Band Amazonas
A Rede Bandeirantes television station serving Manaus and the state of Amazonas, Brazil.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Band Amazonas is a Rede Bandeirantes television station licensed to Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It operates as a regional broadcaster within the Bandeirantes network, combining programming supplied by the national network with local news and other locally produced content for viewers in the Amazon region. The station is associated with VHF channel 13 in Manaus and has historically served as an important local outlet for the Bandeirantes brand in a market where national-network distribution has changed over time. The station's origins date to the late 1980s. In 1987, Rede Bandeirantes entered into an arrangement to distribute its network signal through a new relay operation in Amazonas. The arrangement was connected with former Amazonas governor Gilberto Mestrinho and businessman Francisco Garcia, who was expected to become Mestrinho's running mate in the 1990 state election. The operation initially functioned as a Legal Amazon relay station, following the end of Bandeirantes' earlier affiliation with TV Amazonas, which had subsequently moved to Globo programming. In 1989, the station adopted the name TV Rio Negro, although regular broadcasting under the new operation did not begin until March 13, 1991. During the 2000s, the station carried Canal Livre, a locally prominent program presented by Wallace Souza. The program attracted substantial audience attention and became closely associated with Souza's public profile. Its run ended in 2009 amid the scandal commonly known as the Irmãos Wallace case, which involved allegations surrounding crimes and the production or exploitation of crime-related television coverage. The program's cancellation marked a major reputational and programming turning point for the station. A later version of the format, called Programa Livre, was broadcast by TV Em Tempo, an SBT affiliate, from 2013 to 2016. Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station in August 2008. The acquisition formed part of the group's effort to secure and strengthen Bandeirantes network coverage in Amazonas, particularly after the loss of SBT distribution in the region. Following the acquisition, the station was rebranded Band Amazonas on March 26, 2009, bringing its local identity into closer alignment with the national Band brand. The station also became an early professional platform for journalist and television personality Vivian Amorim, who had been Miss Amazonas 2012 and later competed on Big Brother Brasil. She began working as a journalist on Programa do Nathan in 2015 and subsequently became associated with TV Globo, including reporting related to Big Brother Brasil from 2018 onward. Band Amazonas completed the transition away from analog terrestrial broadcasting in Manaus when its analog VHF channel 13 signal was shut down on May 30, 2018, according to the national timetable published by Brazil's telecommunications regulator. Its continuing role is that of a locally licensed Band outlet serving Amazonas through regional broadcasting and network programming.
History
Band Amazonas developed from Rede Bandeirantes' effort to maintain a presence in the Brazilian state of Amazonas after its former affiliation with TV Amazonas ended and that outlet moved to Globo. In 1987, Bandeirantes entered an agreement connected with former Amazonas governor Gilberto Mestrinho to relay its network feed through a new station associated with Francisco Garcia. The operation initially served as a Legal Amazon relay station, or RTV, and was later identified as TV Rio Negro in 1989. Despite that earlier naming, regular broadcasting did not begin until March 13, 1991. The station's most prominent programming episode came during the 2000s, when it broadcast Canal Livre, a local program hosted by Wallace Souza. The show achieved strong ratings and became a significant part of the station's public profile. Its success was interrupted in 2009 by the Irmãos Wallace scandal, a case involving allegations concerning criminal activity and the use of crime-related material in television coverage. Canal Livre was cancelled in that context. A subsequent program using the name Programa Livre was later carried by TV Em Tempo, an SBT affiliate, between 2013 and 2016. A major ownership and branding change occurred in August 2008, when Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station. The transaction was intended to reinforce Bandeirantes' distribution in Amazonas and to protect the network's regional reach after SBT's coverage in the area had been lost. On March 26, 2009, the station was renamed Band Amazonas, placing it more directly within the branding architecture of Rede Bandeirantes. The station also provided an early media role for Vivian Amorim, who had held the Miss Amazonas title in 2012 and later became known through Big Brother Brasil. She began working as a journalist on Programa do Nathan in 2015. Amorim later joined TV Globo-related work and was reported as contributing to Big Brother Brasil coverage from 2018. Band Amazonas' terrestrial transmission history also reflects Brazil's shift from analog to digital television. Its analog signal on VHF channel 13 in Manaus was shut down on May 30, 2018, in accordance with the timetable established for Brazil's analog switch-off. The station remains identified with Manaus and the wider Amazonas market as a local Rede Bandeirantes outlet, carrying network programming alongside regional content.
