TV Fronteira Paulista
Brazilian television station headquartered in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, serving western São Paulo state.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TV Fronteira Paulista, commonly known as TV Fronteira, is a Brazilian broadcast television station based in Presidente Prudente in the western region of São Paulo state. The station operates on digital UHF channel 31 and serves a regional audience distributed across 56 municipalities. It is controlled by Grupo Paulo Lima, a local media group whose other assets include Uno TV, Rádio 99 FM, Jovem Pan News Prudente and Rádio Fronteira. The station's immediate predecessor was TV Pontal Paulista, which businessman Paulo Lima launched in 1989 on VHF channel 6 as an affiliate of Rede Manchete. In 1994, after securing a concession for VHF channel 13 and an affiliation with Rede Globo, the group closed the earlier service and established TV Fronteira. The station began broadcasting on June 1, 1994, replacing a local Globo presence previously supplied by a branch of TV Globo Oeste Paulista. Its name was intended to reflect a coverage area broader than the Pontal region and to suggest a technological frontier. For approximately three decades, TV Fronteira combined Globo's national and state programming with locally produced journalism, sports and public-interest content. Its regional role was strengthened by investment in production facilities and technology. In December 1997, it became one of Brazil's earliest wholly digital television operations, even before digital terrestrial television had been introduced nationally. The transition enabled more efficient production and supported programs such as Nosso Campo, developed with neighboring affiliates, and Fronteira do Brasil, a local-interest program launched in 2005. A studio adapted to Globo's Praça TV production standard opened in 2018, and local programming began being produced in high definition that year. The station also underwent operational restructuring. In April 2022, it announced the closure of its Dracena branch and dismissed the branch's employees. In October 2024, Globo announced that the affiliation would end after 30 years. The planned transfer of regional Globo coverage to TV TEM Bauru was initially scheduled for January 2025 and later moved to August 31, 2025. TV Fronteira challenged the termination in court, arguing that continuation of the agreement was necessary for the station's survival and alleging unfair competitive conduct. A temporary judicial ruling briefly favored continued affiliation, but an appellate injunction restored the termination date. At midnight on August 31, 2025, TV Fronteira stopped carrying Globo's network feed and entered an independent programming phase. It retained local news programs including Bom Dia Fronteira and Fronteira Notícias while filling much of the schedule with repeats, promotional material and programming from related outlets. A new morning program, A Nossa Manhã, premiered in December 2025. In March 2026, the station announced that it would begin carrying Jovem Pan programming; after a short test period, Jovem Pan News programming officially entered the schedule on March 23, 2026. The station consequently became a Jovem Pan-affiliated broadcaster while continuing to produce local journalism, sports coverage and other regional programming.
History
TV Fronteira Paulista developed from TV Pontal Paulista, a station launched by businessman Paulo Lima in Presidente Prudente in 1989. The earlier station broadcast on VHF channel 6 and was affiliated with Rede Manchete. Lima reportedly received support from his father, federal deputy Agripino Lima, in obtaining the concession for what became the city's second television station. In 1994, the group obtained a concession for VHF channel 13 and secured an affiliation with Rede Globo. TV Pontal Paulista was closed, and its facilities were used to establish TV Fronteira. The new station began operations on June 1, 1994, with Paulo César de Oliveira Lima as a shareholder. It assumed the Globo affiliation in a market that had previously received Globo programming through a regional branch of TV Globo Oeste Paulista. The station's name referred both to the broader western São Paulo coverage area and to the idea of a technological border. During its Globo years, TV Fronteira carried network programming while developing a substantial local schedule. Its output included regional news, agricultural coverage, sports and programs addressing the social and economic life of western São Paulo. In December 1997, the broadcaster moved into a new facility and became an early adopter of end-to-end digital production. This modernization preceded Brazil's digital terrestrial television rollout and improved local production workflows. The station later contributed to programs such as Nosso Campo, produced with neighboring Globo affiliates, and launched Fronteira do Brasil in 2005. The station's terrestrial technology changed again during the national analog-to-digital transition. It began digital