TV Bandeirantes Rio Interior

TV Bandeirantes Rio Interior, commonly identified as Band Rio Interior, is a Brazilian broadcast television station licensed to Barra Mansa in the western part of Rio de Janeiro state. It is part of the Rede Bandeirantes television group and serves the inland region of the state rather than the metropolitan capital. The station's terrestrial channel is channel 8, while its digital transmission began on UHF channel 33. Its coverage has been described as extending to 72 municipalities across the interior of Rio de Janeiro. The station's origins date to the regional broadcasting initiative of politician and businessman Feres Nader. Its operating license was granted on April 18, 1975, by President Ernesto Geisel and Communications Minister Ernesto Quandt de Oliveira. Broadcasting began on July 28, 1978, under the name TV Sul Fluminense. This made it the first television station established in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state and a regional counterpart to Rádio Sul Fluminense, a related radio operation founded in 1944. From its launch, the television station was affiliated with Rede Bandeirantes, giving it access to national network programming while also providing a platform for local coverage. A major technical expansion occurred in 1999, when the station began transmitting through the Brasilsat B3 satellite. That change expanded the signal beyond its original regional footprint, making the station available across Brazil and in parts of neighboring countries through satellite distribution. The station subsequently underwent ownership and branding changes. On January 9, 2004, TV Sul Fluminense was sold to businessman Domingo Alzugaray, whose business interests included Editora Três, publisher of IstoÉ and other magazines. In 2007, Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station. It was then branded Band Barra Mansa, before adopting the Band Rio Interior name in 2012. The station's local programming strategy changed significantly in the 2010s. On June 4, 2013, management announced staff reductions described as financial adequation. Thirty of the station's 52 employees were dismissed, including news director Adriano Lizarelli. The restructuring ended the three remaining local programs at the time: Tô na Área, Band Cidade and Entrevista Coletiva. In their place, the station carried the programming of Band Rio on a full-time basis, reducing its original local production. Local content later returned in a limited form. Tô na Área was reintroduced in 2016 as a Sunday morning program. In 2017, the station added Boa Noite Interior, an interview program focused on culture, business and politics, presented under the direction of Elias Raffide. In 2018, Tô na Área moved to Saturday mornings, while Taí para Todos began airing on Saturday afternoons. The latter absorbed the team associated with Boa Noite Interior, which was cancelled. These changes illustrate the station's effort to balance regional programming with the operational and financial demands of a network-owned outlet. The station completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting under Brazil's national switch-off schedule. Digital transmissions had begun in February 2012 on UHF channel 33, while the analog VHF channel 8 signal was shut down on December 12, 2018, in accordance with the timetable established by Brazil's telecommunications regulator, Anatel. Its identity remains tied to regional television in the interior of Rio de Janeiro and to the broader Rede Bandeirantes network.

Band Rio Interior is a regional television station licensed to Barra Mansa in the west of Rio de Janeiro state. Its historical significance comes from being the first television station established outside the state capital. The license was granted on April 18, 1975, by President Ernesto Geisel and Communications Minister Ernesto Quandt de Oliveira. The station began operating on July 28, 1978, as TV Sul Fluminense, founded by politician and businessman Feres Nader. It entered the market as a Rede Bandeirantes affiliate and maintained that network relationship throughout its subsequent ownership changes. The station was connected to the wider Sul Fluminense broadcasting tradition represented by Rádio Sul Fluminense, founded in 1944. Its original role was to provide television service to communities in the interior of the state, where audiences had historically depended more heavily on signals and content originating in Rio de Janeiro city. The station's later distribution through Brasilsat B3, beginning in 1999, significantly extended its reach. Satellite transmission made the signal available throughout Brazil and in parts of neighboring countries, although its editorial and licensing identity remained regional. Ownership changed on January 9, 2004, when TV Sul Fluminense was sold to businessman Domingo Alzugaray, associated with Editora Três, the publisher of IstoÉ and other magazines. Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station in 2007. Under the new ownership it became Band Barra Mansa, and in 2012 it was renamed Band Rio Interior, a title emphasizing its relationship with the broader Rio de Janeiro interior market rather than only the municipality of Barra Mansa. The station's balance between local production and network content shifted after a restructuring announced on June 4, 2013. Management cited financial adequation and dismissed 30 of 52 employees, including news director Adriano Lizarelli. The cuts ended the station's three remaining local programs, Tô na Área, Band Cidade and Entrevista Coletiva. Band Rio programming was then carried full time, substantially reducing the station's own local output. The local schedule was partially rebuilt in later years. Tô na Área returned in 2016 as a Sunday morning program. In 2017, Boa Noite Interior was introduced as a Saturday evening interview program dealing with culture, business and politics, under the direction of Elias Raffide. During 2018, Tô na Área moved to Saturday mornings and Taí para Todos was added to the afternoon schedule. Taí para Todos incorporated the team connected with Boa Noite Interior, which was discontinued. Technologically, digital broadcasting began in February 2012 on UHF channel 33. The station continued its analog VHF channel 8 service until December 12, 2018, when it shut down that signal as part of Brazil's nationally coordinated transition to digital television under the Anatel roadmap. The station is therefore defined by three overlapping roles: a local licensee in Barra Mansa, a regional service for dozens of inland municipalities, and an outlet for the programming and operating structure of Rede Bandeirantes.

