TV Brasil Central
A state-owned television station based in Goiânia that serves Goiás with local programming and broadcast-network content.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TV Brasil Central is a Brazilian television station based in Goiânia, the capital of Goiás, and identified with channel 13. It is owned by the Government of the State of Goiás and forms part of the state’s public communications structure. The station’s operating history reflects the evolution of public broadcasting in Goiás: its original license was granted to a private organization in 1968, but the state government subsequently assumed control as plans for a state-backed television service advanced. The station began test transmissions in March 1975 and entered regular operation on May 1 of that year. It was established by Cerne, the Consórcio de Empresas e Radiodifusão de Notícias do Estado, through the Agência Goiana de Notícias. In its early period, the station operated independently and relied on films, cartoons, documentaries, and other catalog programming acquired from foreign companies. This gave way to a network-affiliation model in 1978, when the station became affiliated with Rede Bandeirantes. During that phase it carried network programming while also providing a local presence in Goiás, including coverage related to the 1987 Goiânia accident. In 1995, the station left Rede Bandeirantes and joined TV Cultura. This affiliation connected TV Brasil Central to TV Cultura’s educational and cultural programming, while the station continued to maintain a local broadcasting role. Its operations were seriously disrupted by a fire on October 2, 1997, which destroyed part of its facilities. The station operated from improvised premises for approximately a year before returning to its regular facilities in December 1998. The institutional framework behind the station also changed. Cerne was liquidated by the state government in 1999 and replaced by Agecom, the Agência Goiana de Comunicação. Agecom was later closed in 2014 and succeeded by Agência Brasil Central, the public communications agency associated with the station today. A significant programming and brand change took place in May 2011, when TV Brasil Central adopted the name TBC News. At that point it ended its relays of TV Cultura programming and concentrated more heavily on news. The rebrand was also associated with an effort to expand effective signal coverage to residents of Goiás who had not previously received the station. The station subsequently completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 21, 2017, in accordance with Brazil’s official digital television transition schedule. TV Brasil Central’s role is therefore primarily regional rather than commercial or international. Its identity has shifted between independent programming, network affiliation, cultural broadcasting, and a more news-centered model, while ownership has remained within the public sector of Goiás. Its principal significance lies in its function as a state-linked broadcaster for the Goiânia and Goiás media environment.
History
TV Brasil Central is a public television station headquartered in Goiânia, Goiás, operating on channel 13. Its institutional history is linked to the development of state-backed broadcasting in Goiás. Although the station’s license was initially granted to a private entity in 1968, the Government of Goiás later took control as the state pursued its own television service. Earlier plans for a state television license had existed since at least 1964, during the administration of Governor Mauro Borges, but implementation progressed in the early 1970s under Governor Leonino di Ramos Caiado. The station conducted test broadcasts in March 1975 and began regular transmissions on May 1, 1975, during the administration of Governor Irapuan Costa Júnior. It was created through Cerne, the Consórcio de Empresas e Radiodifusão de Notícias do Estado, acting through the Agência Goiana de Notícias. Its first programming model was independent and included films, cartoons, documentaries, and other material drawn from foreign catalogues. In 1978, TV Brasil Central became an affiliate of Rede Bandeirantes, adding network programming to its regional broadcasting operation. During this period, it also carried coverage connected with the 1987 Goiânia accident. The station changed affiliation in 1995, leaving Rede Bandeirantes to join TV Cultura. The relationship with TV Cultura ended when the station adopted a more explicitly news-oriented identity. On October 2, 1997, a fire damaged and destroyed part of the station’s facilities. TV Brasil Central continued broadcasting from improvised facilities for roughly a year and returned to its normal premises in December 1998. The public agencies responsible for the station were reorganized over time. Cerne was liquidated by the Goiás state government in 1999 and replaced by Agecom, the Agência Goiana de Comunicação. Agecom itself was closed in 2014 and replaced by Agência Brasil Central. This reorganization placed the station within the state’s newer public communications structure while preserving its role as a broadcaster serving Goiás. In May 2011, the station was renamed TBC News. The change ended its relays of TV Cultura programming and shifted its emphasis toward news. The rebranding was also linked to an effort to increase the station’s effective reach among people in Goiás who had not previously received its signal. On June 21, 2017, the station ended analog transmission in line with the timetable established for Brazil’s digital television transition. Across these stages, TV Brasil Central moved between independent programming, commercial network affiliation, cultural programming, and a news-centered public broadcasting model. Its core geographic mission has remained regional: providing television service from Goiânia to audiences in Goiás under state ownership.