broadcasts on UHF channel 31 on December 6, 2010, initially serving Presidente Prudente and nearby cities. Its local productions moved to high definition in March 2018. Analog transmission on VHF channel 13 ended on April 18, 2018, following the federal transition schedule. A new studio aligned with the Praça TV standard was introduced in 2018. In April 2022, the station closed its Dracena branch, a decision that resulted in the dismissal of its local employees. The most consequential change came in 2024, when Globo announced that it would not renew TV Fronteira's affiliation. The change followed public controversies involving the station's owner and was scheduled to transfer the region's Globo coverage to TV TEM Bauru. The transition date was revised several times, ultimately being set for August 31, 2025. TV Fronteira challenged the decision through the courts. It requested renewal of the contract and argued that the loss of the Globo affiliation would make continued operation impossible, while also alleging that Globo had favored TV TEM through unfair competition. A lower-court decision temporarily required continuation of the affiliation, but Globo obtained an injunction reversing that result. The station was therefore required to stop relaying Globo's signal at the established deadline and was ordered to pay legal fees. On August 29, 2025, TV Fronteira publicly confirmed that the affiliation was ending and said that local news programs would remain on the schedule. At midnight on August 31, the Globo feed was replaced by station announcements and promotional material. The independent schedule initially relied heavily on repeat news programs and promotions from Grupo Paulo Lima outlets. Bom Dia Fronteira and Fronteira Notícias received refreshed graphics and scheduling changes, while other former Globo-linked programs disappeared. The independent phase expanded in December 2025 with the debut of A Nossa Manhã, hosted by Tiago Rodrigues. Its visual style prompted speculation about a possible Jovem Pan relationship. In March 2026, TV Fronteira announced that it would rebroadcast Jovem Pan programming. Following trial transmissions, Jovem Pan News officially entered the schedule on March 23, 2026. The station continued to produce local news and sports programs, making the Jovem Pan arrangement the next major phase in its development.
- 2026
Jovem Pan affiliation begins
[1]After testing, Jovem Pan News programming officially begins airing on TV Fronteira.
- 2025
Globo affiliation ends
[1]TV Fronteira stops relaying Rede Globo programming and begins operating with an independent schedule.
- 2022
Dracena branch closes
[1]The station ends operations at its Dracena branch and dismisses its employees.
- 2018
High-definition local production and new studio
[1]Local programming shifts to high definition and a studio adapted to the Praça TV standard is inaugurated.
- 2010
Digital terrestrial transmission begins
[1]TV Fronteira begins digital broadcasts on UHF channel 31 for Presidente Prudente and surrounding cities.
- 2005
Fronteira do Brasil is introduced
[1]The station adds the local-interest program Fronteira do Brasil to its programming.
- 1997
Early all-digital production operation
[1]The station moves to a new facility and adopts an end-to-end digital production workflow before Brazil's digital television rollout.
- 1994
TV Fronteira begins broadcasting
[1]After securing channel 13 and a Rede Globo affiliation, the group replaces TV Pontal Paulista with TV Fronteira on June 1.
- 1989
TV Pontal Paulista is launched
[1]Paulo Lima launches TV Pontal Paulista in Presidente Prudente on VHF channel 6 as a Rede Manchete affiliate.
Products and positioning
A regional broadcast television station focused on local journalism and public-interest programming for western São Paulo, complemented by national network content. Its positioning changed from a long-standing Rede Globo affiliate to an independent broadcaster and subsequently to a Jovem Pan-affiliated station.
Local morning news
Bom Dia Fronteira
A locally produced morning newscast covering events and public-interest issues in Presidente Prudente and the surrounding western São Paulo region. It continued after the station's Globo affiliation ended and received updated graphics and scheduling.
Local midday news
Fronteira Notícias 1ª Edição
The first daily edition of the station's local news service, focused on regional reporting, community events and current affairs.
Local evening news
Fronteira Notícias 2ª Edição
The station's principal evening local newscast. Following the post-Globo schedule changes, it was expanded and placed immediately before Jovem Pan News programming.
Sports news
Fronteira Esporte Clube
A regional sports program covering teams, competitions and sporting activity relevant to the western São Paulo audience.
Local morning magazine · 2025
A Nossa Manhã
A regular morning program hosted by Tiago Rodrigues that premiered during the station's independent phase. Its launch marked the first substantial new addition to the schedule after the end of the Globo affiliation.
