Canal 11 is a private Costa Rican television channel, owned and operated by Repretel since 1996. It was the first station owned and operated by Repretel-Albavision group in Costa Rica.

Canal 11
CountryCosta Rica
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerRepretel (Albavisión)
Sister channelsCanal 6
Canal 4
CDR 2
History
Launched1969
Links
Websitewww.repretel.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital VHFChannel 11.1

History

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It was founded in 1968 by Juan Edgar Picado Trejos and a US investor. Broadcasts started the following year as the first television station in Central America to broadcast in color, but the government temporarily restricted its license to operate by means of a presidential decree, causing a legal battle in the process. The decree stated that the investor was American and should have had a Costa Rican work permit, even though he wasn't working for the channel. After a few months, Televictoria won the appeal and resumed broadcasts.[1] In 1971, its color broadcasts became regular, and, from 1974, full-time.[2]

As an independent operation, the station had a news bulletin (Reporte 11), whose first director was Eduardo Enrique Leiva. On weeknights at 10pm, the station presented Telegatunas, hosted by Hugo Araya, a program devoted to celebrity gossip, and before sign-off, La Última Tanda, which presented vintage Hollywood movies.[2]

The channel struggled to compete against Teletica and Telecentro (which in the 90s ended up becoming a sister station); due to debts, the station was sold to businessman Franz Ulrich in 1977, who later sold off the station in 1993.[2]

Repretel bought the station from rival Teletica, due to a mismanagement from the leasing company operating the station, forcing the sale; Repretel was growing fast, leasing Channel 9 and 6; became the first TV-station owned and operated in Costa Rica.

In 1996, the channel briefly relayed channel 6. On March 1, 1997, the channel became independent again, airing a schedule consisting primarily of imported cartoons and telenovelas.[3] On June 9, 2003, the channel interchanged schedules with Repretel 4 and changed focus to Latin American entertainment, including news and variety shows from Telemundo and Univisión.[4]

Programming

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Channel 11 is the second most watched channel on the network, behind Repretel 6, its programming consists of productions by Televisa, Univisión and its own productions.

References

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  1. ^ ""Mi padre fundó el primer canal a color en C.R."". Diario Extra. 20 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Don Pepe, Canal 11 y la Tragedia del Virilla". Cambio Político. 17 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ^ Barquero, Christopher (1997). "Se enciende el 11". La Nación. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  4. ^ Fernández G., Victor (2003). "Canales 4 y 11 intercambiaron programación". La Nación. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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