XHTVL-TDT
Television station serving Villahermosa, Tabasco, and the flagship outlet of Albavisión's Canal 13 regional network.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
XHTVL-TDT is a Mexican television station based in Villahermosa, Tabasco. It is identified on air as Canal 13 and serves as the flagship station of a regional network associated with Albavisión, the international media group controlled by Guatemalan-Mexican media entrepreneur Remigio Ángel González. The station's concession was awarded on 23 April 1980, and regular broadcasting began on 2 June of that year. It was created after XHLL-TV ended local programming in 1972 because the operation was no longer financially sustainable. The proposed replacement station emerged from a feasibility study conducted in 1977, followed by construction of facilities in 1978 and the ordering of transmission equipment from the United States in 1979. Before regular service began, XHTVL conducted several experimental broadcasts. These included coverage of the 1979 World Series, a government report in December 1979, and test programming from February through April 1980. The station initially transmitted on analog channel 9 and operated a schedule running approximately from noon to midnight. Its early identity combined local news, entertainment, children's programming, music and variety shows. Notinueve, the first locally produced newscast, premiered on 18 November 1980 and became the station's principal local news brand. Other early programs included Caleidoscopio, Mosaico Dominical, Estudio "L" and Mundo Infantil del Nueve. XHTVL developed a regional footprint through relay facilities. A relay station in Tenosique, XHTOE-TV, began operating in the early 1980s and later became part of Tele-Emisoras del Sureste. XHCVP-TV in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, also carried XHTVL programming as a repeater, although it was established under a separate noncommercial permit. These arrangements helped extend the station's programming beyond Villahermosa into parts of southeastern Mexico. For many years, XHTVL operated as a regional affiliate of Televisa. Its schedule included programming from Televisa's Gala TV and Foro TV services, and in 2014 approximately 82 percent of its broadcast day was sourced from Televisa. The relationship ended in 2018 amid Televisa's progressive withdrawal from some local affiliate arrangements and its increasing use of multiplexed subchannels on its own stations. The change also coincided with Albavisión's plans to expand its Mexican television presence, including the participation of the related company Telsusa Televisión México in the IFT-6 station auction. On 18 October 2018, XHTVL and XHTOE moved to virtual channel 13, creating the Canal 13 identity used by the current network. After leaving Televisa, much of the station's entertainment schedule was supplied by Albavisión outlets in other countries, including El Nueve in Argentina, ATV in Peru and La Red in Chile, supplemented by internationally acquired programming and older Mexican films. Local news remains central to the station's proposition, with Notinueve editions reported in morning, afternoon and evening time slots. XHTVL is therefore best understood as a regional free-to-air television service combining local journalism with programming distributed through Albavisión's broader international network.
History
XHTVL-TDT was established to restore locally oriented television service in Tabasco after XHLL-TV stopped producing local programming in 1972. The initiative was associated with state governor Leandro Rovirosa Wade. A feasibility study was conducted in 1977, construction of the station's building began in 1978, and transmission equipment was ordered from the United States in 1979. The concession was formally awarded on 23 April 1980. The station tested its facilities before regular operation. Its first major test was coverage of the 1979 World Series on 9 October, although technical problems affected the broadcast. It later carried coverage of a government report and transmitted recorded national and international material during a longer testing period. Staff preparation included technicians brought in from Nuevo León, Guanajuato and the Federal District. Regular broadcasting began on 2 June 1980 using analog channel 9 and a schedule that generally ran from midday until midnight. Local programming was introduced quickly. Notinueve premiered on 18 November 1980 and became the station's durable local news identity. Caleidoscopio followed in June 1981, while Mosaico Dominical and Estudio "L" provided variety and local music. Mundo Infantil del Nueve combined cartoons with live studio segments before eventually becoming primarily a cartoon block. These early programs reflected the station's original role as a locally focused broadcaster rather than simply a relay for national network material. The station's ownership structure was connected to Tele-Emisoras del Sureste. Early participants included Remigio Ángel González, radio owner Francisco Javier Sánchez Campuzano and Manuel Efraín Abán Méndez, who had been involved in the successful application for the frequency. Sánchez Campuzano left the partnership in 1987. The operation subsequently developed relationships with other southeastern Mexican television assets and relay stations. Regional expansion started with XHTOE-TV in Tenosique. Although the concession was initially granted to Abán Méndez in 1984, it was transferred to Tele-Emisoras del Sureste in 1993. XHCVP-TV in Coatzacoalcos was established under a noncommercial permit and operated as a repeater of XHTVL. Together, these arrangements extended the station's reach beyond Villahermosa and supported its regional identity. For much of its history, XHTVL was a Televisa affiliate. It carried programming from Gala TV and Foro TV and, according to the cited reference material, obtained 82 percent of its broadcast-day content from Televisa in 2014. Its affiliation ended in 2018. The change followed Televisa's restructuring of local distribution, including the placement of some services on subchannels of its own stations, and Albavisión's expansion strategy in Mexico. A related company, Telsusa Televisión México, successfully acquired stations in twelve cities through the IFT-6 auction. On 18 October 2018, XHTVL and XHTOE adopted virtual channel 13. The new identity aligned the station with Canal 13 and Albavisión's regional network strategy. Following the Televisa separation, the station drew entertainment content from Albavisión outlets including El Nueve, ATV and La Red, while also acquiring international programs and showing older Mexican films. Notinueve remained the principal local product, with morning, afternoon and evening editions. In March 2020, the IFT approved the removal of Tele-Emisoras del Sureste from the preponderant economic agent designation relevant to its former Televisa relationship.
