Mexican national TV network
Television channel
Canal 5
is a Mexican free-to-air
television network
owned by
TelevisaUnivision
. It traces its origins to the foundation of Channel 5 in Mexico City in 1952 (also known by its identification code
XHGC-TDT
). Canal 5's program lineup is generally targeted at a younger audience and includes cartoons, foreign series and movies, along with a limited number of sporting events such as
NFL
games, boxing, the
FIFA World Cup
and, historically, the
Olympic Games
.
Canal 5 is mainly aimed at children and youth audiences, although in late hours it usually includes a more general concept with television series and reality shows. Over the decades among its programming, it includes many series purchased from networks such as
Nickelodeon
and
Cartoon Network
, among others; while the series aimed at the general public often come from
Paramount Network
,
Fox Broadcasting Company
,
Warner Bros
. (now known as
Warner Bros. Discovery
),
Sony Group Corporation
,
ViacomCBS
(now
Paramount Global
),
MTV
,
NBCUniversal
,
Lionsgate
,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
among others. The channel also broadcasts series produced by the company
TelevisaUnivision
, which owns the channel. In programming, its main national competitor in open television has historically been
Azteca 7
of
TV Azteca
.
History
[
edit
]
On May 10, 1952,
XHGC-TV
came to the air for the first time. It was Mexico City's third television station, owned by
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena
, an inventor who created the first color television system. In 1955, XHGC was one of three stations that formed
Telesistema Mexicano
. Gonzalez Camarena remained the general manager of XHGC until his death in 1965.
In 1963, XHGC became the first station in Mexico to broadcast in color. By request of Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, XHGC began targeting an audience of children and youth, with the first color telecast being
Paraiso infantil
(
Children's Paradise
). Over the years, Canal 5 has retained this programming focus, with a schedule incorporating foreign series and sports programs.
At the end of the 1980s, the then-vice president of Televisa, Alejandro Burillo Azcarraga, spearheaded drastic changes in the branding of the company's television networks. XHGC had branded as Canal 5 for years, using various logos with the number 5. However, as the network's various repeaters were not all on channel 5, the network began branding by the XHGC callsign. The landmark
Energia Visual
(Visual Energy) campaign, designed by Agustin Corona and Pablo Jato, featured idents with wildly varied logos and designs?a first for Mexican television. The campaign was designed to back the channel's youthful image.
In the 1990s, Canal 5 began branding with its channel number again. During this period,
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
, who had also been involved with Televisa's radio station
XEW-FM
(WFM), was involved in the creation of some of the network's promotional campaigns. Additionally, in 1994, Televisa obtained a concession for 62 additional television transmitters nationwide, most of which form a key link in the Canal 5 network today.
1999 saw the beginning of a shift in content providers for Canal 5, which had long been the exclusive Mexican rightsholder to
Disney
programs such as
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
,
DuckTales
and a Mexican version of
Disney Club
. In 1999, these rights began to migrate to Television Azteca and
Azteca 7
. Instead, the network began relying more on WarnerMedia (including Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network), PBS Kids, Universal, Sony, Fox, and Viacom (including Paramount and Nickelodeon) programs.
Today, Canal 5 carries children's programs, films and international series, as well as sporting events including
UEFA Champions League
,
UEFA Europa League
and
FIFA World Cup
matches, a limited number of
Liga MX
fixtures and international matches involving the Mexico national team, and select NFL and NHL games. Canal 5 also features some of Televisa's productions, such as
El Chavo Animado
and
Mujeres Asesinas 3
by Pedro Torres.
In recent years, Canal 5's Twitter page started posting strange and disturbing posts typically between 3-7 am, only to be deleted after said date. Since then, the posts have been investigated and widely shared and talked about in the Mexican media. Infobae Mexico, a Mexican news site, contacted one of the collaborators of Channel 5. However, they claimed they did not know the disturbing posts.
[1]
English infomercials
[
edit
]
It is quite possible that the first modern
infomercial
series to run in North America was on
San Diego
-area television station
XETV
, which during the 1970s ran a one-hour program every Sunday consisting of advertisements for local homes for sale. As the station was licensed by the Mexican government to the city of
Tijuana
, but broadcast all of its programs in English for the U.S. market until 2017 (when it became a pure Spanish-language outlet for Canal 5), the FCC limit at that time of a maximum of 18 minutes of commercials in an hour did not apply to the station.
Transmitters
[
edit
]
Canal 5 is carried on 66 of its own transmitters plus another 32 transmitters shared with
Las Estrellas
and one transmitter that carries a Televisa local service, Las Estrellas and Canal 5; these 31 transmitters do not carry Canal 5 in HD.
[2]
[3]
It holds the rights to virtual channel 5 nationwide and broadcasts on it in almost all areas, with a handful of notable exceptions along the US-Mexico border.
In 2018, the concessions of all primary Canal 5 repeaters wholly owned by Televisa were consolidated in the concessionaire Radio Television, S.A. de C.V. as part of a reorganization of Televisa's concessionaires.
RF
|
VC
|
Call sign
|
Location
|
ERP
|
Concessionaire
|
35
|
5
|
XHAG-TDT
|
Aguascalientes, Ags.
