XHST-TDT

XHST-TDT is a Mexican television station based in Mérida, Yucatán. The station is identified on television as Tele Yucatán and broadcasts on virtual channel 4, although its history is closely associated with channel 13. Its programming is primarily local and includes news, sports, cultural material, entertainment, and other public-facing regional content. The station is operated through Sistema Tele Yucatán, S.A. de C.V., a company wholly owned by the government of the State of Yucatán. The station formally began broadcasting as XHST-TV on February 27, 1970, initially transmitting in black and white. It was established by Tele-Cadena Mexicana, the broadcasting venture associated with Manuel Barbachano Ponce, and was reportedly the venture’s thirteenth station. The station’s launch occurred during a visit to Yucatán by Luis Echeverría, then the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s presidential candidate, who was invited to attend the inauguration ceremony. Before its formal launch, channel 13 had also carried Olympic broadcasts in 1968. XHST’s original commercial ownership did not last. In 1974, the federal government, acting on behalf of the state financing institution SOMEX, seized Tele-Cadena Mexicana’s assets. In 1975, most of the company’s remaining stations were expropriated and incorporated into the state-owned Canal 13 network based in Mexico City. SOMEX managed XHST for roughly seven years. During this period, the station broadcast for approximately five hours a day on six days of the week, with a relatively limited schedule and comparatively little non-local programming. Locally produced material was made under tight budget constraints. A major institutional change took place in 1981, when the government of Yucatán purchased the station from SOMEX. The state government then invested in modernization and expansion. XHST moved from black-and-white transmission to color and increased its locally produced programming, strengthening its role as a regional broadcaster rather than simply a relay or low-budget local outlet. The station later adapted to Mexico’s digital television transition. In 2015, it received authorization to operate digital channel 28 with an authorized power of 100 kW. Its viewer-facing channel identity also changed: in October 2016, the station moved from virtual channel 13 to virtual channel 4. In December 2018, it retired the Trecevisión name and adopted Tele Yucatán as its public identity. XHST-TDT is one of six state-owned television stations in Mexico that operate under commercial concessions. Its ownership remains public through the government of Yucatán, but its concession status distinguishes it from a purely noncommercial public-service broadcaster. The station’s strategic role is regional: it provides a state-controlled platform for Yucatecan news, cultural coverage, sports, entertainment, and government-related communication while maintaining a locally focused schedule.

XHST-TDT traces its origins to the development of channel 13 television in Mérida, Yucatán. Although channel 13 had carried Olympic programming periodically in 1968, the station formally signed on as XHST-TV on February 27, 1970. Its first transmissions were in black and white. The station was owned by Tele-Cadena Mexicana, a broadcasting enterprise associated with businessman Manuel Barbachano Ponce, and was described as the company’s thirteenth station. The station’s commercial phase was disrupted in 1974, when the federal government seized Tele-Cadena Mexicana’s assets while acting on behalf of SOMEX, a state financing institution. In 1975, most of Tele-Cadena Mexicana’s other stations were expropriated and incorporated into the state-owned Canal 13 network based in Mexico City. XHST subsequently remained under SOMEX management for approximately seven years. Its schedule during this period was modest: around five hours per day, six days each week, with little non-local programming. The local material that it did produce was created with limited financial resources. The station’s ownership and development changed in 1981, when the government of Yucatán acquired XHST from SOMEX. The state government undertook modernization and expansion, introducing color transmission and enlarging the station’s local programming output. This purchase established the institutional basis for the station’s current public ownership. XHST is now operated through Sistema Tele Yucatán, S.A. de C.V., a company wholly owned by the Government of the State of Yucatán. In the digital era, XHST received authorization in 2015 to operate digital channel 28 with 100 kW of transmission power. The station also changed its virtual channel designation from 13 to 4 in October 2016. In December 2018, it replaced the Trecevisión brand with Tele Yucatán. The rebranding followed the channel change and gave the station a regional identity less directly tied to its earlier channel-13 history. Today, XHST-TDT is a Mérida-based television station serving audiences in Yucatán. It broadcasts primarily local programs covering news, sports, culture, entertainment, and related regional topics. Despite being state-owned, it is among Mexico’s state-owned stations operating under commercial concessions. Its history therefore combines private-sector origins, federal intervention, state ownership, technological modernization, and continuing regional television operations.

• 2018

  Tele Yucatán brand introduced

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  In December, XHST discontinued the Trecevisión name and began using Tele Yucatán.

• 2016

  Virtual channel changes to 4

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its virtual channel from 13 to 4 in October.

• 2015

  Digital channel authorization

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  XHST received authorization to operate digital channel 28 at 100 kW.

• 1981

  Government of Yucatán acquires XHST

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The Yucatán state government purchased the station from SOMEX, modernized its facilities, introduced color broadcasting, and expanded local programming.

• 1975

  Station incorporated into the state broadcasting system

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Most Tele-Cadena Mexicana stations were expropriated and added to the state-owned Canal 13 network; SOMEX subsequently managed XHST.

• 1974

  Tele-Cadena Mexicana assets seized

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The federal government seized the assets of Tele-Cadena Mexicana while acting for SOMEX, ending the station’s initial commercial ownership period.

• 1970

  Formal launch of XHST-TV

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  XHST-TV formally signed on in Mérida on February 27, initially transmitting in black and white under Tele-Cadena Mexicana ownership.

• 1968

  Channel 13 carries Olympic broadcasts

  [1]XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 13 in Mérida periodically broadcast Olympic programming before the station formally began regular operations.

State-owned regional broadcaster with a primarily local schedule, operating under a commercial television concession.

• Regional television channel · 2018

  Tele Yucatán

  The station’s current public-facing television identity, introduced in December 2018. Tele Yucatán presents a primarily local schedule for Mérida and the wider Yucatán region, including news, sports, culture, entertainment, and other regional programming.

• Digital terrestrial television · 2015

  XHST digital terrestrial television service

  XHST’s digital broadcast service, associated with authorization to operate digital channel 28 at 100 kW. The station later used virtual channel 4 for its viewer-facing identity.

• 2018

  Rebranding from Trecevisión to Tele YucatánStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2016 virtual-channel change, the station sought a public identity centered more explicitly on its regional Yucatán role.

  Action taken

  In December, the station discontinued the Trecevisión name and adopted Tele Yucatán.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand became the station’s current public-facing identity while its underlying XHST-TDT designation continued.

  Source

• 2016

  Virtual channel repositioningStrategy

  Background

  The station’s identity had long been associated with virtual channel 13.

  Action taken

  XHST changed its virtual channel designation from 13 to 4 in October.

  Aftermath

  The channel change preceded the station’s adoption of the Tele Yucatán identity.

  Source

• 2015

  Digital transmission authorizationOther

  Background

  The station moved toward digital terrestrial broadcasting as Mexico’s television system transitioned from analog transmission.

  Action taken

  XHST received authorization to operate digital channel 28 with 100 kW of power.

  Aftermath

  The authorization provided the technical basis for the station’s digital television service.

  Source

• 1981

  State acquisition and modernizationStrategy

  Background

  After several years under SOMEX management, the government of Yucatán acquired XHST and sought to strengthen it as a regional broadcaster.

  Action taken

  The state government purchased the station, introduced color broadcasting, and expanded local programming.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition established the station’s continuing state ownership and increased its regional production role.

  Source

1. 1XHST-TDTen.wikipedia.org