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{{short description|Nicaraguan television network}}
{{for|the postcode|TN postcode area}}
{{mi|
{{Copy edit|date=July 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2006}}
}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name            = TN8
| logo            = [[File:TN8 Nicaragua.svg|200px]]
| launch_date     = July 15, 1956 (first version)<br/>December 9, 1992 (second version)
| owner           = Televisora Nicaraguense S.A. <small>(Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo)</small>
| country         = [[Nicaragua]]
| language        = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| former_names    =
| website         = http://www.tn8.tv/
| picture_format  = [[480i]] [[SDTV]]
| sister_channels =
| terr_serv_1     = [[Very high frequency|Analog VHF]]
| terr_chan_1     = Channel 8
| terr_serv_2     =
| terr_chan_2     =
| terr_serv_3     =
| terr_chan_3     =
}}
'''Telenica''' (branded as '''TN8''') is a nationwide state-run terrestrial [[television]] channel from [[Nicaragua]], founded by Nicaraguan businessman [[Carlos Briceño]] in 1992. The channel was bought by Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo in late 2009, yet it was not made public until January 2010, the change in ownership led to a change in profile. TN8 is one of Nicaragua's main channels.
Before nationalization, Telenica, S.A. was also the owner of Radio 8, a local [[radio]] station. Canal 8 has the number one news program in the country (Crónica TN8), and it also has the number one sports show in the country.
In January 2010, the television channel was sold to private investors for an undisclosed amount.<ref>Briceño confirma venta de Canal 8 - http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/01/14/nacionales/13142</ref>  Local news reports have alleged that the buyers were family members of President Daniel Ortega.<ref>Sale of Private Broadcaster Sparks Concerns In Nicaragua - http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/january/22/centam-10012204.htm</ref>
==History==
===1950s and 60s===
Channel 8 was the first TV channel to go on air in Nicaragua, being founded by Somoza García on July 15, 1956, though according to the 1957 Television Factbook, the station started in August that year, before suspending its operations in October.<ref name=tvfactbook1>{{cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1957-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1957-all.pdf |title=Television Factbook |date=1957 |accessdate=7 October 2022 |page=281 }}</ref> The channel did not have an instant success, given that television sets were not available for much of the Nicaraguan population.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinco décadas después... (Five decades later...) |url=https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2001/08/01/economia/767870-cinco-dcadas-despus |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=La Prensa |date=1 August 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013174724/https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2001/08/01/economia/767870-cinco-dcadas-despus |archive-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> By 1962, it was  believed to operate under the '''YNSA-TV''' calls.<ref name=tvfactbook2>{{cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1962-63-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1963.pdf |title=Television Factbook |date=1963 |accessdate=7 October 2022 |page=847 }}</ref>
The channel was owned by '''Televisión de Nicaragua, S.A.''' and broadcast from the building of the now-defunct Novedades newspaper, which, like the station, was owned by Anastasio Somoza García. Equipment came from abroad and was controlled by technicians and engineers from Radio Managua and the United States. Its manager was journalist Luis Hidalgo. The lineup was limited, the station regularly broadcast from 6:30pm to 9pm, with live and filmed programming, later adding folklore programming and baseball matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Primeros |url=https://www.laprensani.com/2006/09/11/espectaculo/1471054-primeros |access-date=19 September 2023 |website=La Prensa |date=11 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919134830/https://www.laprensani.com/2006/09/11/espectaculo/1471054-primeros |archive-date=19 September 2023}}</ref>
During the channel's early years, the channel carried a significant number of sports broadcasts, including soccer and baseball matches, with the aim of competing with radio. In 1961, the channel improved its equipment and its coverage extended to the Pacific area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historia de la radiodifusión en Nicaragua (History of broadcasting in Nicaragua) |url=http://www.oei.es/cultura2/Nicaragua/07b.htm |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013174724/https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2001/08/01/economia/767870-cinco-dcadas-despus |archive-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> Channels 8 and 6 merged in 1962. It is unknown when did the channel cease operations under government control.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinco décadas después... (Five decades later...) |url=https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2001/08/01/economia/767870-cinco-dcadas-despus |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=La Prensa |date=1 August 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013174724/https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2001/08/01/economia/767870-cinco-dcadas-despus |archive-date=13 October 2021}}</ref>
===As a private channel under Carlos Briceño===