Calvillo, Ags.
Jalpa, Zac.
Nochistlan, Zac.
|
240 kW
17 kW
[4]
23 kW
[5]
29 kW
[6]
|
Radio Television
|
17
|
5
|
XHENJ-TDT
|
Ensenada, BC
|
38 kW
|
Radio Television
|
18
|
5
|
XHMEX-TDT
|
Mexicali
, BC
|
200 kW
|
Radio Television
|
23
|
6
|
XETV-TDT
|
Tijuana
, BC
|
200 kW
|
Radio Television
|
30
|
5
|
XHCBC-TDT
|
Cd. Constitucion
, BCS
|
200 kW
|
Televimex
|
29
|
5
|
XHLPB-TDT
|
La Paz
, BCS
|
26 kW
|
Radio Television
|
27
|
5
|
XHSJT-TDT
|
San Jose del Cabo
, BCS
|
30 kW
|
Televimex
|
22
|
5
|
XHAN-TDT
|
Campeche
, Camp.
|
28 kW
|
Radio Television
|
22
|
5
|
XHCDC-TDT
|
Cd. del Carmen
, Camp.
|
31 kW
|
Televimex
|
22
|
5
|
XHCZC-TDT
|
Comitan de Dominguez
, Chis.
|
32 kW
|
Radio Television
|
17
|
5
|
XHSNC-TDT
|
San Cristobal de las Casas
, Chis.
|
30 kW
|
Radio Television
|
34
|
5
|
XHTAH-TDT
|
Tapachula
, Chis.
|
62 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHTUA-TDT
|
Tuxtla Gutierrez
, Chis.
|
45 kW
|
Televimex
|
19
|
5
|
XHCDE-TDT
|
Cd. Delicias
, Chih.
Cd. Camargo
, Chih.
|
20 kW
21 kW
|
Radio Television
|
33
|
5
|
XHJUB-TDT
|
Cd. Juarez
, Chih.
|
200 kW
|
Radio Television
|
24
|
5
|
XHCHZ-TDT
|
Chihuahua
, Chih.
|
47 kW
|
Radio Television
|
31
|
5
|
XHGC-TDT
|
Mexico City
(Pico Tres Padres,
Mex
)
|
270 kW
|
Radio Television
|
27
|
5
|
XHCHW-TDT
|
Ciudad Acuna
, Coah.
|
50 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHNOH-TDT
|
Nueva Rosita
, Coah.
|
42 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHMLC-TDT
|
Monclova
, Coah.
|
50 kW
|
Radio Television
|
31
|
5
|
XHPNH-TDT
|
Piedras Negras
, Coah.
|
43 kW
|
Radio Television
|
20
|
5
|
XHSTC-TDT
|
Saltillo
, Coah.
|
45 kW
|
Radio Television
|
35
|
5
|
XELN-TDT
|
Torreon
, Coah.
|
150 kW
|
Radio Television
|
17
|
5
|
XHCC-TDT
|
Colima
, Col.
Manzanillo, Col. (RF 14)
Cd. Guzman, Jal.
|
54 kW
30 kW
[7]
15 kW
[8]
|
Radio Television
|
21
|
5
|
XHDUH-TDT
|
Durango, Dgo.
|
94 kW
|
Radio Television
|
24
|
5
|
XHLEJ-TDT
|
Leon
, Gto.
Lagos de Moreno, Jal.
|
180 kW
19 kW
|
Radio Television
|
23
|
5
|
XHAL-TDT
|
Acapulco
, Gro.
|
15 kW
|
Radio Television
|
34
|
5
|
XHCHN-TDT
|
Chilpancingo
, Gro.
|
50 kW
|
Radio Television
|
31
|
5
|
XHIGN-TDT
|
Iguala
, Gro.
|
43 kW
|
Radio Television
|
28
|
5
|
XHIXG-TDT
|
Ixtapa
and
Zihuatanejo
, Gro.
|
40 kW
|
Radio Television
|
19
|
5
|
XHATU-TDT
|
Atotonilco El Alto, Jal.
|
24 kW
|
Radio Television
|
23
|
5
|
XHAUM-TDT
|
Autlan de Navarro
, Jal.
|
43 kW
|
Radio Television
|
22
|
5
|
XHGUE-TDT
|
Guadalajara, Jal.
|
150 kW
|
Radio Television
|
35
|
5
|
XHPVE-TDT
|
Puerto Vallarta
, Jal.
|
33 kW
|
Radio Television
|
14
|
5
|
XEX-TDT
|
Altzomoni
, Mex.
Tejupilco de Hidalgo, Mex.
Tenancingo, Mex.
Taxco, Gro.
Pachuca, Hgo.
(RF 43)
Cuernavaca, Mor.
San Martin Texmelucan, Pue.
