RTP (Bolivia)
RTP, is a Bolivian free-to-air television channel, based in La Paz. It was launched in 1985 by Carlos Palenque and is owned by Sistema Nacional de Radiodifusión Boliviana.
History
Early years
In 1985, Carlos Palenque, who already had a radio station, founded the channel. The channel was created following the principles of his radio outlet: "Alternative and participative communication, presenting the fact as they happen, community services and programming according to the expectations of the people". Numerous participants spontaneously appeared in front of its cameras to express their needs and daily problems. At the time, the channel broadcast a five-hour schedule still in experimental format, from Mondays to Saturdays.Carlos Palenque's son Jorge Luis Palenque was already working on the station in its early years, starting with programs aimed at children and youth, but within years had joined the news department.
Closure, foundation of Condepa
In June 1988, the government of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement under the command of Víctor Paz Estenssoro, ordered the closure of the Metropolitana radio station and the RTP channel due to an interview with drug trafficker and self-proclaimed "king of cocaine" Roberto Suárez Gómez, which involved Paz Estenssoro. Roberto said that "the King is the United States and the Vice-King is Víctor Paz Estenssoro". The State considered that the interview was an apology for crime and a lack of respect for the president. Both the TV channel and its sister radio outlet Radio Metropolitana were banned for one year. In opposition, Carlos Palenque initiated a hunger strike against the decision.The closure was rejected by press organizations. The crowd that caused the event not only forced the reopening of both stations, but also led to the founding of Condepa.
Relaunch, sale, under Garafulic
Everything continued with the purchase of RTP by ATB and La Razón. During this period, on March 8, 1997, Carlos Palenque died, victim of a heart attack. The announcement of his death was delivered by Adolfo Paco, who weeped over a static slide:"This is Adolfo Paco talking, coordinator-general of the system. Please inform the public opinion, that approximately two hours ago, Compadre Carlos Palenque ceased to exist, victim of a fatal cardiac arrest. We are all very hurt... We are devastated... In the past few days last few days, Compadre died... Very bad news... That ruined his health. And today, he left us, compadres. Compadre Carlos Palenque has died. I want... I want, please, people, today, more than ever, we are united, and we are going to inform you where his remains will be located. That was the information, compadres, thank you so much."
Following the profits received from Televisa productions, the Garafulic Group bought 30% of the shares and transferred all the remaining programming to RTP and Bolivision. Thus having Garafulic as the total owner, until the bankruptcy of Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, which led to the PRISA Group taking all the properties of the Garafulic Group.
Under the Palenques
In 2008, the channel started over-the-air broadcasts in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, being also available on cable company ITS; in January 2014, the channel was added to COTAS.Originally, the son of Carlos Palenque and Mónica Medina knew the channel since he was 14 years old, it was not until 2014, where after assuming the direction of La Doble 8, he took over the RTP directive. Rumors emerged of a possible sale, which were denied by its administration.
Its first changes were to stop broadcasting telenovelas that were previously broadcast on other networks such as Pantanal, distance itself from talk shows and broadcast several films. The channel also managed to produce its own series, mostly identified as Documentales RTP, or also several national series. It maintained several programs such as La Tribuna Libre del Pueblo or La Wislla Popular, but it also brought other programs, which were mostly broadcast on Bolivia TV. On March 21, 2014, on occasion of Bolivian Movie Day, the channel aired Vidas lejanas by Okie Cárdenas.
While the reality talent show Bailando por un Sueño was broadcast on Red Uno, Jorge Luis Palenque criticized the channel, the program and stated that it was garbage television, compared to RTP programming. He said that the program also objectified women, due to the controversial nature of the program.
After several attempts to launch its signal in HD, the ATT authorized Radiodifusoras Populares SA to operate in high definition, according to Supreme Decree Nº. 3152. Although the license applies to the runk axis, the signal only operates in La Paz, as it only has one VHF signal.
Between 2017 and 2019, RTP received 42.5 million bolivianos in government propaganda.
RTP presented its new logo in 2021, and with this, it gradually renewed its programming.
In 2023, RTP made radical changes, withdrawing Cinemundo and Axesso and replacing them with more movies from Paramount as well as a new reality show, Lucha de Caseritas.
In 2024, it completely loses the rights to Paramount Pictures films, with Red Uno being the only channel with an agreement with Paramount Global .
Network
Digital broadcasts from La Paz began in 2018, after the main RTP station was awarded a license.Programming
La Tribuna Libre del PuebloTaypiRTP InformaNoticiero PopularLa Wislla PopularEl DeportivoLos PrincipalesGustito BolivianoQD ShowFuego CruzadoHaciendo HistoriaDomingueandoPonte pilasCinemundoTeatro nacionalTu TopClaroscuroEl caféRitmo PopularABC de la medicinaNo MentirasRTP MundoSabado EstelarEl XQ de las noticias- ''Las Noches con Rodrigo Zelaya''
Staff
Current
- Jorge Luis Palenque
- Ángel Careaga
- Valeria Gonzáles
- Pepe Murillo
- Inés Quispe
- Eduardo Godoy
- Soraya Delfin
- Irguen Pastén
- Sofía Aracena
- Álvaro Funes
- Marco Tarifa
Former
- Carlos Palenque
- Adolfo Paco
- Edgar Pato Patiño
- Mónica Medina
- Remedios Loza
- Perico Perez
Channel announcer
- Dieter Rocha