Televisión Regional de Chile
A private Chilean terrestrial television channel serving Santiago and Antofagasta.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Televisión Regional de Chile, commonly known as TVR, is a private terrestrial television channel in Chile. Its principal historical base and identity are associated with Santiago, while its later broadcast footprint has also included Antofagasta. The station is notable for having passed through a succession of names, owners, business models, and programming strategies since becoming the first UHF television concession in Chile. The channel began broadcasting on October 9, 1995, under the name Gran Santiago Televisión. Its original concession had been granted in 1994 to lawyer and radio personality Enrique Evans Espiñeira, economic analyst Gonzalo Chamorro Oschilewsky, and José Artemio Espinosa Martínez. The founders brought existing media experience into the new station. Evans Espiñeira transferred his radio program Gente de Mundo to television, while Chamorro's business program La Bolsa de Comercio a sus Órdenes moved from UCV TV. The station faced structural difficulties from the outset: its early transmitter was too weak to cover the entire Santiago Metropolitan Region, and it was initially the only operating UHF outlet in the country, limiting its audience reach and familiarity among viewers. A technical change came in 1998, when the transmitter was moved from the station's studios on Praga Street to San Cristóbal Hill. In 2000, five controllers of Andrés Bello National University, which already held a minority stake, acquired the remaining ownership and renamed the channel Andrés Bello Televisión, or ABT. The university invested in new studios in Lo Barnechea, but the improvements did not produce a corresponding rise in audience. ABT's schedule relied heavily on classic films, Canal Vasco programming, and infomercials. It also participated in the early sports-rights environment surrounding the launch of CDF through the short-lived football highlights program Fútbol Total, broadcast in association with UCV. In 2005, entertainment entrepreneur Bernardo Carrasco bought ABT and relaunched it as Televisión Óptima, or TVO. The new operation pursued a more personality-driven and entertainment-oriented strategy, signing several recognizable media figures. Its programming included the adult-film strand Estrictamente para mayores and a program hosted by Eduardo Bonvallet. TVO also became associated with controversies over talent departures, including the dismissal of Pamela Jiles after her appearance in a presidential campaign advertisement, an episode that contrasted with the channel's public positioning as pluralist and tolerant. Carrasco sold the station after approximately one year to Pabellón de la Construcción, a real-estate showroom. The buyer relaunched the service as Más Canal, reportedly combining the acquisition with investment in technical equipment. The relaunch did not generate substantial audience growth. The station subsequently became associated with layoffs, budget reductions, and commercial uncertainty. In 2008, national cable operator VTR removed Más Canal from its systems to make room for a Christian channel, further reducing its distribution at a difficult point in the station's development. In July 2010, media entrepreneur Álvaro Saieh acquired Más Canal through interests connected to Copesa. Copesa later developed a plan to turn the service into a nationally oriented network called 3TV. The project involved acquiring additional concessions outside Santiago, hiring staff, and preparing studios. It was ultimately abandoned before launching because of financial problems within the wider group. The channel was subsequently included in Copesa's proposed sale of most of its television holdings to CNC Inversiones, an Antofagasta-based group led by Marcelo Mendizábal. On February 1, 2018, the station adopted its current name, Televisión Regional de Chile, and began digital broadcasting on channel 14.1. The TVR identity reflects a regional rather than purely Santiago-focused positioning. Its history illustrates the difficulties faced by smaller Chilean broadcasters competing for audience, distribution, advertising, and technical reach against established national networks and cable services. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about its current ownership structure, schedule, financial performance, and management, so those areas require verification from current company or regulatory sources.
