Canal del Congreso started operating in 1998, initially on paid distribution networks. Since 2016, it has functioned as a free-to-air television station with three channels. These channels broadcast live sessions of the House of Representatives, as well as various other shows such as documentaries, analytical programs, and interviews (channel 45.1), reports on the activities of the Senate (channel 45.2), and educational content (channel 45.3).
Media assets
Television: Channel 45.1, Channel 45.2, Channel 45.3
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Canal del Congreso has some autonomy from the government, but it depends on the Congress, which runs the channels and appoints its director. The highest internal authority of the broadcaster is a Bicameral Commission made up of senators and MPs of different political parties. This governance structure gives lawmakers full control over the channel and does not grant any independence to journalists and managers working for the outlet.
Source of funding and budget
The annual budget of Canal del Congreso totals MXN 202.2m (US$ 9.1m), which comes primarily from the state budget. The channel is also permitted to generate financial resources through sponsorships.
Editorial independence
Since its inception, the Congress Channel has consistently faced pressure from the majority parliamentary groups. According to the channel’s founding director, journalist Virgilio Caballero, they even demanded that screen time be proportional to the number of MPs or senators they have.
The Congress Channel has independence from the government but not from the legislators, who, through a Bicameral Commission, decide all matters related to the broadcaster’s political content. This arrangement explains why some programs on Canal del Congreso may be considered propaganda.
The Canal del Congreso has several internal rules, the most comprehensive being the Congress Channel Regulation. Other rules include the Congress Channel Communication Policies, the Congress Channel User Guide, and the Congressional Channel Ombudsman Guidelines, in addition to a Code of Ethics. These regulations mandate plurality in the broadcast content; however, they do not qualify as domestic statutes establishing the channel’s editorial independence.
Canal del Congreso has an independent Advisory Council that provides recommendations to the channel’s management. The council is made up of esteemed academics, journalists, and members of civil society organizations, and adheres to a Code of Ethics.
July 2024