UNIFE

UNIFE is an Argentine over-the-air television channel associated with the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG). The channel combines religious material with general-interest programming, including news, live discussion, cooking, youth-oriented content, scripted series, films, and other acquired entertainment. Its principal production base is in Buenos Aires, where much of its weekday schedule has been produced live. The channel emerged from the UCKG's longer involvement in Argentine broadcasting. The church had maintained radio and television programming in the country since its arrival during the 1990s. In 2003, Ricardo Cis, identified as the UCKG's bishop for Argentina, became the license holder of Radio Buenos Aires. The organization also previously broadcast a program on América TV before sign-off and expressed interest in acquiring a stake in Canal 9. These activities provided a media foundation for the later development of a dedicated television channel. UNIFE began broadcasting in November 2019 using digital terrestrial television capacity previously associated with CN23, the former news network, and 360 TV. The use of this capacity enabled the UCKG to expand its production operations. The channel was included in licensing plans published by Argentina's National Communications Entity, known as Enacom, on the same date as its initial launch. Regular programming subsequently began on 23 November 2020, marking the end of CN23's use of the relevant channel position. In November 2021, UNIFE introduced a new visual identity intended to make the channel more attractive to families and to broaden its positioning beyond a narrowly religious service. Around this period, the schedule included biblical telenovelas from Brazil's Record network, such as Apocalipse and Moisés e os Dez Mandamentos. UNIFE also introduced the Cine Unife Max film strand, which carried titles from the Sony Pictures Entertainment catalogue, including Blade Runner 2049, The Dark Tower, The Angry Birds Movie, The Emoji Movie, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Terminator: Salvation, and The Equalizer. The channel expanded its distribution in November 2021 by beginning encrypted satellite uplinking for carriage by cable operators outside Argentina's main metropolitan area. International versions or related services have also existed in Chile and Mexico. By 2023, the channel was reported to carry approximately 17 hours of live weekday programming and was considering further international expansion. Its live output included the news program La voz de la ciudad, the cooking and conversation program A la mesa contentos, and the youth-oriented music and entertainment program ATR: A Todo Ritmo. UNIFE's programming strategy has therefore combined the UCKG's religious identity with a broader family and general-entertainment proposition. Reported development plans included a Disney-style children's program, additional foreign acquisitions, and new original productions involving Elba Rodríguez, the winner of Argentina's first MasterChef competition and a presenter of a UNIFE morning program. The available reference material does not establish the channel's current ownership structure beyond its association with the UCKG, nor does it provide reliable current audience, revenue, staffing, or financial information.

UNIFE developed from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God's broader media activity in Argentina. The UCKG had operated radio and television slots in the country since the 1990s. In 2003, Ricardo Cis, the church's bishop for Argentina, became the license holder of Radio Buenos Aires. The organization also broadcast a program on América TV before sign-off and showed interest in acquiring shares in Canal 9. These earlier activities formed part of the institutional background for a later dedicated channel. UNIFE entered Argentine television during the country's expansion of digital terrestrial broadcasting. In November 2019, it began using capacity associated with the former CN23 news network and with 360 TV, another service created during the digital-terrestrial television expansion associated with the Kirchner administration. This arrangement gave the UCKG greater room for television production and distribution. UNIFE was included in Enacom licensing plans at the time of its initial launch. The channel's regular service began on 23 November 2020, replacing CN23's use of the relevant position. Its schedule was not limited to religious broadcasts. It included religious programming alongside news, talk, lifestyle, entertainment, imported fiction, and films. This mixed proposition became more visible after a November 2021 rebrand. UNIFE presented the new identity as a way to bring families closer to television, while its schedule included biblical novelas from Brazil's Record network and the Cine Unife Max film strand. The 2021 entertainment slate included Apocalipse and Moisés e os Dez Mandamentos, as well as films from the Sony Pictures Entertainment catalogue. The channel also expanded its technical distribution by beginning encrypted satellite uplinking for cable operators in Argentina's inland regions. Related international versions or services existed in Chile and Mexico. By 2023, UNIFE was reported to produce approximately 17 hours of live weekday programming from its Buenos Aires studios. Its live output included La voz de la ciudad, A la mesa contentos, and ATR: A Todo Ritmo. The channel was also considering a children's program with a Disney-style format, additional foreign acquisitions, and original productions featuring Elba Rodríguez, winner of Argentina's first MasterChef competition and a presenter on the channel's morning schedule. The available sources do not establish later ownership changes, current operating status, audience figures, financial results, or a definitive corporate structure separate from the UCKG association.

• 2023

  Expanded live weekday schedule

  [1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  The channel was reported to have 17 hours of live weekday programming and plans for further international distribution and original production.

• 2021

  Rebrand and satellite distribution

  [1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  UNIFE introduced a new identity, expanded its entertainment schedule, and began encrypted satellite uplinking for cable operators outside the main metropolitan area.

