TV Tarobá Cascavel
A Band-affiliated television station serving Cascavel and western Paraná, Brazil.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TV Tarobá Cascavel is a Brazilian television station licensed to Cascavel in the state of Paraná. Broadcasting on channel 6, it is affiliated with Rede Bandeirantes, commonly known as Band, and is one of the two television stations operated under the Grupo Tarobá structure; the other is based in Londrina. The station serves western Paraná and has also reached audiences in the border region adjoining Paraguay and Argentina. The station's origins date to a public bidding process for the VHF channel 6 license. On June 29, 1976, the license was granted by President Ernesto Geisel to a group of businesspeople led by journalist João Milanez, who owned the Folha de Londrina newspaper. The award initiated the construction and staffing of what became the first television station in western Paraná. The project involved importing advanced broadcast equipment from West Germany and recruiting media professionals from Cascavel, other parts of Paraná, and elsewhere in Brazil. TV Tarobá began broadcasting on February 1, 1979, carrying Rede Bandeirantes programming while developing its own local output. From its earliest years, the station emphasized regional journalism, locally produced programs, and broad geographic coverage. In 1981 it established an office in Foz do Iguaçu, enabling original productions and live coverage of larger events. Its presence in the tri-border area also attracted viewers in Paraguay and Argentina who followed the station's local schedule. The station's name refers to Tarobá, a figure in an Indigenous legend associated with the creation of Iguaçu Falls, a major natural landmark of the region. The name therefore links the broadcaster's identity to western Paraná and its regional cultural geography. By 1999, the station reported a potential audience of more than four million viewers, reflecting its coverage expansion beyond Cascavel itself. In the early 1980s, Milanez entered into an association with Tito Muffato, Pedro Muffato, and Hermínio Vieira, who were associated with Grupo Muffato. Milanez remained involved in the company until 2005, when he sold his share to the Muffato family. Ownership subsequently became divided among the heirs of Tito Muffato, who died in an air accident in 1996, and his brothers Ederson, Everton, and José Eduardo Muffato, together with Tito's widow, Reni Muffato. TV Tarobá Cascavel began digital broadcasting on February 24, 2011, using physical UHF channel 36. The transition was marked by a ceremony attended by public officials including Paraná governor Beto Richa and communications minister Paulo Bernardo. The station's digital programming was generated in high definition. Its analog transmission ended on November 28, 2018, in accordance with Brazil's federally coordinated analog-switch-off schedule. The station remains a regional broadcaster combining Band network programming with local news, live coverage, and other regional productions.
History
TV Tarobá Cascavel emerged from the expansion of television broadcasting into western Paraná during the 1970s. A public bidding process awarded the VHF channel 6 license on June 29, 1976, to a group of businesspeople led by journalist João Milanez, owner of the Folha de Londrina newspaper. The license created the basis for a new broadcaster in Cascavel and for the first television station serving western Paraná. During implementation, the project acquired broadcast equipment imported from West Germany and recruited technical and editorial personnel from the local market and from other Brazilian states. The station formally began operations on February 1, 1979. It initially relayed Rede Bandeirantes programming, establishing a network affiliation that has remained central to its identity. At the same time, TV Tarobá developed local programming and regional coverage rather than functioning only as a network repeater. Its editorial and production activity focused on Cascavel and the surrounding western Paraná region, helping the station build a distinct local presence. A significant geographic expansion occurred in 1981, when the station opened an office in Foz do Iguaçu. The office supported original productions and the coverage of large live events. Foz do Iguaçu's location near Paraguay and Argentina also broadened the station's cross-border audience: residents of the neighboring countries began following TV Tarobá's local programming, particularly in the tri-border area. Over time, the broadcaster's transmission and reporting footprint extended well beyond its city of license. By 1999, its potential audience was reported to exceed four million viewers. The name Tarobá comes from an Indigenous legend connected with the creation of Iguaçu Falls. This regional reference gave the station a strong geographic identity tied to one of Paraná's most prominent landmarks. The broadcaster became part of the wider Grupo Tarobá structure, which also includes a station in Londrina. Ownership evolved after Milanez associated with Tito Muffato, Pedro Muffato, and Hermínio Vieira, businesspeople connected with Grupo Muffato. Milanez remained in front of the company until 2005, when he sold his share to the Muffato family. Later ownership was described as divided among the heirs of Tito Muffato, who died in a 1996 air accident, his brothers Ederson, Everton, and José Eduardo Muffato, and Tito's widow, Reni Muffato. The station entered the digital television era on February 24, 2011, launching digital broadcasts through physical UHF channel 36. The launch ceremony included Paraná governor Beto Richa and communications minister Paulo Bernardo. From the beginning of digital operations, the station generated its programming in high definition. Its analog transmitter was shut down on November 28, 2018, following the schedule established by Brazil's national analog-to-digital transition program. TV Tarobá Cascavel therefore represents a regional broadcasting operation that combines national network affiliation with local journalism, regional production, and coverage of western Paraná and the adjacent international border area.
