TV Bandeirantes Rio de Janeiro

TV Bandeirantes Rio de Janeiro, commonly identified as Band Rio, is a Brazilian broadcast television station associated with Rede Bandeirantes and licensed to the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is one of the network's two stations in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the other being Band Rio Interior. Band Rio serves the Rio metropolitan area and reaches a smaller portion of the state's inland territory. Within the Bandeirantes network, it functions as a principal Rio de Janeiro outlet and is described as the network's secondary flagship station. The station was created during a period when Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação was seeking to expand beyond its original regional base and develop a national television network. In 1974, João Jorge Saad, the businessman who owned TV Bandeirantes in São Paulo, obtained the license for channel 7 in Rio de Janeiro. The initial plan called for construction of a facility in Vila Isabel, in the North Zone, but delays and other difficulties made that project impractical. The broadcaster instead acquired the studios of Laboratório de Som e Imagem, known as Somil, in Botafogo and adapted them for television operations. This location remains associated with the station's studio operations. Building the Rio operation required substantial technical investment for its time. Transmission equipment was installed at Morro do Sumaré, in the Rio Comprido area, while the master control, cameras, videotape equipment, telecine systems and other technical infrastructure were imported. The imported equipment was reported to have cost more than US$2 million in the period's terms. These preparations were part of the effort to establish a technically capable station in one of Brazil's most important media markets and to connect Rio de Janeiro more closely to the expanding Bandeirantes network. The station transmitted its first test signal on July 7, 1977, followed by experimental broadcasts beginning August 1. It was formally inaugurated at 7 p.m. on September 9, 1977, under the name TV Guanabara. The opening program consisted of launch ceremonies lasting approximately 45 minutes, followed by Meus Caros Amigos, a music special presented by Chico Buarque de Holanda. At 9:05 p.m., the station broadcast the film Lawrence of Arabia. The inauguration established the Rio outlet as a full television operation rather than merely a relay of the São Paulo station. Among the early professionals associated with the station was football commentator Galvão Bueno, who later developed a long broadcasting career at TV Globo. The station subsequently operated as part of Rede Bandeirantes' television distribution and programming structure, combining network content with the role of a Rio-based broadcaster. Its identity has been linked both to the Band network and to local transmission in the state capital. Band Rio also participated in Brazil's transition from analog to digital television. Its analog transmission on VHF channel 7 ended on November 22, 2017, in accordance with the nationwide analog-switch-off process administered under the regulatory framework of Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency, ANATEL. The shutdown had originally been expected in October but was later reassessed. The station began satellite distribution in November 2005 using the Brasilsat B3 satellite, adding another means of carrying its signal within the broader network infrastructure. Today, TV Bandeirantes Rio de Janeiro is best understood as a local broadcast station within the wider Bandeirantes system rather than as a separately listed media company. Its principal brand role is the delivery of Rede Bandeirantes television programming and Rio-oriented broadcasting from its Botafogo facilities, using transmission infrastructure at Morro do Sumaré. Publicly documented information emphasizes its licensing history, network expansion role, technical transition and geographic coverage rather than a separately reported corporate financial profile.

Band Rio emerged from Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação's effort to transform TV Bandeirantes from a primarily regional broadcaster into a national television network. In 1974, João Jorge Saad, then owner of TV Bandeirantes in São Paulo, obtained the license for channel 7 in Rio de Janeiro. Establishing a station in the city was strategically important because Rio was one of Brazil's largest media markets and a major center for national television production and distribution. The original construction plan called for a new facility in Vila Isabel, in Rio's North Zone. Delays and other difficulties affected that plan, leading the broadcaster to acquire and adapt the studios of Laboratório de Som e Imagem, or Somil, in Botafogo in the South Zone. The Botafogo site became the station's studio base. Its transmission infrastructure was installed at Morro do Sumaré, in Rio Comprido. The technical build-out involved imported transmission and production equipment, including the transmitter, master-control systems, cameras, videotape machines and telecine equipment. The investment was reported at more than US$2 million. A first test signal was broadcast on July 7, 1977, and experimental programming began on August 1. The formal inauguration took place at 7 p.m. on September 9, 1977, when the station was known as TV Guanabara. The opening evening began with approximately 45 minutes of inauguration ceremonies. The station then presented Meus Caros Amigos, a music special hosted by Chico Buarque de Holanda, followed at 9:05 p.m. by the film Lawrence of Arabia. The opening established the Rio operation as a fully functioning broadcaster and advanced Bandeirantes' ambition to build a nationwide network. Early personnel included football commentator Galvão Bueno, who later became associated with a long career at TV Globo. The station operated as part of the Bandeirantes network while maintaining a Rio-based physical and transmission presence. Its coverage includes the Rio metropolitan area and a limited part of the state's interior. It is one of two Bandeirantes-owned-and-operated stations in Rio de Janeiro state, alongside Band Rio Interior, and is characterized as the network's secondary flagship station. In November 2005, Band Rio added satellite transmission using Brasilsat B3. This formed part of the station's broader distribution infrastructure and supported the carriage of its signal beyond its terrestrial footprint. The station later took part in Brazil's analog-to-digital transition. Its analog VHF channel 7 transmission ended on November 22, 2017, following ANATEL's timetable for the shutdown of analog television in Rio de Janeiro. The closure had initially been expected in October but was subsequently reevaluated. The station's documented identity is therefore rooted in four developments: the licensing and construction of a Rio outlet during Bandeirantes' national expansion, the establishment of Botafogo studios and Morro do Sumaré transmission facilities, its 1977 launch as TV Guanabara, and its later evolution into a Band-branded digital and satellite-supported television operation. It remains part of Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação rather than a separately traded company.

