TVN operates three channels: 24 hours (dedicated to news), TV Educa Chile (focused on education and culture), and the TVN main channel (with a generalist profile). TVN has a national coverage of 93%. In 2021, the broadcaster launched NTV, a culture-focused channel.
Media assets
Television: TVN, 24 Hours, Educa Chile, NTV
State Media Matrix Typology
Captured Public/State-Managed/Owned (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
TVN operates under the framework of Law 19.132 on National Television of Chile, which was enacted in 1992 and underwent amendments in 2018. Established as an autonomous state enterprise, it remains a key player in Chile’s media landscape.
As outlined in Article 4 of the legislation, the governance of TVN is entrusted to a seven-member board. The president of the country directly appoints the chairperson, while the remaining six members are nominated by the president but require approval from the Senate. These six individuals serve staggered eight-year terms. The law also stipulates that the board must reflect diversity, with a deliberate aim towards achieving gender balance.
Operating on a self-financing model since 1992, TVN gained a measure of financial autonomy; yet, the ties between its top executives and the presidential administration remain firmly intact. Although the Senate’s involvement does offset some of the president’s sway, helping to foster a degree of editorial independence, such freedom is on shaky footing and far from invulnerable.
Source of funding and budget
Under the legal framework guiding its operations, TVN is mandated to function as a financially independent entity. However, in 2016, the broadcaster found itself grappling with a financial crisis, purportedly triggered by a drop in audience viewership. The crisis culminated in notable losses amounting to at least CLP 20bn (US$ 25m). These financial woes coincided with TVN slipping to fourth place in the national rankings of the most-watched channels.
In response to this predicament, the Chilean Congress enacted Law No. 21.085 in 2018, amending the original Law No. 19.132 that governs TVN. This legislative update paved the way for an “extraordinary” capital injection of up to US$ 47m from the government. This influx of funds enabled TVN to establish a new channel dedicated to educational, cultural, and children-centric programming. Additionally, the Chilean Ministry of Finance allocated a further US$ 22.3m to the broadcaster to facilitate essential technological upgrades.
By 2020, resilience appeared to pay off, as TVN reported revenues of about CLP 41.2bn (US$ 55.3m), maintaining a similar figure to the previous year’s revenues. A lion’s share of this income was derived from advertising. Notably, after enduring losses in 2019, TVN turned the tide with profits totaling CLP 900m in 2020. The broadcaster maintained this positive momentum in the following years, with sales seeing a steady uptick in both 2021 and 2022. By 2022, TVN’s total sales had reached CLP 55.6bn (US$ 59.7m), accompanied by net profits of CLP 3bn (US$ 3.2m), as noted in a company report.
However, as is often the case in the volatile media field, fortunes turned in 2023. While TVN recorded sales revenues of CLP 52bn (US$ 60.4m), the broadcaster registered a loss amounting to CLP 5.5bn (US$ 6.4m), underscoring the financial roller-coaster that continues to define its journey.
The extent of the financial turmoil became clear as the station disclosed losses amounting to CLP 13.8bn (US$ 14.6m) by September 2024, as per a media report. In efforts to keep the broadcaster afloat until 2026, the station’s management is seeking to secure a bank loan backed by a state guarantee.
Editorial independence
As stipulated by Law 19.132, revised in 2018 as Law 21.085, TVN is mandated to operate independently from the state administrative apparatus, upholding principles of pluralism and objectivity in its programming. Every five years, its governing board must draft and release a document that outlines the broadcaster’s editorial commitments to the public. The document, specified in Article 2 of the law and titled the Commitment of Compliance with the Public Mission, serves as a guiding framework for content broadcast on TVN’s primary channel. However, there is no independent entity in place to evaluate or oversee whether TVN adheres to its editorial obligations.
According to a 2020 survey conducted by the National Television Council (Chile’s media regulator), only 15% of respondents characterized TVN as “credible.” This lack of confidence can largely be attributed to the network’s perceived bias in favor of the authorities.
TVN’s coverage of Chile’s 2019 large-scale street protests—a movement ignited by President Sebastián Piñera’s decision to raise public transport fares—was widely regarded as skewed. Its reporting glossed over human rights violations against demonstrators, instead placing the spotlight on disruptions experienced by local residents. Furthermore, TVN programs dismissed protesters’ criticisms of the media, claiming they had been influenced and misinformed by social media content.Allegations of censorship and editorial pressure still linger at TVN. One flashpoint involved journalist Matías del Río’s controversial exit, which drew sharp criticism from opposition figures who see it as evidence of an enduring climate of suppression at the broadcaster.
March 2025