• 2018

  Analog signal discontinued

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  The VHF channel 8 analog signal was shut down on December 12 under Brazil's digital television transition plan.

• 2013

  Local production suspended after restructuring

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  Staff reductions led to the cancellation of the station's three remaining locally produced programs.

• 2012

  Band Rio Interior identity introduced

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the Band Rio Interior name.

• 2012

  Digital broadcasts begin

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  Digital transmission began on UHF channel 33 in February.

• 2007

  Acquisition by Grupo Bandeirantes

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação acquired the station and introduced the Band Barra Mansa identity.

• 2004

  Acquisition by Domingo Alzugaray

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  TV Sul Fluminense was sold to businessman Domingo Alzugaray.

• 1999

  Brasilsat B3 distribution begins

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  Satellite transmission broadened the station's availability across Brazil and parts of neighboring countries.

• 1978

  TV Sul Fluminense begins broadcasting

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  The station was founded by Feres Nader on July 28 and began as a Rede Bandeirantes affiliate.

• 1975

  Television license granted

  [1]Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org

  A license to operate the first television station outside Rio de Janeiro state capital was granted on April 18.

A regional television outlet combining Rede Bandeirantes network programming with locally oriented news, interviews, culture, business and political coverage for the interior of Rio de Janeiro state.

• Broadcast television · 1978

  Regional television broadcasting

  The station's core offering is free-to-air television service for Barra Mansa and the interior of Rio de Janeiro state. Its licensed regional footprint has been described as covering 72 municipalities. The service combines Rede Bandeirantes programming with locally oriented content when local production is scheduled.

• Regional television programming · 1978

  Local programming

  Over its history, the station has produced or carried programs addressing regional news, public affairs, interviews, culture, business and politics. Identified local titles include Tô na Área, Band Cidade, Entrevista Coletiva, Boa Noite Interior and Taí para Todos. The amount and scheduling of local content have varied with organizational and financial decisions.

• Digital television · 2012

  Digital terrestrial transmission

  Band Rio Interior began digital broadcasting on UHF channel 33 in February 2012. The digital service became the station's primary terrestrial transmission after the analog VHF channel 8 signal was discontinued on December 12, 2018, as part of Brazil's national digital switchover.

• 2018

  Analog-to-digital transition completedGeneration change

  Background

  Brazil's national digital television transition required local broadcasters to discontinue analog transmissions according to the Anatel roadmap.

  Action taken

  The station shut down its analog VHF channel 8 signal on December 12 while continuing its digital service on UHF channel 33.

  Aftermath

  Terrestrial distribution shifted fully to digital broadcasting.

  Source

• 2017

  Boa Noite Interior launchesProduct launch

  Background

  The station sought to restore regionally focused programming after several years of heavier reliance on network content.

  Action taken

  It introduced a Saturday interview program covering culture, business and politics under the direction of Elias Raffide.

  Aftermath

  The program was later cancelled when its team was absorbed into Taí para Todos.

  Source

• 2016

  Tô na Área returnsProduct launch

  Background

  The station had reduced its locally produced schedule after the 2013 restructuring.

  Action taken

  Tô na Área was brought back as a Sunday program at 9:00 a.m.

  Aftermath

  The program later moved to Saturday mornings in 2018.

  Source

• 2013

  Financial restructuring reduces local outputStrategy

  Background

  Management cited financial adequation when reviewing the station's staffing and programming structure.

  Action taken

  Thirty of 52 employees were dismissed, including news director Adriano Lizarelli. Tô na Área, Band Cidade and Entrevista Coletiva were cancelled, and Band Rio programming was carried full time.

  Aftermath

  The station later restored limited local programming, beginning with the return of Tô na Área in 2016.

  Source

• 2007

  Grupo Bandeirantes acquires the stationM&A

  Background

  The station had previously been owned by businessman Domingo Alzugaray after its 2004 sale.

  Action taken

  Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação purchased TV Sul Fluminense and operated it under the Band Barra Mansa identity.

  Aftermath

  The outlet was later renamed Band Rio Interior in 2012 and remained associated with the Bandeirantes network.

  Source

1. 1Band Rio Interioren.wikipedia.org
2. 2TV Bandeirantes Rio Interior official station pagebandtv.band.uol.com.br