- 2020
Regulatory designation changed
[1]The IFT approved the removal of Tele-Emisoras del Sureste from the applicable preponderant economic agent designation.
- 2018
Televisa affiliation ends
[1]XHTVL disaffiliated from Televisa and began moving toward a programming model built around Albavisión content and international acquisitions.
- 2018
Virtual channel 13 adopted
[1]XHTVL and XHTOE moved to virtual channel 13 on 18 October, reinforcing the Canal 13 identity.
- 1993
XHTOE concession transferred
[1]The Tenosique relay concession was transferred to Tele-Emisoras del Sureste.
- 1984
XHTOE concession granted
[1]A concession for XHTOE-TV channel 12 in Tenosique was granted to Manuel Efraín Abán Méndez.
- 1982
Tenosique relay installed
[1]XHTVL added a relay facility in Tenosique under the XHTOE-TV call sign.
- 1980
Concession awarded and regular service begins
[1]The concession was awarded on 23 April, and regular broadcasting began on 2 June after several months of test transmissions.
- 1980
Notinueve premieres
[1]The station launched its first local newscast on 18 November, establishing a long-running local news franchise.
- 1978
Station construction begins
[1]Construction work began on the station's facilities.
- 1977
Feasibility study conducted
[1]A feasibility study examined the creation of a replacement television service for Villahermosa and the surrounding region.
Products and positioning
A regional Mexican television broadcaster centered on Tabasco news and community coverage, supported by entertainment and imported programming from the wider Albavisión network.
Local television news · 1980
Notinueve
XHTVL's principal local news franchise, launched in 1980. It has aired multiple daily editions, including morning, afternoon and evening broadcasts, and focuses on news from Tabasco and the surrounding region.
Regional television network · 2018
Canal 13
The channel identity adopted by XHTVL after its move to virtual channel 13 in 2018. It positions the Villahermosa station as the flagship of a wider Albavisión-linked regional service.
Television retransmission · 1982
XHTVL relay service
Regional retransmission through associated facilities, including XHTOE-TV in Tenosique and XHCVP-TV in Coatzacoalcos, extends selected XHTVL programming beyond the Villahermosa transmitter.
Brand decisions
2018
End the Televisa affiliationStrategyBackground
Televisa was restructuring local distribution and placing some of its services on subchannels of its own stations. At the same time, Albavisión was expanding its Mexican television portfolio.
Action taken
XHTVL ended its long-running Televisa relationship and shifted toward programming supplied by Albavisión's international channels and other acquired content.
Aftermath
The station adopted the virtual channel 13 identity and strengthened its association with Albavisión's Canal 13 regional network.
2018
Move to virtual channel 13Generation changeBackground
The station's post-Televisa positioning required a new channel identity aligned with Albavisión's network plans.
Action taken
XHTVL-TDT and XHTOE moved to virtual channel 13 on 18 October 2018.
Aftermath
The change supported the Canal 13 brand used for the regional service.
Recent events
- 2020
IFT removes Tele-Emisoras del Sureste from the preponderant economic agent designation[1]
Regulation
Mexico's telecommunications regulator approved an application in March 2020 to remove Tele-Emisoras del Sureste from the relevant preponderant economic agent designation after the station's separation from Televisa.
- 2018
XHTVL ends its Televisa affiliation[1]
Other
XHTVL separated from Televisa as Televisa reduced or restructured several local relationships and Albavisión pursued a broader Mexican network strategy.
- 2018
XHTVL adopts virtual channel 13[1]
Product generation
XHTVL and its Tenosique sister relay moved to virtual channel 13 on 18 October 2018, supporting the Canal 13 network identity.
- 2018
Notinueve journalist Juan Carlos Huerta is killed[1]
Other
Juan Carlos Huerta, a prominent presenter of the station's late Notinueve edition and a radio broadcaster, was murdered during a robbery in May 2018.
- 1982
XHTVL expands regional relay coverage[1]
Other
A relay facility in Tenosique, XHTOE-TV, extended XHTVL programming into additional parts of Tabasco. A separate repeater in Coatzacoalcos also carried the station's programming.
- 1980
XHTVL begins regular television broadcasts[1]
Product launch
After a period of technical tests and trial programming, XHTVL began regular service in Villahermosa on 2 June 1980.
- 1980
XHTVL launches Notinueve local news[1]
Product launch
The station introduced Notinueve on 18 November 1980 as its first locally produced news program. The brand later became the station's principal local news franchise.
Sources2 sources
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