• 2020

  Regular service begins

  [1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Regular UNIFE broadcasts began on 23 November 2020, ending CN23's use of the relevant position.

• 2019

  Initial UNIFE broadcasts

  [1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  UNIFE began broadcasting on 25 November 2019 using digital terrestrial television capacity associated with CN23 and 360 TV.

• 2003

  Ricardo Cis becomes license holder of Radio Buenos Aires

  [1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Ricardo Cis, identified as the UCKG's bishop for Argentina, became the license holder of Radio Buenos Aires.

• 1990

  UCKG begins media activity in Argentina

  [1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God established a presence in Argentina and developed radio and television programming before the launch of UNIFE.

A family-oriented Argentine television channel that combines UCKG-linked religious content with secular news, live formats, imported fiction, films, and entertainment.

• Free-to-air television channel · 2019

  UNIFE television channel

  UNIFE is an Argentine over-the-air channel offering a mixed schedule of religious and secular content. Its programming has included news, live talk, lifestyle, cooking, youth entertainment, biblical fiction, films, and other acquired programs. The main production base is in Buenos Aires, with distribution extended through digital terrestrial television, cable carriage, and satellite uplinking.

• News program

  La voz de la ciudad

  A UNIFE live news service included among the channel's weekday programming. It forms part of the station's Buenos Aires-produced current-affairs and live-content output.

• Film programming strand · 2021

  Cine Unife Max

  A UNIFE film strand that carried titles from the Sony Pictures Entertainment catalogue. Reported examples included Blade Runner 2049, The Dark Tower, The Angry Birds Movie, The Emoji Movie, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Terminator: Salvation, and The Equalizer.

• Cooking and talk show

  A la mesa contentos

  A live cooking and conversation format produced as part of UNIFE's weekday schedule. It represents the channel's effort to supplement religious and news programming with family-oriented lifestyle content.

• Youth entertainment show

  ATR: A Todo Ritmo

  A live youth-oriented entertainment and music program included in UNIFE's Buenos Aires-produced schedule.

• 2021UNIFE visual identity rebrand

  Argentina

  UNIFE launched a new identity around the first anniversary of its regular service. The stated aim was to bring families closer to the channel and support a broader general-entertainment proposition.

  Outcome. The rebrand coincided with expanded entertainment programming, including biblical novelas and the Cine Unife Max film strand.

  Source

• 2023

  Develop children's and original programmingStrategy

  Background

  The channel was reported to be expanding its live schedule and considering additional content to support family and youth audiences.

  Action taken

  UNIFE considered a Disney-style children's program, further foreign acquisitions, and original productions involving Elba Rodríguez.

  Aftermath

  The reference material describes these as proposals or plans and does not confirm their full implementation.

  Source

• 2021

  Broaden the channel's family and entertainment positioningStrategy

  Background

  UNIFE sought to present itself as more than a religious broadcaster and to appeal to families and general television audiences.

  Action taken

  The channel introduced a new identity and added biblical novelas, acquired films, and broader entertainment programming.

  Aftermath

  The schedule included Record productions and the Cine Unife Max film strand, while the channel also expanded its distribution infrastructure.

  Source

• 2021

  Expand cable distribution through satellite uplinkingStrategy

  Background

  UNIFE needed a distribution method for cable operators serving regions outside the main metropolitan area.

  Action taken

  The channel began uplinking an encrypted signal to satellite for carriage by inland cable operators.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the technical availability of the service beyond its original terrestrial footprint.

  Source

• 2019

  Launch on digital terrestrial television capacityProduct launch

  Background

  The UCKG sought to expand its Argentine media operations through a dedicated television service using capacity associated with CN23 and 360 TV.

  Action taken

  UNIFE began broadcasting in November 2019 and was included in Enacom licensing plans.

  Aftermath

  The channel later moved into regular programming in November 2020.

  Source

• 2023

  UNIFE reports expanded live programming and international ambitions[1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The channel was reported to provide 17 hours of live weekday programming and to be considering expansion into additional countries.

• 2021

  UNIFE launches a new visual identity[1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The channel introduced a new identity aimed at bringing families closer to its television offering and coinciding with its first anniversary of regular on-air operations.

• 2021

  UNIFE adds acquired film and biblical-fiction programming[1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The schedule featured Record biblical novelas and a Cine Unife Max strand containing films acquired from the Sony Pictures Entertainment catalogue.

• 2021

  UNIFE begins encrypted satellite uplink for cable distribution[1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The channel began uplinking an encrypted satellite signal for use by cable operators in Argentina's interior.

• 2020

  UNIFE commences regular programming[1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Regular broadcasts began on 23 November 2020, ending CN23's use of the relevant channel position.

• 2019

  UNIFE begins broadcasting on former CN23 and 360 TV capacity[1]Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The channel began broadcasting in November 2019 using digital terrestrial television capacity previously associated with CN23 and 360 TV.

1. 1Unife (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org