History
Televisión Regional de Chile developed from a pioneering UHF concession into a succession of differently branded television operations. In 1994, Enrique Evans Espiñeira, Gonzalo Chamorro Oschilewsky, and José Artemio Espinosa Martínez received the first UHF television concession issued in Chile. Their station, Gran Santiago Televisión, began broadcasting on October 9, 1995. Early operations were constrained by a weak signal that did not reach the whole Santiago Metropolitan Region and by the unfamiliarity of UHF broadcasting in the Chilean market. The founders imported established radio and television formats, including Gente de Mundo and La Bolsa de Comercio a sus Órdenes. In 1998, the transmitter was moved from the station's Praga Street studios to San Cristóbal Hill. In 2000, five controllers of Andrés Bello National University acquired the rest of the station after the university had already held a 20 percent interest. The broadcaster was renamed Andrés Bello Televisión, or ABT, and the university built new studios in Lo Barnechea. The investment did not substantially improve audience performance. ABT's schedule was centered on classic films, Canal Vasco programs, and infomercials, with a limited sports highlight venture, Fútbol Total, carried alongside UCV during the reshaping of Chilean football television rights. Bernardo Carrasco acquired ABT in 2005 and renamed it Televisión Óptima, commonly abbreviated TVO. The new owner attempted to increase the channel's profile by signing recognizable media personalities and adopting a more entertainment-oriented schedule. The operation included the adult-film strand Estrictamente para mayores and a program presented by Eduardo Bonvallet. Its relationship with presenters was unstable; the most publicized case involved Pamela Jiles, who was dismissed after appearing in a presidential campaign advertisement. The incident drew attention because TVO presented itself as editorially pluralist and tolerant. After about a year, Carrasco sold TVO to Pabellón de la Construcción, a real-estate showroom. The new owner relaunched the service as Más Canal and combined the acquisition with planned equipment investment. Audience gains remained limited, and the station became associated with staff reductions and budget cuts. In 2008, VTR removed Más Canal from its cable systems to make room for a Christian channel, adding a significant distribution setback. In July 2010, Álvaro Saieh acquired Más Canal through Copesa-related interests. Copesa subsequently developed a national expansion proposal under the name 3TV. The plan included additional concessions in other Chilean cities, a substantial recruitment effort, and studio preparations. It was cancelled before launch as financial problems affected the wider media group. In 2016, Copesa announced that most of its television holdings, including the Santiago station and concessions in Temuco and Concepción, would be sold to CNC Inversiones, an Antofagasta-based group led by Marcelo Mendizábal. On February 1, 2018, Canal 22 adopted the name Televisión Regional de Chile and began digital transmission on channel 14.1. The present brand signals a regional broadcasting orientation and is associated with coverage of Santiago and Antofagasta. The available reference material does not establish a detailed current schedule, a complete management roster, audited financial information, or a fully documented corporate structure beyond the reported CNC Inversiones transaction.
- 2018
Current TVR brand introduced
[1]The station changed its name to Televisión Regional de Chile and began digital broadcasting on channel 14.1.
- 2016
Proposed sale to CNC Inversiones
[1]Copesa announced the sale of most of its television holdings to CNC Inversiones.
- 2013
3TV project cancelled
[1]A planned national relaunch under the 3TV name was abandoned before it went on air.
- 2010
Copesa acquisition
[1]Álvaro Saieh acquired Más Canal through interests connected with Copesa.
- 2005
TVO relaunch
[1]Bernardo Carrasco acquired ABT and renamed it Televisión Óptima.
- 2000
ABT rebrand
[1]Andrés Bello National University controllers acquired the remaining ownership and relaunched the service as Andrés Bello Televisión.
- 1998
Transmitter relocation
[1]The transmitter moved from the station's studios to San Cristóbal Hill.
- 1995
Gran Santiago Televisión launches
[1]The station began broadcasting on October 9 under the Gran Santiago Televisión name.
- 1994
First Chilean UHF television concession
[1]Enrique Evans Espiñeira, Gonzalo Chamorro Oschilewsky, and José Artemio Espinosa Martínez received the first UHF television concession in Chile.
Products and positioning
A regional Chilean terrestrial broadcaster with a Santiago base and an expanded regional footprint, combining locally oriented television with acquired entertainment, film, sports, and general-interest programming.
Broadcast station · 2018
TVR terrestrial television service
The core offering is a private terrestrial television service operating under the TVR identity. The station's documented digital service began on channel 14.1 in 2018, with the broader historical footprint associated with Santiago and Antofagasta. Current programming details are not sufficiently documented in the supplied reference material.
Talk and general-interest program · 1995
Gente de Mundo
A radio program associated with Enrique Evans Espiñeira that was transferred to the station when Gran Santiago Televisión launched. It represents the founders' effort to carry established radio personalities and formats into the new UHF television service.