- 2017
Analog signal is discontinued
[1]The station ended analog transmission on June 21 under Brazil’s official digital television transition plan.
- 2014
Agência Brasil Central replaces Agecom
[1]Agecom was shut down and replaced by Agência Brasil Central within the state communications structure.
- 2011
TBC News rebrand
[1]The station adopted the TBC News name, ended TV Cultura relays, and concentrated on news programming.
- 1999
Cerne is replaced by Agecom
[1]The Goiás government liquidated Cerne and created Agecom as its successor public communications agency.
- 1997
Fire damages station facilities
[1]A fire destroyed part of the station’s facilities, forcing temporary operations until the return to its regular premises in 1998.
- 1995
TV Cultura affiliation begins
[1]TV Brasil Central left Rede Bandeirantes and joined TV Cultura.
- 1978
Rede Bandeirantes affiliation begins
[1]The station became an affiliate of Rede Bandeirantes after an initial period of independent programming.
- 1975
Test and regular broadcasts begin
[1]Test transmissions began in March, followed by regular broadcasting on May 1.
- 1968
Initial television license is granted
[1]The station’s license was initially granted to a private organization before control later passed to the Government of Goiás.
Products and positioning
A Goiás-based public television broadcaster combining regional news and state-oriented broadcasting with content distributed through terrestrial television.
Broadcast television · 1975
Local television programming
Regional television programming produced or transmitted for audiences in Goiás from the station’s Goiânia base. The station’s output has varied over time, including independent entertainment and documentary material, network-affiliated content, cultural programming, and locally relevant news.
News television · 2011
TBC News
A news-focused identity adopted by the station in May 2011. The rebrand accompanied the end of TV Cultura relays and a stronger emphasis on news broadcasting and expanded regional signal reach.
Broadcast transmission · 2017
Digital terrestrial television transmission
The station’s digital terrestrial transmission service serving its regional audience after the discontinuation of its analog signal in June 2017.
Brand decisions
2017
Completed the analog-to-digital transitionOtherBackground
Brazil’s official transition plan required terrestrial broadcasters to discontinue analog transmission according to a national timetable.
Action taken
TV Brasil Central shut down its analog signal on June 21.
Aftermath
The station continued its terrestrial broadcasting in the digital television environment.
2011
Repositioned as TBC NewsStrategyBackground
The station sought to focus its identity and programming more directly on news and to reach parts of Goiás that did not receive its signal.
Action taken
It adopted the TBC News name, stopped relaying TV Cultura programming, and concentrated on news.
Aftermath
The broadcaster became more explicitly associated with regional news service rather than a TV Cultura relay operation.
1995
Changed affiliation to TV CulturaStrategyBackground
The broadcaster ended its affiliation with Rede Bandeirantes.
Action taken
It joined TV Cultura and began relaying that network’s programming.
Aftermath
The station operated within a cultural and educational broadcasting affiliation until its later news-focused repositioning.
1978
Adopted Rede Bandeirantes affiliationStrategyBackground
After operating independently with films, cartoons, documentaries, and other catalog programming, the station moved to a network-affiliation model.
Action taken
TV Brasil Central became an affiliate of Rede Bandeirantes.
Aftermath
The station combined national network content with its regional role in Goiás.
Sources2 sources
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