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| Mega (Chile) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mega |
| Country | Chile |
| Launch date | 23 October 1990 |
| Headquarters | Santiago, Chile |
| Language | Spanish |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
| Owner | Grupo Bethia |
| Sister channels | Red Televisión, Rock & Pop, Tele13 Radio |
Mega (Chile) is a Chilean terrestrial television network based in Santiago, Chile founded in 1990 as part of the liberalization of broadcast media following the return to civilian rule in Chile; it later became a major commercial broadcaster competing with Televisión Nacional de Chile, Canal 13 (Chile), CHV (Chile), La Red and TV+. Mega is known for popular telenovelas, prime-time news, sports rights, and entertainment formats adapted from Endemol, Fremantle, and Sony Pictures Television. The network played a prominent role in national coverage of events such as the 2010 Chile earthquake, the 2019–2020 Chilean protests, and successive presidential elections featuring candidates from Concertación, Chile Vamos, and Frente Amplio.
Mega began broadcasting on 23 October 1990 amid a wave of privatization and media expansion in the post-Pinochet era involving groups like Edwards family interests and later acquisitions by conglomerates tied to Grupo Bethia and investors such as Sebastián Piñera allies. Early programming drew on partnerships with Televisa and syndication from Univision and TV Azteca while developing in-house production facilities in Santiago and regional bureaus in Valparaíso, Concepción, Chile, Antofagasta, and Temuco. During the 1990s and 2000s Mega shifted strategy under executives with ties to Liborio Zañartu, Patricio Hernández and producers formerly affiliated with Canal 13 (Chile) and Universidad Católica de Chile media departments. The 2010s saw an investment surge tied to mergers and acquisitions involving Bethia, cross-ownership with El Mercurio SAP, and digital expansion to platforms associated with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and streaming ventures resembling Netflix regional partnerships. Mega secured broadcasting rights for major events including the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Copa América, and national telethons modeled on Teleton (Chile), influencing its market share against networks like Chilevisión.
Mega's schedule mixes telenovelas, reality shows, imported series, game shows, and late-night formats produced by teams with backgrounds at Canal 13 (Chile), TVN (Chile), and production houses such as AGTV and KNA. Flagship dramas have included works by writers and directors who previously collaborated with Televisa, Pol-ka talent, and Argentine and Brazilian co-productions involving Rede Globo creatives. Adaptations of international franchises like Big Brother, The Voice, Survivor (franchise), and MasterChef have aired alongside original comedy and variety programs featuring entertainers from Canal 13 (Chile), La Red, and Canal 9 (Chile). Late-night and magazine segments often recruit journalists and hosts drawn from Radio Cooperativa, El Mercurio, and presenters with histories at Canal 13 (Chile) and Chilevisión.
Mega's news division, led by anchors and editors with prior experience at Televisión Nacional de Chile, Canal 13 (Chile), and Canal 9 (Chile), produces flagship newscasts covering presidential campaigns involving figures from Michelle Bachelet, Sebastián Piñera, Ricardo Lagos, and debates reflecting multi-party dynamics among Partido Socialista de Chile, Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente and emerging movements like Movimiento Autonomista. Its investigative units have published stories paralleling reports in El Mercurio, La Tercera, and Ciper Chile, covering corporate affairs linked to SQM, mining sectors in Atacama Region, and policy decisions by institutions such as the Central Bank of Chile and the Corte Suprema de Chile. Mega has deployed correspondents to cover international summits attended by presidents at venues like Palacio de La Moneda and global forums including COP conferences.
Mega acquired rights to broadcast sporting events including fixtures tied to the Chile national football team, qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, and selected domestic competitions similar to broadcasts held by TVN and Canal 13 (Chile). The network has aired entertainment spectacles, concerts by artists associated with Festival de Viña del Mar, film premieres distributed by companies like 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., and awards coverage resembling Premios MTV Latinoamérica and Latin music galas featuring performers contracted through agencies connected to Santiago promoters. Mega's production of large-scale shows has involved collaboration with technical crews experienced on broadcasts for Teleton (Chile) and international tours by Latin American stars.
Mega operates regional transmitters and collaborates with local stations in cities including Valparaíso, Concepción, Chile, La Serena, Iquique, Antofagasta, and Puerto Montt to furnish regional news segments and advertising tied to municipal governments and economic centers like the Biobío Region and the Atacama Region. These alliances echo models used by Televisión Nacional de Chile and private affiliates of Canal 13 (Chile), enabling content sharing with cable operators such as VTR and satellite providers akin to DirecTV Latin America. Regional bureaus have produced coverage of natural disasters including landslides in Aysén Region and volcanic eruptions at Villarrica and Calbuco.
Mega is owned by investment firms within Grupo Bethia whose holdings include newspapers and radio stations like El Mercurio SAP and Radio Bio-Bio affiliates; board members have often included executives with ties to business groups such as Luksic Group and legal advisors from firms that represented corporations like Cencosud. Corporate governance has seen participation by media executives formerly associated with Canal 13 (Chile), Televisión Nacional de Chile, and advertising agencies linked to McCann Erickson Chile and BBDO Chile. Strategic partnerships and content deals have been negotiated with international format owners including Endemol Shine Group, Fremantle, and Sony Pictures Television.
Mega has faced criticism and controversies paralleling disputes at other Chilean broadcasters, involving alleged editorial bias during election cycles featuring Michelle Bachelet and Sebastián Piñera, labor disputes echoing conflicts at Canal 13 (Chile) and Chilevisión, and regulatory scrutiny by the Consejo Nacional de Televisión (Chile). High-profile incidents included backlash over coverage of the 2019–2020 Chilean protests and accusations of sensationalism similar to critiques leveled at TVN and tabloid outlets like La Cuarta. Legal and ethical debates have involved advertising practices related to corporations such as SQM and telecom providers modeled on Entel Chile; investigative reporting by outlets like Ciper Chile and editorials in La Tercera and El Mercurio have explored these issues.
Category:Television networks in Chile Category:Mass media in Santiago