XEW-TDT
XEW-TDT is a Mexico City terrestrial television station operated by Grupo Televisa and serving as the flagship outlet of the Las Estrellas network.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
XEW-TDT is a terrestrial television station based in Mexico City, Mexico, and the flagship station of Grupo Televisa's Las Estrellas network. The station is associated with the historic XEW call sign and is commonly identified with channel 2 in its earlier analog form. Its concession is held by Televimex, S.A. de C.V., while Grupo Televisa owns and operates the broader television business to which the station belongs. The station received its license in 1950 and began broadcasting on March 21, 1951. It was the second television station to begin operations in Mexico and became one of the country's most important broadcast outlets. Its launch drew on the reputation and programming tradition of XEW-AM 900, a highly influential Mexican radio station. XEW-TV's first transmission was a baseball game from Delta Park. At the time of its first broadcast, the station's studios at Televicentro were still being completed; the facilities formally opened in January 1952. During its early years, XEW-TV helped establish the standards and production capabilities of Mexican commercial television. Compared with the amateur output associated with some of the country's earlier broadcasts, the station offered more developed programming and benefited from its connection with the growing Televisa television system. As Televisa expanded its national distribution network, XEW became the principal outlet and symbolic center of a nationwide television service. In 1982, the station and its national network adopted the name Canal de las Estrellas, or Channel of the Stars. That identity linked the service with Televisa's entertainment-oriented programming and became one of the most recognizable television brands in Mexico. In 2016, the name was shortened to Las Estrellas as part of a broader branding refresh. The station remains the Mexico City transmission point and flagship identity associated with that network, although the network's programming is distributed through a wider system of transmitters and other platforms. XEW also participated in Mexico's transition from analog to digital television. Regular analog programming on VHF channel 2 ended at midnight on December 17, 2015, in accordance with the federally mandated national transition. The station subsequently operated digitally and, during the repacking of television services away from the 600 MHz band, was authorized to move from digital channel 48 to channel 32. The change took place in April 2017, with a short period during which both transmission facilities operated concurrently. XEW-TDT maintains repeaters intended to address terrain-related masking and coverage gaps within its licensed service area. Today, XEW-TDT is best understood as both a broadcast facility and a flagship brand asset within the Las Estrellas network. Its historical importance comes from its early place in Mexican television, its connection with the XEW radio tradition, its role in the development of Televisa's national network, and its continuing presence in Mexico City's digital terrestrial television system.
History
XEW-TDT traces its history to the formative period of Mexican television. The station received its license in 1950 and began operations in Mexico City on March 21, 1951. This made it the second television station to go on the air in Mexico and one of the earliest major commercial television outlets in the country. Its call sign drew on the established XEW-AM 900 radio service, whose influence and audience provided an important cultural and commercial foundation for the new television operation. The station's first broadcast was a baseball game transmitted from Delta Park. Its permanent studio complex, known as Televicentro, was not yet complete when broadcasting began and formally opened in January 1952. The early station represented a significant step forward in Mexican broadcasting because its programming and production organization were more developed than the amateur efforts associated with some earlier television services. Over time, XEW-TV became closely connected to the expansion of Televisa's production and distribution system. As Televisa built a national television network, XEW became its keystone outlet in Mexico City and the flagship station for a broad entertainment and general-programming service. In 1982, the station and network adopted the name Canal de las Estrellas. The name emphasized the service's association with prominent television performers and its role as Televisa's principal mass-market television brand. The identity remained in use for decades and became widely recognized in Mexico. In 2016, Televisa refreshed the network's branding and shortened the name to Las Estrellas. XEW-TDT remained the Mexico City station and flagship transmission point associated with the network. The station's history therefore includes both a physical broadcast facility and a wider network identity distributed through repeaters and other stations. The station also underwent major technical changes as Mexico replaced analog terrestrial television with digital transmission. XEW-TV ended regular analog programming on VHF channel 2 at midnight on December 17, 2015, in line with the federal transition timetable. During the subsequent repacking of television services out of the 600 MHz band, the station was authorized to move its digital service from channel 48 to channel 32. The change occurred in April 2017, with both the former and replacement facilities operating for a short period. XEW-TDT continues to serve Mexico City as part of the Las Estrellas network. Its licensed operation is held by Televimex, S.A. de C.V., while Grupo Televisa is identified as the owner and operator. The station maintains two repeaters to help compensate for terrain masking and coverage gaps within its licensed area. Its enduring significance rests on its early start in Mexican television, its role in Televisa's network development, its long-running Canal de las Estrellas identity, and its continued operation in Mexico's digital terrestrial broadcasting environment.