Tlaxcala, Tlax.
|
236 kW
20 kW
[9]
20 kW
[10]
21 kW
[11]
8 kW
45 kW
[12]
20 kW
[13]
30 kW
[14]
|
Radio Television
|
36
|
5
|
XHTOK-TDT
|
Toluca
/
Jocotitlan
, Mex.
|
280 kW
|
Radio Television
|
21
|
5
|
XHAPZ-TDT
|
Apatzingan
, Mich.
|
47 kW
|
Radio Television
|
33
|
5
|
XHLAC-TDT
|
Lazaro Cardenas
, Mich.
|
25 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHMOW-TDT
|
Cerro Burro, Mich.
|
338 kW
|
Radio Television
|
18
|
5
|
XHFX-TDT
|
Morelia
, Mich.
|
47.2 kW
|
Radio Television
|
25
|
5
|
XHZAM-TDT
|
Zamora
, Mich.
|
32 kW
|
Radio Television
|
33
|
5
|
XHTFL-TDT
|
Tepic
, Nay.
|
55 kW
|
Radio Television
|
31
|
5
|
XET-TDT
|
Monterrey
, NL
|
200 kW
|
Radio Television
|
19
|
5
|
XHHHN-TDT
|
Huajuapan de Leon, Oax.
Tehuacan, Pue.
|
76 kW
36 kW
[15]
|
Radio Television
|
35
|
5
|
XHIH-TDT
|
Cerro Palma Sola, Oax.
|
76 kW
|
Radio Television
|
34
|
5
|
XHOXO-TDT
|
Oaxaca, Oax.
|
97 kW
|
Radio Television
|
34
|
5
|
XHPIX-TDT
|
Pinotepa Nacional
, Oax.
|
46 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XEZ-TDT
|
Queretaro
, Qro. (Cerro El Zamorano)
Cerro El Cimatario, Qro.
Guanajuato, Gto.
Irapuato
-
Celaya
, Gto.
San Miguel de Allende
, Gto.
|
180 kW
10 kW
20 kW
50 kW
65 kW
|
Radio Television
|
27
|
5
|
XHQRO-TDT
|
Cancun, Q. Roo
Playa del Carmen
, Q. Roo
|
60 kW
20 kW
[16]
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHCQR-TDT
|
Chetumal, Q. Roo
|
28 kW
|
Radio Television
|
30
|
5
|
XHVST-TDT
|
Ciudad Valles, SLP
|
18 kW
|
Radio Television
|
34
|
5
|
XHSLT-TDT
|
San Luis Potosi, SLP
|
210 kW
|
Radio Television
|
24
|
5
|
XHCUI-TDT
|
Culiacan, Sin.
|
155 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHLMI-TDT
|
Los Mochis, Sin.
|
110 kW
|
Radio Television
|
28
|
5
|
XHMAF-TDT
|
Mazatlan, Sin.
|
118 kW
|
Radio Television
|
17
|
5
|
XHCBO-TDT
|
Caborca, Son.
|
37 kW
|
Radio Television
|
36
[17]
|
5
|
XHCDO-TDT
|
Ciudad Obregon
, Son.
|
200 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHGUY-TDT
|
Guaymas
, Son.
|
46 kW
|
Radio Television
|
29
|
5
|
XHHMS-TDT
|
Hermosillo
, Son.
|
100 kW
|
Radio Television
|
26
|
5
|
XHNON-TDT
|
Nogales
, Son.
|
35 kW
|
Radio Television
|
32
|
5
|
XHVIZ-TDT
|
Villahermosa
, Tab.
|
125 kW
|
Televimex
|
22
|
5
|
XHCMU-TDT
|
Ciudad Mante
, Tamps.
|
27 kW
|
Radio Television
|
36
|
5
|
XHUT-TDT
|
Ciudad Victoria
, Tamps.
|
80 kW
|
Radio Television
|
28
|
2.2
|
XHTAM-TDT
|
Matamoros
, Tamps.
|
250 kW
|
Televimex
|
25
|
5
|
XHBR-TDT
|
Nuevo Laredo
, Tamps.
|
200 kW
|
Radio Television
|
15
|
5
|
XHD-TDT
|
Tampico
, Tamps.
|
180 kW
|
Radio Television
|
27
|
5
|
XHCOV-TDT
|
Coatzacoalcos
, Ver.
|
60 kW
|
Radio Television
|
28
|
5
|
XHAJ-TDT
|
Las Lajas
Nogales
Orizaba
San Andres Tuxtla
(RF 39)
|
430 kW
25 kW
[18]
60 kW
[19]
20 kW
[20]
|
Radio Television
|
35
|
5
|
XHMEN-TDT
|
Merida, Yuc.
|
125 kW
|
Radio Television
|
23
|
5
|
XHSMZ-TDT
|
Sombrerete, Zac.
|
32 kW
|
Radio Television
|
17
[21]
|
5
|
XHBQ-TDT
|
Zacatecas, Zac.
|
130 kW
|
Radio Television
|
Network logos
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
|
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Corporate directors
| | |
---|
U.S. television networks
| |
---|
Mexican television networks
| |
---|
International networks
| |
---|
Uforia Audio Network
| |
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Univision Television Group
| |
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Studios
| |
---|
Univision Online
| |
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Other holdings
| |
---|
Defunct/former assets
| |
---|
|