TeleVisa

TeleVisa was a Venezuelan television broadcasting brand created by broadcaster Gonzalo Veloz Mancera. Operating under the call sign YVLV-TV on channel 4, it became the first privately owned television station to begin operations in Venezuela, following the state-owned Televisora Nacional. The station's emergence in 1953 marked an important step in the opening of Venezuelan television to commercial operators. TeleVisa began technical test transmissions on March 4, 1953, and was formally inaugurated on March 30 of the same year. Its commercial concession enabled programming to be transmitted under the country's broadcasting regulations, and its initial schedule ran from approximately 4 p.m. to midnight. Regular programming began on July 1, 1953. The station carried general entertainment and broadcast programming, including a landmark horse-racing transmission on August 9, 1953, described in the reference material as the first televised horse race in Venezuela. The station also expanded beyond Caracas. In 1956, it began serving the area that is now Vargas State through channel 9 from an antenna at Cabo Blanco. That same year, Veloz Mancera helped establish TeleVisa del Zulia in Maracaibo, the first regional television station in the Zulia area. TeleVisa del Zulia initially operated independently, later becoming affiliated with the Caracas station. Its programming ran during afternoon and evening hours, ending at approximately 11 p.m. TeleVisa later encountered financial difficulty and declared bankruptcy. In 1960, Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt proposed that businessman Diego Cisneros acquire the station. Cisneros accepted, and the facilities and operation were transferred into the Cisneros business sphere. On February 27, 1961, the station was rebranded as Venevisión, ending the TeleVisa brand's independent existence. Venevisión subsequently became one of Venezuela's major television networks. This TeleVisa should not be confused with the Mexican media company commonly known as Televisa. The Venezuelan station described here used the TeleVisa name before its 1961 conversion into Venevisión and was not related to the Mexican broadcasting and telecommunications group.

TeleVisa emerged during the early development of Venezuelan television. Its founder, Gonzalo Veloz Mancera, established the station under the call sign YVLV-TV, using channel 4. The station entered its testing phase on March 4, 1953, and was officially inaugurated on March 30. Its commercial concession helped open Venezuela's television airwaves to privately operated stations, complementing the country's existing state-owned broadcaster, Televisora Nacional. TeleVisa began regular programming on July 1, 1953. During its early operation, the station transmitted from roughly 4 p.m. until midnight and developed a general commercial schedule. It also carried notable live events. On August 9, 1953, it televised a horse race narrated by Luis Plácido Pisarello, an event identified in the reference material as the first televised horse race in Venezuela. The broadcaster extended its technical reach during the middle of the decade. By 1956, it had begun service to the area now known as Vargas State using channel 9 and an antenna at Cabo Blanco. Veloz Mancera also established TeleVisa del Zulia in Maracaibo, with the station's inaugural event taking place on May 5, 1956, followed by regular transmissions beginning two days later. TeleVisa del Zulia initially operated as an independent regional broadcaster but later became affiliated with the Caracas TeleVisa operation. Its schedule covered afternoon and evening programming and generally ended at 11 p.m. TeleVisa's original operation did not survive the financial pressures of the late 1950s and early 1960s. After the company declared bankruptcy, Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt proposed that businessman Diego Cisneros acquire it. Cisneros completed the purchase in 1960, bringing the station and its installations into the Cisneros business sphere. The TeleVisa name was formally replaced on February 27, 1961, when the operation was rebranded as Venevisión. The rebranding marked the end of TeleVisa as a standalone Venezuelan television brand, while the acquired network became the foundation for Venevisión's later development. Because the name is also associated with a much larger Mexican media company, the Venezuelan TeleVisa is a distinct historical entity and should not be merged with or identified as the Mexican company.

1. 1961Rebranded as Venevisión

   On February 27, TeleVisa was renamed Venevisión, ending the original brand's operation.

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2. 1960Acquisition following bankruptcy

   After TeleVisa declared bankruptcy, Diego Cisneros acquired its installations and operation following a proposal associated with President Rómulo Betancourt.

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3. 1956Expansion to the Vargas area

   The station began service to the area now called Vargas State through channel 9 from Cabo Blanco.

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4. 1956TeleVisa del Zulia established

   TeleVisa del Zulia was inaugurated in Maracaibo on May 5 and began regular transmissions on May 7.

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5. 1953Technical test transmissions begin

   TeleVisa began test transmissions on March 4 under the call sign YVLV-TV on channel 4.

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6. 1953Formal inauguration

   The station was officially inaugurated on March 30, becoming Venezuela's first privately owned television station.

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7. 1953Regular programming starts

   Regular TeleVisa programming began on July 1 with an afternoon-to-midnight schedule.

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8. 1953First televised horse race in Venezuela

   TeleVisa broadcast a horse race on August 9, narrated by Luis Plácido Pisarello.

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A pioneering privately owned Venezuelan television broadcaster that helped introduce commercial television competition and regional broadcasting before being acquired and rebranded as Venevisión.

• YVLV-TVTelevision station1953

  TeleVisa's principal Caracas-area television operation, broadcasting on channel 4 under the YVLV-TV call sign. It carried general commercial programming and live events during the station's operating period from 1953 until its conversion into Venevisión.

• TeleVisa del ZuliaRegional television station1956

  A regional station established in Maracaibo in 1956 by Gonzalo Veloz Mancera. It initially operated independently before becoming affiliated with TeleVisa's Caracas operation, transmitting afternoon and evening programming.

• 1961Rebranding as VenevisiónStrategy

  TeleVisa had entered financial difficulty and was acquired by Diego Cisneros in 1960 after declaring bankruptcy.

  What changed. The acquired television operation was renamed Venevisión on February 27, 1961.

  Aftermath. The TeleVisa brand ceased to operate as an independent Venezuelan television identity, while the renamed network became part of the Cisneros business sphere.

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• 2024Emilio Azcárraga Jean takes administrative leaveControversy

  Azcárraga Jean took an administrative leave from his executive-chairman role while a United States Department of Justice investigation concerning FIFA tournament broadcasting rights was addressed.

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• 2023Allegations concerning FIFA broadcasting rightsControversy

  United States investors accused Televisa of bribing FIFA officials to obtain broadcasting rights to four World Cup tournaments. The allegations were connected to a United States Department of Justice investigation and were denied or contested in public reporting; the matter also led to Emilio Azcárraga Jean taking administrative leave in 2024.

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• 2006Coverage of the San Salvador Atenco repressionControversy

  Televisa and other major Mexican broadcasters were criticized for coverage of the police repression in San Salvador Atenco. Academic and public criticism argued that television reports portrayed the farmers as a radical movement, supported the government's narrative, and failed to give sufficient attention to allegations of excessive force and human-rights violations.

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• 2024Ollamani spin-off is completed

  Televisa completed the separation of its sports and gambling operations into Ollamani on 20 February 2024.

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• 2023Televisa announces separation of sports and gambling assets

  Televisa announced plans to place its sports and gambling operations in a separate company later named Ollamani.

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• 2022Mexican and United States regulators approve Televisa–Univision transaction

  Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Institute approved the transaction in 2021, followed by approval from the United States Federal Communications Commission in January 2022.

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• 2022Televisa and Univision complete transaction

  The combination was completed on 31 January 2022, creating TelevisaUnivision and leaving Televisa with a 45 percent interest in the combined company.

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• 2021Televisa announces combination of media assets with Univision

  Televisa announced an agreement to contribute its media and entertainment assets to a transaction combining them with Univision Communications.

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1. TeleVisa
2. 埃米利奥·阿斯卡拉加·让休行政假