• 2017

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The station discontinued its analog VHF channel 7 signal on November 22 as part of Brazil's digital television transition.

• 2005

  Satellite distribution begins

  [1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Band Rio began satellite broadcasting using the Brasilsat B3 satellite.

• 1977

  First test signal

  [1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The station transmitted its first test signal on July 7, beginning the final stage of its Rio de Janeiro launch.

• 1977

  Experimental broadcasts begin

  [1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Experimental broadcasting began on August 1.

• 1977

  TV Guanabara inaugurated

  [1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  The Rio station was formally inaugurated on September 9 under the TV Guanabara name.

• 1974

  Rio de Janeiro channel license obtained

  [1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  João Jorge Saad, owner of TV Bandeirantes in São Paulo, obtained the license for channel 7 in Rio de Janeiro.

A Rio de Janeiro broadcast outlet of Rede Bandeirantes, combining national network programming with local-market transmission and operations.

• Broadcast television · 1977

  Local television broadcasting

  Band Rio provides terrestrial television service from Rio de Janeiro, serving the metropolitan area and a limited portion of the state's interior. Its local station identity operates within the broader Rede Bandeirantes network and uses facilities in Botafogo with transmission infrastructure at Morro do Sumaré.

• Television programming · 1977

  Rede Bandeirantes network programming

  As a Bandeirantes-owned-and-operated outlet, Band Rio carries programming associated with Rede Bandeirantes. The station's role is to distribute the network's television service in the Rio de Janeiro market while maintaining a local broadcast presence.

• Satellite broadcasting · 2005

  Satellite television distribution

  Beginning in November 2005, Band Rio also used satellite transmission through Brasilsat B3, extending its distribution infrastructure beyond its conventional terrestrial transmission footprint.

• 2017

  Complete the analog-to-digital transitionOther

  Background

  Brazil was shutting down analog television under a timetable administered by ANATEL.

  Action taken

  Band Rio discontinued its analog VHF channel 7 transmission on November 22, 2017.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating through digital television infrastructure in the Rio de Janeiro market.

  Source

• 2005

  Add satellite distributionStrategy

  Background

  The station expanded its signal-distribution infrastructure beyond terrestrial transmission.

  Action taken

  Band Rio began satellite broadcasting via Brasilsat B3 in November.

  Aftermath

  The station gained a satellite-based distribution channel within the Bandeirantes broadcasting system.

  Source

• 1977

  Move from the planned Vila Isabel facility to adapted Botafogo studiosOther

  Background

  Delays and difficulties affected the planned construction of a station building in Vila Isabel.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster acquired the Somil studios in Botafogo and adapted them for television operations.

  Aftermath

  Botafogo became the station's studio location while transmission facilities were established at Morro do Sumaré.

  Source

• 1974

  Establish a Bandeirantes station in Rio de JaneiroStrategy

  Background

  TV Bandeirantes was seeking to expand from a mainly regional operation into a national television network, making a Rio de Janeiro station strategically important.

  Action taken

  João Jorge Saad obtained the license for channel 7 and initiated the process of creating a Rio-based station.

  Aftermath

  The project led to the launch of TV Guanabara in 1977 and created a major Bandeirantes outlet in Rio de Janeiro.

  Source

• 2017

  Band Rio shuts down its analog VHF signal[1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station ended analog broadcasting on VHF channel 7 on November 22, 2017, as part of the regulated transition to digital television in Rio de Janeiro.

• 2005

  Band Rio begins satellite broadcasts[1]Band Rioen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Band Rio began satellite transmission in November 2005 using the Brasilsat B3 satellite.

1. 1Band Rioen.wikipedia.org
2. 2TV Bandeirantes Rio de Janeiro official websitebandrio.band.uol.com.br