Branding Teleamazonas Availability National Launch date 22 February 1974 | Country Ecuador Founder Antonio Granda Centeno | |
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Type Broadcast Television Network Slogan "Junto a ti" (Spanish: With You) Owner La Republica media group, Teleamazonas employees and others. Motto "Junto a ti" (Spanish: With You) Profiles | ||
Teleamazonas is a television channel in Ecuador. Since the start of their transmissions, on February 22 of 1974, the channel is one of the major television networks of Ecuador.
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It broadcasts on channel 4 to Quito and channel 5 to Guayaquil. The international version of the channel is available on EchoStar's Dish Network DishLATINO programming package in the United States.
History
Teleamazonas began broadcasting on February 22, 1974, as the first network with colour television transmissions in Ecuador. Its headquarters are located in Quito. Teleamazonas got the most powerful microwave radio relay, acquired the first mobile television unit, and built in Guayaquil the biggest self-supported antenna.
Founded by Antonio Granda Centeno, the channel was under control of his family until 1999, when Eduardo Granda Garcés paid a high debt to Banco del Pichincha. Fidel Egas Grijalva, major shareholder of the bank, took charge of Teleamazonas.
During the presidency of Rafael Correa, the network, particularly its flagship opinion maker and pundit Jorge Ortiz, has found itself at odds with the government, which accuses it of manipulating public opinion to suite the interests of the companies and shareholders who provide the capital for Teleamazonas such as the Banco del Pichincha. Several proceedings have taken place against Teleamazonas, culminating on December 23, 2009, when the network was ordered a 72-hour shutdown. This government move immediately prompted a backlash from advocacy groups who claimed to be acting in the interests of freedom of expression.
On September 2010, Fidel Egas sold his shares on Teleamazonas to several groups: 30% to the Peruvian media group La República, 48% to a group of Teleamazonas employees and 22% to a group of Fidel Egas' personal friends. Teleamazonas sale was the result of the mandate of the Ecuadorian Constitution of 2008, which provides that no person may simultaneously hold shares in banks and media.
Programming
Teleamazonas has produced important national series and films like "Sucre", "En un rincón del alma", "Recuerdos en Paita", "El Gran Retorno", "J. J., El Ruiseñor de América", among others.
Soccer Broadcasts
Teleamazonas has the rights to broadcast the home games of Deportivo Quito, Espoli, Imbabura, LDU Quito and Manta during the 2011 Copa Credife.
Nowadays, it is the channel with largest availability in the country.