padilha in São Cristóvão. Santos also obtained equipment from the bankrupt estate of TV Continental, allowing the new station to complete its transmission infrastructure. TVS began broadcasting on 14 May 1976. The initial schedule ran for only part of the day and was filled with films, cartoons, series, repeats and programs associated with Silvio Santos and other popular presenters. From June 1977, TVS diversified its output with telenovelas, news bulletins and additional entertainment. A new tower and transmitter increased effective power and improved reception. The station also had changing relationships with TV Record and other broadcasters connected with the Rede de Emissoras Independentes. In 1981, the station became part of the national network created as Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão. TVS Rio remained a locally operated owned-and-operated station while the network's principal management and production structure was based in São Paulo. It continued to use the TVS identity for local broadcasting until 1990, when the SBT name was adopted. The designation initially appeared as SBT Rio de Janeiro and was shortened to SBT Rio in 2012. Local news developed through successive formats. Early programs included Plantão 11, Por Dentro do Lance, Jornal da Manhã and Jornal da Noite. During the 1980s and early 1990s the station used formats such as Jornal da Cidade, Cidade 11, TJ Rio and Agenda. Following a period in which the station operated largely as a relay of SBT's national schedule, local production was revived in December 1999 with SBT Rio and the weekly Câmera em Ação. The operation competed with Rio's major local broadcasters by emphasizing crime, public services, neighborhood concerns and problems affecting peripheral communities. Ratings pressure later led to repeated presenter and format changes. The station's local sports output expanded in the 2010s. SBT Esporte Rio launched in 2014 with a team led by José Carlos Araújo, known as Garotinho, and later evolved through schedule and personnel changes. In 2021, after the move to a new headquarters, the program was renamed SBT Sports Rio and received a dedicated studio area. Other local formats over the years included SBT Rio Manhã, Esporte Mágico and the variety program Cariocou. SBT Rio ended analog broadcasting on VHF channel 11 on 22 November 2017 under Brazil's digital-transition plan. Structural issues at the Campo de São Cristóvão facilities prompted SBT to announce a new headquarters project in 2020. The relocation, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, was completed in 2021 at the Charles de Gaulle Business Center in Castelo. Administrative and commercial operations moved first, followed by local program production on 20 September. The station continues to serve Rio de Janeiro as an SBT-owned regional broadcaster.

• 2021

  New headquarters open

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  SBT Rio inaugurated facilities at the Charles de Gaulle Business Center on 19 August, with local production moving there in September.

• 2017

  Analog broadcasting is discontinued

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The analog VHF channel 11 signal was switched off on 22 November.

• 2012

  The station adopts the SBT Rio name

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The name was simplified from SBT Rio de Janeiro to SBT Rio, and the operation became a state hub.

• 1999

  Local journalism is relaunched

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  SBT Rio and Câmera em Ação debuted as part of an effort to strengthen local output.

• 1990

  Local use of the TVS brand ends

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The station began using the SBT identity locally instead of TVS.

• 1981

  TVS becomes part of SBT

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The Brazilian Television System was established, incorporating TVS Rio as an owned-and-operated station.

• 1977

  Programming and transmission capacity expand

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The channel broadened its schedule and inaugurated a new transmission tower and transmitter.

• 1976

  TVS launches in Rio de Janeiro

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  TVS began broadcasting on 14 May from facilities initially prepared in São Cristóvão.

• 1975

  Silvio Santos wins the channel 11 concession

  [1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Silvio Santos won the federal bid for Rio de Janeiro's VHF channel 11 concession after being encouraged to participate by Manuel de Nóbrega.

A regional, free-to-air SBT broadcaster combining national network content with popular local journalism, sports coverage and Rio de Janeiro-focused programming.

• Local television news · 1999

  SBT Rio

  The station's principal Rio-focused news program, historically presented by several anchors and built around local public-affairs, crime, community and metropolitan reporting.

• Local sports television · 2014

  SBT Sports Rio

  A Rio de Janeiro sports-news program that developed from SBT Esporte Rio. It combines regional sports reporting, commentary and coverage designed for the local audience.

• Local television news

  SBT Rio 2° Edição

• Variety television

  Cariocou

• 2020

  Relocation to a new headquartersStrategy

  Background

  Structural problems, including leaks and cracks, affected the former Campo de São Cristóvão facilities.

  Action taken

  SBT announced an R$8 million relocation project to the Charles de Gaulle Business Center in Castelo.

  Aftermath

  After pandemic-related delays, the new headquarters opened in 2021 and local production moved there in September.

  Relocation investment. R$8 million (Announced in 2020)

  Source

• 2017

  Analog-to-digital transitionOther

  Background

  Brazil's national television transition plan required broadcasters in Rio de Janeiro to discontinue analog terrestrial transmission.

  Action taken

  SBT Rio ended its VHF channel 11 analog signal on 22 November and continued through digital transmission.

  Aftermath

  The station completed the mandated transition from analog broadcasting.

  Source

• 2012

  Simplification of the local brand and expansion to a state hubStrategy

  Background

  SBT sought a clearer local identity while expanding the Rio operation's role beyond the metropolitan station.

  Action taken

  The station changed its name from SBT Rio de Janeiro to SBT Rio and began carrying statewide programming through SBT Interior RJ.

  Aftermath

  SBT Rio became the principal state-level hub for the network in Rio de Janeiro.

  Source

• 2021

  SBT Rio opens new downtown facilities[1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station inaugurated its Charles de Gaulle Business Center headquarters and subsequently transferred local production there.

• 2017

  Analog channel 11 transmission ends[1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station discontinued its analog VHF signal as part of Brazil's federally coordinated digital television transition.

• 2012

  The local brand becomes SBT Rio[1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  On SBT's anniversary, the station simplified its name from SBT Rio de Janeiro to SBT Rio and assumed a broader state-level role.

• 1981

  SBT is created[1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  TVS Rio became part of the newly formed Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão after Silvio Santos acquired additional broadcasting concessions.

• 1977

  TVS expands its schedule and transmission coverage[1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The station introduced more varied programming and inaugurated a new tower and transmitter, improving coverage in the Rio market.

• 1976

  TVS Rio begins broadcasting[1]SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The channel launched on 14 May under the TVS name, becoming Silvio Santos's first television concession.

1. 1SBT Rioen.wikipedia.org