The creation of the Public Broadcasting System of the Mexican State (SPR) was part and parcel of the sweeping constitutional and legal reforms in telecommunications and broadcasting introduced by the Mexican government in 2014. Today, SPR operates 26 television stations across 20 of Mexico’s 32 states. Its flagship channel, Canal 14, features programming centered on televised debates, documentaries, and news broadcasts. SPR also runs three radio stations located in Veracruz, Sinaloa, and Chiapas. SPR also manages MX Play, a digital streaming platform offering free, on-demand programming from a range of public broadcasters—an effort to modernize access to state-sponsored content in a rapidly digitizing media landscape.
Media assets
Television: SPR TV
Radio: SPR Radio
State Media Matrix Typology
State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
SPR operates as an autonomous public agency. Its General Director is appointed by the President of the Republic for a five-year term, with the possibility of one reappointment. This staggered system is designed to insulate the position from political cycles, ideally allowing continuity across presidential administrations. In addition, Article 17 of the Broadcasting Act stipulates that the Senate must approve the nominee with a two-thirds majority, reinforcing the checks and balances on executive influence.
As of May 2025, Jenaro Villamil continues to serve as the head of the SPR. His initial five-year term, which began in February 2019, concluded in February 2024. Following this, the SPR’s Governing Board appointed him as the acting president (“Encargado de Despacho”) to ensure continuity while awaiting the Senate’s decision on his reappointment for a second term. In October 2024, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Villamil would remain at the helm of SPR. She emphasized that he, along with other public media leaders, is working on a new framework aimed at enhancing the independence and quality of public broadcasting in Mexico. Therefore, while the formal ratification by the Senate was pending, Jenaro Villamil continued to lead SPR in an acting capacity.
Source of funding and budget
SPR remains largely dependent on state subsidies. While SPR generates a modest share of its revenue through ancillary activities, roughly three-quarters of its budget continues to come from public funds.
In 2023, the broadcaster operated with a budget of MXN 852.2 million (US$50.9 million)—a sharp drop from MXN 1.24 billion (US$61 million) the previous year.
For the fiscal year 2025, the Sistema Público de Radiodifusión del Estado Mexicano (SPR) has been allocated a budget of MXN 435.8 million. This represents a significant reduction of nearly 43% compared to the MXN 766.5 million allocated in 2024, according to media reports.
Within this budget, MXN 100 million is earmarked for expanding the SPR’s television coverage. This investment aims to increase the network’s reach from its current coverage of 75.69% of the Mexican population to approximately 86.09%, potentially serving an additional 33 million people through the installation of new retransmission stations across the country.
Editorial independence
On paper, SPR enjoys full operational and editorial autonomy, with a legal mandate to provide pluralistic and nonpartisan programming. In practice, however, its editorial line often mirrors the presidential narrative. The current director, journalist Jenaro Villamil, was handpicked by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) and has long been a vocal supporter of the president. Villamil is known for his pointed criticism of AMLO’s political opponents, raising questions about the broadcaster’s impartiality.
Editorial independence came under the spotlight in early 2019 when former director Armando Carrillo resigned months before the end of his term. Though officially framed as a voluntary departure, media reports suggested he stepped down under political pressure and unproven allegations of corruption—seen by many as a sign of the shifting political winds at SPR.
Under Villamil’s leadership, SPR consistently broadcast AMLO’s daily mañaneras—his trademark morning press conferences, often used to highlight government achievements and publicly chastise critics, including major newspapers. In a 2019 interview with La Jornada, a left-leaning daily, Villamil acknowledged that the former president exerted influence over SPR’s editorial agenda and requested certain tones and topics in its coverage.
In the lead-up to the June 2024 presidential elections, SPR was widely accused of favoring candidates from AMLO’s Morena party, casting further doubt on its editorial neutrality. Though Claudia Sheinbaum, AMLO’s chosen successor, was elected president and assumed office in October 2024, no sweeping editorial shifts have been noticed. Sheinbaum, a protégé of AMLO, is widely seen as carrying forward his political and media strategies.
Legal framework and oversight
According to the Public Media Act, SPR is granted “technical, operational, decision-making, and management autonomy.” Its mission is to provide non-commercial, inclusive broadcasting that fosters national unity, promotes civic and cultural education, and ensures balanced, timely news coverage. However, while the legal framework suggests a firewall against government overreach, reality paints a murkier picture: since AMLO’s rise to power, the broadcaster has routinely leaned toward the former president’s narrative.
Like all licensed broadcasters in Mexico, SPR must adhere to Article 259 of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Act, which requires every outlet to maintain a Code of Ethics and an Ombudsman to investigate viewer complaints and ensure ethical compliance. SPR also has a Citizen Council, appointed by the Senate, tasked with offering editorial guidance and fostering public accountability. Yet critics argue that these bodies have little real teeth when it comes to curbing political influence.
May 2025