XHCH-TDT

XHCH-TDT is a broadcast television station based in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. The station is owned by TV Azteca and currently carries the Azteca Uno network, making it part of one of Mexico's principal national television services. Its digital transmission uses RF channel 22 and virtual channel 2, with ADN 40 available on digital subchannel 2.2. The station also operates a repeater in Ciudad Delicias. The station's origins date to the authorization of a concession in November 1964 and the start of transmissions on March 16, 1968. Its original concessionaire was Impulsora de Televisión de Chihuahua, S.A. XHCH entered a Chihuahua television market that initially had only one station, XHFI-TV on channel 5, operated by Telesistema Mexicano. During its early years, XHCH was associated with the Tele-Cadena Mexicana system. It initially operated with an effective radiated power of approximately one kilowatt, increasing to five kilowatts in 1969. Although its owners initially pursued a locally oriented service, XHCH became affiliated with Televisión Independiente de México in 1969. After the 1972 merger of Televisión Independiente de México and Telesistema Mexicano, the station carried programming associated with Mexico City's Canal 5, including cartoons and sports. The channel also developed local programming. Its children's program Estrellitas del Dos began in 1970 and remained on air for roughly 17 years, illustrating the station's early role as more than a simple national-network relay. In 1980, XHCH expanded its reach toward Ciudad Juárez through a satellite-fed retransmitter. In 1983, the station and its associated XHCJE service were incorporated into the newly created Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión, later rebranded Imevisión. During this period, XHCH was separated from Canal 5 and operated as an unusually local service within the publicly controlled television system. It produced several hours of regional and municipal programming each day, including local newscasts. The station also carried Spanish-language coverage of the Sun Bowl in nearby El Paso, Texas. A major ownership and network transition occurred in 1993, when Imevisión was privatized and transformed into Televisión Azteca, now TV Azteca. Chihuahua consequently became a distinctive market in which Azteca operated three television services on channels 2, 4, and 11. XHCH now operates alongside XHIT as an Azteca Uno outlet, although XHIT has historically lacked XHCH's local programming and has operated on a different time offset. The station completed its transition to digital-only broadcasting on December 31, 2015. Its current role combines national Azteca Uno programming with terrestrial distribution across Chihuahua and relay coverage, while its historical identity reflects successive phases of Mexican television: private local broadcasting, affiliation with commercial networks, state-controlled Imevisión service, and the post-1993 TV Azteca system.

XHCH-TDT traces its legal and broadcasting origins to a concession authorized in November 1964 for Impulsora de Televisión de Chihuahua, S.A. The station began broadcasting on March 16, 1968, as XHCH-TV. At launch, Chihuahua had only one other television station, XHFI-TV on channel 5, operated by Telesistema Mexicano. XHCH was initially part of the Tele-Cadena Mexicana system, and its early technical operation used about one kilowatt of effective radiated power. That power was increased to five kilowatts in 1969. The station's early network relationships changed quickly. In 1969, despite an ambition to remain locally focused, XHCH affiliated with Televisión Independiente de México. After that company merged with Telesistema Mexicano in 1972, XHCH carried programming linked to Canal 5, including cartoons and sports. It nevertheless retained a local identity. The children's program Estrellitas del Dos premiered in 1970 and continued for approximately 17 years. In 1980, XHCH extended its reach toward Ciudad Juárez through a satellite-fed retransmitter. The Mexican government's 1975 nationalization of Tele-Cadena Mexicana altered the station's institutional context. In 1983, XHCH and the XHCJE service were incorporated into Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión, which adopted the Imevisión name in 1985. XHCH was disconnected from Canal 5 and became one of the relatively few Imevisión stations with a substantial local role. It broadcast around three and a half hours of local material per day, including regional and municipal news. The station also aired Spanish-language coverage of the Sun Bowl from El Paso. A notable scheduling incident occurred on December 30, 1989, when a football bowl broadcast was interrupted shortly before its conclusion for a Formula One season recap. In 1993, Imevisión was privatized and reorganized as Televisión Azteca. XHCH became part of the TV Azteca operation and adopted the Azteca Uno network as its principal national service. Chihuahua was unusual within the new Azteca structure because the company operated three television stations in the city, on channels 2, 4, and 11. XHCH continued to distinguish itself from XHIT through its local programming, while XHIT functioned primarily as a network repeater and used a different time offset. The station subsequently migrated from analog broadcasting to digital terrestrial television. Digital-only operation began on December 31, 2015. XHCH-TDT now transmits on RF channel 22 while retaining virtual channel 2 for its main service. It also multicasts ADN 40 on virtual subchannel 2.2 and maintains a repeater in Ciudad Delicias. Its development therefore mirrors the broader institutional history of Mexican television, moving from an independently concessioned local outlet through commercial-network affiliation and state administration to its current role within TV Azteca's national broadcast platform.

• 2015

  Digital-only broadcasting begins

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended analog operation and became digital-only on December 31, 2015.

• 1993

  Transfer into the TV Azteca system

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The privatization of Imevisión created Televisión Azteca, bringing XHCH into the TV Azteca network and its Azteca Uno service.

• 1983

  Incorporation into Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  XHCH and XHCJE were incorporated into the newly established Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión, later known as Imevisión.

• 1980

  Ciudad Juárez retransmitter added

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  XHCH expanded its coverage toward Ciudad Juárez through a satellite-fed retransmitter.

• 1975

  Tele-Cadena Mexicana nationalized

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Stations in the Tele-Cadena Mexicana system, including XHCH's broader institutional network context, were nationalized by government decree.

• 1970

  Estrellitas del Dos launches

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The children's program Estrellitas del Dos debuted and remained part of the station's schedule for about 17 years.

• 1969

  Power increase and Televisión Independiente de México affiliation

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The station increased effective radiated power from approximately one kilowatt to five kilowatts and became affiliated with Televisión Independiente de México.

• 1968

  XHCH-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The station commenced transmissions in Chihuahua on March 16, 1968, as XHCH-TV.

• 1964

  Broadcast concession authorized

  [1]XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  A concession was authorized for Impulsora de Televisión de Chihuahua, S.A., establishing the basis for the future XHCH service.

A regional terrestrial television station combining TV Azteca's national Azteca Uno schedule with local market distribution and historically significant Chihuahua-oriented programming.

• National television network service

  Azteca Uno

  The station's principal current service is the Azteca Uno network, distributed locally on virtual channel 2. XHCH provides the Chihuahua market with TV Azteca's national schedule while serving as the station's main broadcast identity.

• Digital television subchannel

  ADN 40

  ADN 40 is carried by XHCH as a digital multicast service on subchannel 2.2, expanding the station's terrestrial offering beyond its primary Azteca Uno feed.

• Regional television programming

  Local Chihuahua programming

  Historically, XHCH produced locally oriented programming, including regional and municipal news. This local-service role was particularly important during the Imevisión period, when the station carried several hours of locally originated content each day.

• 2015

  Conversion to digital terrestrial televisionStrategy

  Background

  Mexico's television transition required broadcast stations to move from analog transmission to digital operation.

  Action taken

  XHCH ended analog broadcasting and operated digitally from December 31, 2015, using RF channel 22 and virtual channel 2.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its main Azteca Uno service and added or retained digital multicast distribution, including ADN 40 on subchannel 2.2.

  Source

1. 1XHCH-TDTen.wikipedia.org