- 2018
Analog transmission discontinued
[1]The analog transmitter was shut down on November 28 under Brazil's analog-switch-off roadmap.
- 2011
Digital broadcasting launched
[1]Digital transmission began on physical UHF channel 36, with high-definition programming.
- 2005
Milanez sells his share
[1]João Milanez sold his share in the company to the Muffato family.
- 1999
Potential audience exceeds four million
[1]The station's potential audience was reported to have surpassed four million viewers.
- 1981
Foz do Iguaçu office opens
[1]The station established an office in Foz do Iguaçu, supporting local production and large-scale live coverage in the tri-border region.
- 1979
Station begins broadcasting
[1]TV Tarobá Cascavel opened on February 1 as a Rede Bandeirantes affiliate.
- 1976
Channel 6 license awarded
[1]A public bidding process resulted in the VHF channel 6 license for Cascavel being granted to a group led by journalist João Milanez.
Products and positioning
A regional, locally oriented free-to-air broadcaster combining Rede Bandeirantes network content with original journalism, live coverage, and programming focused on Cascavel, western Paraná, and the wider tri-border audience.
Broadcast television · 1979
TV Tarobá Cascavel free-to-air service
The station's core offering is a free-to-air television service licensed to Cascavel and distributed across western Paraná. It combines Rede Bandeirantes network programming with locally produced content and regional news. The service transitioned from analog transmission to digital broadcasting, with high-definition programming introduced when digital operations began.
Television programming · 1979
Regional news and local productions
TV Tarobá Cascavel develops local programming centered on Cascavel, western Paraná, and nearby communities. Its regional output includes journalism, local information, and coverage of events that are not fully served by national network programming. The Foz do Iguaçu office expanded the station's ability to originate content and cover major live events in the tri-border area.
Digital television · 2011
Digital high-definition broadcasting
The station's digital service began in 2011 through physical UHF channel 36. Digital operations enabled the generation and distribution of programming in high definition and ultimately replaced the station's former analog transmission, which ended in 2018.
Brand decisions
2018
Analog transmitter shutdownStrategyBackground
The national transition to digital television required broadcasters to follow an official schedule for ending analog transmissions.
Action taken
The station discontinued its analog transmission on November 28, 2018.
Aftermath
TV Tarobá Cascavel continued as a digital television broadcaster.
2011
Move to digital high-definition broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
Brazil was transitioning television broadcasters from analog transmission to digital terrestrial television.
Action taken
TV Tarobá Cascavel began digital broadcasts on physical UHF channel 36 and generated its programming in high definition.
Aftermath
The station continued operating during the transition period before later shutting down its analog transmitter.
Recent events
- 2018
TV Tarobá Cascavel ends analog transmission[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station switched off its analog transmitter as part of Brazil's official analog television transition roadmap.
- 2011
TV Tarobá Cascavel begins digital broadcasts[1]
Product generation · Other
The station launched digital transmission on physical UHF channel 36 and began generating programming in high definition.
Sources2 sources
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