- 2018
Analog signal switched off
[1]Analog transmission on VHF channel 13 ended in Manaus on May 30.
- 2009
Rebranded as Band Amazonas
[1]The station adopted the Band Amazonas name on March 26.
- 2008
Acquisition by Grupo Bandeirantes
[1]Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station to strengthen its network presence in Amazonas.
- 1991
Regular broadcasting begins
[1]The station began broadcasting on March 13, 1991.
- 1989
Adopts the TV Rio Negro name
[1]The station received the TV Rio Negro name before regular broadcasting began.
- 1987
Launch as a Legal Amazon relay operation
[1]Rede Bandeirantes began using a new Amazonas relay operation to distribute its network signal in the region.
Products and positioning
A regional free-to-air television broadcaster that extends the Rede Bandeirantes brand into Manaus and Amazonas while combining national network content with local programming.
Broadcast television
Local television programming
Band Amazonas provides locally oriented television output for Manaus and Amazonas, including regional news, interviews, current-affairs segments and other programming produced for the station's audience. The station also carries content supplied by Rede Bandeirantes.
Network television · 1987
Rede Bandeirantes network feed
The station distributes programming from Rede Bandeirantes as part of the network's regional Brazilian broadcast structure. This network role complements the station's local output and gives viewers in Amazonas access to national Band programming.
Talk and current-affairs program
Canal Livre
Canal Livre was a locally prominent program presented by Wallace Souza during the 2000s. It achieved high ratings and became closely associated with the station, but was cancelled in 2009 amid the Irmãos Wallace scandal.
Controversies
2009
Irmãos Wallace scandal
The station's high-rated Canal Livre program, presented by Wallace Souza, was cancelled in 2009 amid the Irmãos Wallace scandal. The case involved allegations connected with criminal activity and the presentation or exploitation of crime-related stories in television coverage.
Brand decisions
2018
End analog terrestrial transmissionOtherBackground
Brazil was implementing a national transition from analog to digital terrestrial television.
Action taken
The station shut down its analog VHF channel 13 signal in Manaus on May 30, 2018.
Aftermath
The station's analog broadcast phase ended under the national digital-switching timetable.
2009
Rebrand the station as Band AmazonasStrategyBackground
Following its acquisition, the station was brought more closely into the identity of the national Bandeirantes network.
Action taken
The TV Rio Negro station was renamed Band Amazonas on March 26, 2009.
Aftermath
The station continued operating as the local Rede Bandeirantes outlet for Manaus and Amazonas.
2008
Acquire the Amazonas stationM&ABackground
Grupo Bandeirantes sought to protect its broadcast coverage in Amazonas after changes in the region's network-affiliation landscape, including the loss of SBT coverage.
Action taken
Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station in August 2008.
Aftermath
The acquisition was followed by a rebranding under the Band Amazonas name in 2009.
Recent events
- 2018
Analog broadcasting ends on VHF channel 13[1]
Regulation
The station ended its analog terrestrial transmission on VHF channel 13 in Manaus on May 30, 2018, under Brazil's national digital-transition schedule.
- 2009
Station renamed Band Amazonas[1]
Other
The station adopted the Band Amazonas name on March 26, aligning its local identity with the national Rede Bandeirantes brand.
- 2008
Grupo Bandeirantes acquires the Amazonas station[1]
M&A
Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the Manaus station as part of a strategy to preserve and expand Rede Bandeirantes coverage in Amazonas.
Sources1 sources
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