Televisión Universitaria UAGRM

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Televisión Universitaria UAGRM (TVU) is a Bolivian over-the-air TV station based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It is owned by the Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University and is part of the Red Universitaria Boliviana de Información (Red Rubi). TVU broadcasts on VHF channel 11 (analog) and digital channel 11.1 in Santa Cruz.

History
TVU launched on March 1, 1973, with experimental broadcasts using a homemade 5-watt transmitter on channel 8. It was the first TV channel to go on air in Santa Cruz; until then, TV served only La Paz and nearby areas. The first director was Noel Alderete Arteaga, and the first technician was Alfredo Quiroz. In 1978, TVU began color broadcasts and moved to channel 11, where it remains. A 10 kW transmitter was donated by Japan in 1986.

Challenges
As private networks grew, TVU’s audience and finances declined. The regulator Sittel warned TVU on July 22, 1996 for broadcasting movies without distributor rights, including titles such as Philadelphia and Jurassic Park.

Recent developments
In 2013, TVU upgraded its transmitter to improve picture quality. On November 11, 2019, TVU participated in a voluntary shutdown amid threats related to Evo Morales’ resignation. In August 2023, TVU signed an agreement with Cooperativa Rural de Electrificación to digitize its signal. A new administration since 2022 has aimed to improve the channel’s public image, noting that previous programming did not fully meet community needs. In December 2023, TVU received a digital transmitter from Germany, with plans to start full HD broadcasts on January 1, 2024.