Business program · 1995
La Bolsa de Comercio a sus Órdenes
A business-oriented program presented by Gonzalo Chamorro Oschilewsky. It moved from UCV TV to the new Gran Santiago Televisión service and formed part of the station's original programming offer.
Sports highlights program
Fútbol Total
A short-lived football highlights program associated with the period when ABT participated in a changing Chilean football television-rights environment. It was broadcast alongside UCV and was connected with the rights reshuffling that accompanied the launch of CDF.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2018
Adoption of the TVR brand and digital channel 14.1Generation changeBackground
The broadcaster had passed through several identities, including Gran Santiago Televisión, ABT, TVO, Más Canal, and Más Visión.
Action taken
Canal 22 was renamed Televisión Regional de Chile and began digital transmission on channel 14.1.
Aftermath
The new identity established the station's current regional positioning.
2013
Planned 3TV national launchProduct launchBackground
Copesa sought to expand the station from a Santiago-focused service into a national network.
Action taken
It acquired additional concessions, hired approximately 150 employees, and prepared studios for a 3TV launch.
Aftermath
The project was cancelled before going on air because of financial difficulties within the wider group.
2006
Más Canal relaunchStrategyBackground
The TVO operation was sold to Pabellón de la Construcción after a short period under Bernardo Carrasco.
Action taken
The buyer renamed the service Más Canal and planned additional equipment investment.
Aftermath
The relaunch did not produce a substantial audience response and was followed by reports of layoffs and budget reductions.
2005
TVO entertainment relaunchStrategyBackground
Bernardo Carrasco acquired ABT and sought to raise the channel's profile through entertainment programming and talent recruitment.
Action taken
The broadcaster was renamed Televisión Óptima and introduced a more personality-led schedule.
Aftermath
The strategy was followed by several notable departures and the station was sold after approximately one year.
2000
Andrés Bello National University controllers acquire the stationM&ABackground
The university's controllers already held a minority interest in the broadcaster.
Action taken
They acquired the remaining ownership and renamed the service Andrés Bello Televisión.
Aftermath
New studios were built in Lo Barnechea, but the reported programming changes did not generate a significant audience increase.
1998
Relocation of the transmission facilityStrategyBackground
The station's initial signal was reported to have inadequate coverage across the Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Action taken
The transmitter was moved from the Praga Street studio site to San Cristóbal Hill.
Aftermath
The move was intended to improve technical reach, although the available material does not provide measured coverage results.
Recent events
- 2018
Canal 22 adopts the TVR identity[1]
Product launch
The station became Televisión Regional de Chile and began digital broadcasting on channel 14.1.
- 2016
Television holdings transferred toward CNC Inversiones[1]
M&A
Copesa announced the sale of most of its television holdings, including the Santiago station, to CNC Inversiones.
- 2013
Copesa prepares the 3TV national television project[1]
Product launch
Copesa prepared to relaunch the service as 3TV, acquiring concessions, hiring personnel, and preparing studios, but the project was cancelled before broadcasting.
- 2010
Copesa acquires Más Canal[1]
M&A
Álvaro Saieh acquired Más Canal through interests associated with Copesa, adding the station to a broader media portfolio.
- 2008
VTR removes Más Canal from its cable lineup[1]
Other
VTR dropped Más Canal from its systems to accommodate a Christian channel, affecting the station's distribution.
- 2005
Andrés Bello Televisión becomes Televisión Óptima[1]
M&A
Bernardo Carrasco acquired the broadcaster and changed its name to Televisión Óptima, introducing a more entertainment-focused strategy.
- 2000
Andrés Bello Televisión ownership and rebrand[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Controllers of Andrés Bello National University acquired the remaining stake in the channel and relaunched it as Andrés Bello Televisión.
- 1998
Station transmitter moves to San Cristóbal Hill[1]
Other
The broadcaster relocated its transmitter from its studio site to San Cristóbal Hill to improve terrestrial coverage.
- 1995
Gran Santiago Televisión begins broadcasting[1]
Other
The station went on air as Gran Santiago Televisión, following Chile's first UHF television concession.
Sources2 sources
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