TV Tribuna
A Brazilian television station based in Santos and affiliated with TV Globo.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TV Tribuna is a Brazilian television station serving Santos and the wider coastal and southern São Paulo region. The station broadcasts on channel 18 and operates as an affiliate of TV Globo, combining Globo network programming with locally produced news and other regional content. It is owned by Grupo Tribuna, a regional communications group associated with the newspaper A Tribuna, the Tri FM radio station, and the Primeiramão classified-advertising service. The station's origins date to a federal authorization for UHF channel 18 granted to Sistema A Tribuna de Comunicação on March 7, 1990. The authorization was issued during the presidency of José Sarney through Decree No. 99.509. Although the station was initially expected to begin operating in late 1991, TV Tribuna was formally founded on February 1, 1992, under the ownership of Roberto Mário Santini. It launched as a TV Globo affiliate. Before the station's creation, Globo programming in the area had been received through a relay of TV Globo São Paulo on channel 8. Initially, TV Tribuna's terrestrial coverage focused on Santos and eight other municipalities in the Baixada Santista metropolitan and coastal region. Its coverage later expanded southward into the municipalities of Vale do Ribeira, giving the broadcaster a broader regional footprint in São Paulo state. The station's local identity is closely connected to Grupo Tribuna and to the communities around Santos, São Vicente, and the broader coastal region. Following Roberto Mário Santini's death on January 2, 2007, control of the station and the other assets of Sistema A Tribuna de Comunicação passed to his son, Roberto Clemente Santini. In March 2016, TV Tribuna moved from its former facilities in São Vicente, located in the Edifício Ana Izabel Cabral, to facilities in an annex building at Tribuna Square in downtown Santos. The move placed the broadcaster closer to the group's newspaper and other communications operations. TV Tribuna began digital transmissions on March 30, 2009, using UHF channel 19. The launch made it the first station in the Baixada Santista region to begin digital broadcasting. The inauguration was presented live during Jornal da Tribuna 2ª edição and included the participation of station and government representatives, including Roberto Clemente Santini, Communications Minister Hélio Costa, São Paulo Governor José Serra, and directors from TV Tribuna and Rede Globo. The station subsequently began producing its content in high definition on December 26, 2010. Its analog signal was shut down on December 20, 2017, as part of Brazil's transition to digital terrestrial television. The brand's core role is that of a regional free-to-air broadcaster: it distributes TV Globo programming while maintaining a local news operation and regional editorial presence. Its principal infrastructure includes studios at Tribuna Square in downtown Santos and a transmission tower on Morro do Voturuá in São Vicente.
History
TV Tribuna was established within Sistema A Tribuna de Comunicação, the communications operation associated with the Santos newspaper A Tribuna. On March 7, 1990, the federal government granted the organization authorization to operate UHF channel 18 under Decree No. 99.509. The station had initially been expected to open on December 1, 1991, but its formal launch took place on February 1, 1992. Roberto Mário Santini, owner of A Tribuna, founded the station, which joined the TV Globo affiliate network from the beginning. Before TV Tribuna existed, viewers in the region received Globo programming through a relay of TV Globo São Paulo on channel 8. The broadcaster initially served Santos and eight additional municipalities in the Baixada Santista. Its terrestrial reach later extended into Vale do Ribeira, broadening its role from a Santos-area station into a regional broadcaster for southern coastal São Paulo. The station's local programming and news output operated alongside national and network programming supplied through its TV Globo affiliation. Roberto Mário Santini died on January 2, 2007. Control of TV Tribuna and the other assets of Sistema A Tribuna de Comunicação then passed to his son, Roberto Clemente Santini. This succession maintained the station's connection with Grupo Tribuna, which also operates or has operated other regional media properties, including A Tribuna, Tri FM, and Primeiramão. A major technical transition began on March 30, 2009, when TV Tribuna started digital transmissions on UHF channel 19. The station was described as the first broadcaster in the Baixada Santista to begin digital broadcasting. The launch ceremony was carried live during Jornal da Tribuna 2ª edição and included station executives, Globo representatives, Communications Minister Hélio Costa, São Paulo Governor José Serra, and other officials. On December 26, 2010, the station moved its own content production to high definition. In March 2016, TV Tribuna left its former facilities in São Vicente's Edifício Ana Izabel Cabral. Its operations moved to a building annex at Tribuna Square, a downtown Santos commercial complex inaugurated in 2014. The relocation consolidated the broadcaster's presence in the center of Santos and aligned it physically with the Grupo Tribuna media environment. On December 20, 2017, TV Tribuna ended its analog transmission, completing its local transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting. The station's principal studios are at Tribuna Square in downtown Santos, while its transmitting tower is located on Morro do Voturuá in São Vicente.
- 2017
Analog signal switched off
[1]The station discontinued its analog transmission on December 20.
- 2016
Move to Tribuna Square
[1]TV Tribuna moved its operating facilities from São Vicente to an annex building at Tribuna Square in downtown Santos.
- 2010
High-definition production begins
[1]The station began producing its content in high definition on December 26.
- 2009
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]TV Tribuna began digital transmissions on UHF channel 19 and became the first digital broadcaster in the Baixada Santista area.
- 2007
Control passes to Roberto Clemente Santini
[1]After Roberto Mário Santini's death, control of TV Tribuna and the wider communications group passed to his son Roberto Clemente Santini.
- 1992
Station founded and launched
[1]TV Tribuna was founded on February 1 by Roberto Mário Santini and began as a TV Globo affiliate.
- 1990
Federal authorization for channel 18
[1]Sistema A Tribuna de Comunicação received authorization to operate UHF channel 18 under Decree No. 99.509, published in Brazil's official gazette.
Products and positioning
A regional TV Globo affiliate centered on local journalism and free-to-air television service for Santos, the Baixada Santista, and Vale do Ribeira.
Television broadcasting · 1992
TV Tribuna free-to-air service
The station's core service is a regional free-to-air television signal on channel 18, combining TV Globo network content with programming intended for viewers in Santos, the Baixada Santista, and Vale do Ribeira. Its broadcast infrastructure includes studios in downtown Santos and a transmitter on Morro do Voturuá in São Vicente.
Regional television news
Jornal da Tribuna
Jornal da Tribuna is the station's named local news offering. It has also served as a platform for major station events, including the live presentation of the digital-transmission inauguration. The program represents TV Tribuna's local editorial role within the TV Globo affiliate structure.
Digital terrestrial television · 2009
Digital television service
TV Tribuna's digital service began in 2009 on UHF channel 19. The transition replaced the station's analog transmission and supported high-definition production from 2010 onward, with analog broadcasting ending in December 2017.
Brand decisions
2017
Shutdown of analog transmissionGeneration changeBackground
The station's terrestrial distribution was being converted from analog to digital service.
Action taken
TV Tribuna discontinued its analog signal on December 20.
2010
Transition to high-definition productionGeneration changeBackground
Following the start of digital transmission, the station continued upgrading its production capabilities.
Action taken
TV Tribuna began producing its content in high definition on December 26.
2009
Launch of digital transmissionProduct launchBackground
Brazilian television broadcasting was moving from analog to digital transmission, and TV Tribuna sought to modernize its regional technical platform.
Action taken
The station began digital broadcasts on UHF channel 19 on March 30 and presented the inauguration during Jornal da Tribuna 2ª edição.
Aftermath
TV Tribuna became the first station in the Baixada Santista area to begin digital broadcasting.
Sources2 sources
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