- 2017
Digital channel repacked
[1]The station moved its digital transmission from channel 48 to channel 32 during the repacking of television services from the 600 MHz band.
- 2016
Network rebranded as Las Estrellas
[1]The Canal de las Estrellas name was shortened to Las Estrellas in a branding refresh.
- 2015
Analog service discontinued
[1]Regular analog broadcasting on VHF channel 2 ended on December 17 as part of Mexico's digital television transition.
- 1982
Canal de las Estrellas identity introduced
[1]XEW and its national network adopted the Canal de las Estrellas name.
- 1952
Televicentro studios formally open
[1]The station's Televicentro studios, still under construction at launch, formally opened in January.
- 1951
Station begins broadcasting
[1]XEW-TV began broadcasting on March 21, becoming Mexico's second television station. The inaugural transmission was a baseball game from Delta Park.
- 1950
Broadcast license granted
[1]XEW-TV received the license that enabled its Mexico City television operation.
Products and positioning
A flagship, mass-market Mexican television service with a heritage rooted in the early development of commercial broadcasting and a central role in Grupo Televisa's Las Estrellas network.
Terrestrial television station · 1951
XEW-TDT Mexico City television service
The core offering is XEW-TDT's free-to-air television service for Mexico City and its licensed coverage area. Historically associated with analog VHF channel 2, the station now operates as a digital terrestrial service and functions as the Mexico City flagship outlet of Las Estrellas. Its programming is part of Grupo Televisa's broader national television distribution system.
Television network · 1982
Las Estrellas network
Las Estrellas is the network identity associated with XEW-TDT and Grupo Televisa's flagship Mexican television service. Formerly known as Canal de las Estrellas from 1982 until the 2016 branding refresh, the network distributes programming through a wider terrestrial system, with XEW-TDT serving as its historic Mexico City flagship.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Canal de las Estrellas to Las Estrellas rebrand
Mexico
Grupo Televisa refreshed the flagship network's identity by shortening Canal de las Estrellas to Las Estrellas. The change also affected the brand associated with XEW-TDT.
Outcome. The Las Estrellas name became the network's continuing public identity.
Brand decisions
2017
Move digital transmission to channel 32OtherBackground
Mexico repacked television services to clear the 600 MHz band, including channels 38 through 51.
Action taken
XEW was authorized to move its digital service from channel 48 to channel 32, with both facilities operating briefly during the April transition.
Aftermath
XEW-TDT continued its digital operation on the replacement channel.
2015
End analog terrestrial transmissionOtherBackground
Mexico implemented a federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.
Action taken
XEW-TV ended regular programming on its analog VHF channel 2 signal at midnight on December 17, 2015.
Aftermath
The station continued as a digital terrestrial television service.
Recent events
- 2017
XEW moves its digital transmission from channel 48 to channel 32[1]
Regulation · Other
During Mexico's television-spectrum repacking process, the station moved its digital transmission from channel 48 to channel 32. Both facilities operated briefly during the transition in April 2017.
- 2016
Canal de las Estrellas is renamed Las Estrellas[1]
Campaign
The network shortened its name to Las Estrellas as part of a branding refresh.
- 2015
XEW-TV ends regular analog broadcasting[1]
Regulation
The station ended regular programming on its analog VHF channel 2 signal at midnight on December 17, 2015, as part of Mexico's federally mandated analog-to-digital transition.
- 1982
XEW adopts the Canal de las Estrellas identity[1]
Campaign
The station and its national network adopted the name Canal de las Estrellas, establishing the identity that became associated with Televisa's flagship television service.
- 1951
XEW-TV begins broadcasting in Mexico City[1]
Other
The station began broadcasting on March 21, 1951, becoming Mexico's second television station. Its first transmission was a baseball game from Delta Park.
Sources2 sources
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