Contenidos Públicos (State Company of Public Content) is a state-owned company that manages the television broadcasters Encuentro, Paka Paka, Deportv, and the streaming platform Contar. Some of these channels’ productions are also broadcast on public television Channel 7. The channels specialize in educational content (Contar), children’s content (Paka Paka), documentaries, fiction series (Encuentro), and sports (Deportv).
Media assets
Television: Canal Encuentro, Paka Paka, Deportv, Contar
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Contenidos Públicos operates under the framework established by its founding decree and governing statutes. As a state-owned enterprise, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Media and Public Communication, which is accountable to the Head Office of Ministers. The ministry holds the reins when it comes to appointing the company’s leadership.
The Encuentro Channel, born out of Decree 533/2005, initially functioned as a mere content creator. However, it later gained recognition under the National Education Act 26206 and was integrated into the Ministry of Education. Like all channels under the Contenidos Públicos umbrella, it has functioned under the purview of the Ministry of Media.
The company’s board of directors consists of three members, all of whom are appointed by the government on the Ministry of Media’s recommendation.In a significant policy shift, February 2024 saw President Javier Milei’s administration—elected the previous year—announce plans to privatize Contenidos Públicos.
Source of funding and budget
In 2023, Contenidos Públicos received state funding totaling ARS 1.15bn (US$ 3.3m), according to a government report. The state funding is the primary source of financing for Contenidos Públicos.
Editorial independence
The appointment of channel directors within Contenidos Públicos falls under government jurisdiction, granting the state a substantial grip over editorial decision-making. That said, certain channels manage to carve out a semblance of independence and foster diversity by collaborating with third-party contributors, including academics, universities, documentary makers, journalists, and independent producers who play a significant role in developing various programs.
A notable share of these productions aligns with narratives backed by the government. However, the content is often rooted in rigorous research and produced to the highest standards of quality. For example, the series Watch The History, which chronicles Argentina’s history, stands out for its technical execution and research. Even so, it revealed a glaring partiality toward Néstor and Cristina Kirchner, under whose administrations it was created.
The Contenidos Públicos website boldly asserts, “the state does not relinquish its role as a storyteller.”
At present, no domestic laws or independent frameworks appear to exist to evaluate or validate the editorial autonomy of Contenidos Públicos.
March 2025