Network television programming · 2026
Jovem Pan News programming
National news programming from Jovem Pan News, added after TV Fronteira ended its Globo relationship. The programming began with trial broadcasts and officially entered the schedule in March 2026.
Agricultural and rural affairs
Nosso Campo
A former agricultural program produced by TV Fronteira in cooperation with neighboring regional affiliates. It was part of the station's Globo-era programming.
Local-interest programming · 2005
Fronteira do Brasil
A former program focused on regional subjects and local-interest coverage, introduced in 2005 during the station's Globo affiliation.
Controversies
2024
Owner's political statements and allegations surrounding the station
During a 2024 mayoral debate, owner Paulo Lima criticized rival broadcasters over their political coverage and promoted TV Fronteira's reporting. Reference material also describes allegations by former employees involving moral and sexual harassment, and reports claims concerning the sale of municipal content and the use of intermediary entities. These allegations are presented as reported claims, not established findings in the supplied material.
2024
Controversial foundation promotion
The station's owner promoted the Agripino Lima Foundation during commercial breaks while being a political pre-candidate. The reference material says the promotion included attacks on LGBTQIAP+ people and associations with abortion-related political positions, contributing to controversy around the broadcaster.
Brand decisions
2026
Add Jovem Pan News programmingStrategyBackground
After losing Globo programming, TV Fronteira operated independently and tested national Jovem Pan content.
Action taken
The station began official Jovem Pan News broadcasts on March 23, 2026, while retaining local news and sports programs.
Aftermath
TV Fronteira became affiliated with Jovem Pan while continuing to operate as a regional broadcaster under Grupo Paulo Lima.
2024
End the Rede Globo affiliationStrategyBackground
Globo announced that it would not renew TV Fronteira's affiliation after approximately 30 years and planned to have TV TEM Bauru cover the region.
Action taken
Globo set a termination date, later adjusted to August 31, 2025, while TV Fronteira sought judicial continuation of the relationship.
Aftermath
The courts ultimately allowed the affiliation to end, and TV Fronteira entered an independent programming phase.
Legal fees assessed against TV Fronteira. R$300,000 (2025 court proceedings)
- TV TEM Bauru — TV TEM Bauru was designated to provide Globo coverage for the region after the affiliation ended.
2022
Close the Dracena branchStrategyBackground
The station reviewed its regional operating structure.
Action taken
It shut the Dracena branch and dismissed the employees based there.
Aftermath
Local staff were affected, while the station continued serving its broader coverage area from Presidente Prudente.
1997
Adopt digital production infrastructureStrategyBackground
The station sought to improve image quality and production efficiency before Brazil had launched digital terrestrial television.
Action taken
TV Fronteira moved to a new facility and adopted an entirely digital production operation.
Aftermath
The modernization supported additional local programs and faster production workflows.
1994
Replace TV Pontal Paulista with TV FronteiraStrategyBackground
The group obtained a VHF channel 13 concession and a Rede Globo affiliation after operating TV Pontal Paulista on channel 6.
Action taken
It closed the earlier station and used its facilities to establish TV Fronteira as a Globo affiliate.
Aftermath
The new station became the principal Globo-affiliated broadcaster serving western São Paulo from Presidente Prudente.
Recent events
- 2026
TV Fronteira begins Jovem Pan programming[1]
Product launch
After test broadcasts, the station officially began carrying Jovem Pan News programming while retaining local news and sports production.
- 2025
TV Fronteira challenges the termination of its Globo affiliation[1]
Lawsuit · Other
The station sought judicial continuation of the affiliation, arguing that termination threatened its ability to continue operating and alleging unfair competition.
- 2025
TV Fronteira ends its Globo network relay[1]
Other
Following an appellate ruling, the station stopped carrying Globo programming at the end of August and began an independent schedule.
- 2024
Globo announces the end of its affiliation with TV Fronteira[1]
Other
Rede Globo announced that TV Fronteira would cease to be its affiliate after roughly three decades, with TV TEM Bauru designated to cover the region.
- 2022
TV Fronteira closes its Dracena branch[1]
Leadership change
The station announced the closure of its Dracena branch and the dismissal of all employees working there.
Sources2 sources
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