In the early 1990s, the Nicaraguan television monopoly held by the dissolved [[Sistema Sandinista de Televisión]], thereby split in two companies, one for each channel (Canal 2 and Canal 6), came to its end, and the license to operate channel 8 (reactivated, as the channel had operated before) was given to Telenica, which was founded by journalist Carlos Briceño, a former [[Univisión]] correspondent in Miami and later worked at [[Sistema Nacional de Televisión (Nicaragua)|Sistema Nacional de Televisión]] (Canal 6), on February 3, 1992, beginning operations on December 9 that same year,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pulso del periodismo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vAuAAAAYAAJ&q=%22telenica%22+%22canal+8%22+%221992%22 |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=Google Books |date=1992 }}</ref> though some sources claim it started broadcasting in July.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yu-Gi-Oh! Arrives in Nicaragua: New Broadcast Partnership with Telenica Canal 8 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2016-12-08/yu-gi-oh-arrives-in-nicaragua-new-broadcast-partnership-with-telenica-canal-8/.109655 |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=Anime News Network |date=8 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208214725/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2016-12-08/yu-gi-oh-arrives-in-nicaragua-new-broadcast-partnership-with-telenica-canal-8/.109655 |archive-date=8 December 2016}}</ref> When the channel started, it had the aim of being an alternative to the existing channels, nonetheless the channel operated with limited human resources, prompting the channel to rely heavily on imported programming, provided that the financial resources were sufficient. The equipment was obtained from bank loans and donations from international aid agencies. In the mid-90s, Telenica/TN8 eyed for a possible reconversion to an all-news channel.<ref name="Análisis">{{cite web |title=Análisis del abordaje periodístico de las notas informativas sobre abuso sexual en menores de edad,, publicadas en el portal digital del noticiero Crónica TN8, durante el mes Julio del año 2017. (Analysis of the press viewpoint of reports about sexual abuse in minors, published in Crónica TN8's digital portal, during July 2017.) |url=https://repositorio.unan.edu.ni/9000/1/98424.pdf |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Managua |date=2017 }}</ref>
In early 1994, the channel broadcast between 3:30pm and 11pm. At the time, 15% of the content was news and 10% current affairs programming. When the channel launched, this occupied 53% of the schedule. Three quarters of the programming were international. The channel, like Canal 4, was unaffiliated to [[Asociación de Televisoras de Centroamérica y Panamá|ATELCAP]], meaning that it obtained foreign programming illegally by satellite, without the license of the producers. Telenica also avoided the broadcast of telenovelas and TV series. The reach of the channel was limited to urban areas in and around Managua.<ref name="Media in Latin America">Massenmedien in Lateinamerika, 3: Bolivien, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela</ref>
Under Briceño's control, its programming was aimed to the family audience, concentrating on news broadcasting, informational programming, sports and commentary, specials, series and musical shows. Its high standards of content and productions made it a favorite channel among Nicaraguan viewers. "A synonym of objectivity, credibility and experience, their renowned journalists bring us the most complete information every evening on local and international events". TN8 produced in the latter years of Briceño's administration, an average 5.5 hours of live news programming, for a monthly average of 121 hours, and for national content overall, 13.5 daily hours for a monthly average of 297 hours. While the other channels specialized in telenovelas and movies, TN8 was heavily specialized in news and current affairs programming, motivated by the success of its newscasts.<ref>{{cite web |title=TN8.com.ni - Telenica Canal 8 |url=http://www.telenica.com.ni/ |access-date=20 June 2022 |website=TN8 |date=30 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130085501/http://www.telenica.com.ni/quienes |archive-date=30 January 2010}}</ref>
In 2004, it was reported that TN8 had the highest ratings among the local TV channels, Noticiero Independiente also had surpassed Canal 2's TVNoticias.<ref>{{cite web |title=Telenica 8 en la cima (Telenica 8 at the top) |url=http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/variedades/134671-telenica-8-cima/ |access-date=2 December 2021 |website=El Nuevo Diario |date=25 August 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202183341/http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/variedades/134671-telenica-8-cima/ |archive-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>
In early 2005, its newscast Noticiero Independiente, surpassed the ratings of Sábado Gigante and the telenovelas on Canal 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Noticiero Independiente - Telenica 8 |url=http://www.telenica.com.ni/ |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=TN8 |date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405183947/http://www.telenica.com.ni/ |archive-date=5 April 2005}}</ref>
===Nationalization===
[[File:Telenica-canal-8.png|thumb|Logo used from 2010 to January 2021. The logo was similar in concept to an old one used by [[Canal 13 (Chilean TV network)|Canal 13]] between 2000 and 2005]]
In late 2009, TN8 was acquired by Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo, son of president Daniel Ortega, however it was not officially announced to the public until January 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Los canales de la familia Ortega-Murillo (The channels of the Ortega-Murillo family) |url=https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2017/10/29/suplemento/la-prensa-domingo/2321755-los-canales-la-familia-ortega-murillo |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=La Prensa |date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029100212/https://www.laprensa.com.ni/2017/10/29/suplemento/la-prensa-domingo/2321755-los-canales-la-familia-ortega-murillo |archive-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> The channel was bought for a sum of US$9.7 million, relying on funding from Albanisa, a company with mixed shares from Venezuela and Nicaragua's state-run petrol companies. TN8 therefore became private property of Juan Carlos Ortega.<ref>{{cite web |title=Albanisa: el nuevo emporio (Albanisa: the new emporium) |url=https://archivo.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/21956/albanisa-el-nuevo-empori |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=Confidencial |date=9 June 2015}}</ref> Human rights organizations criticized the sale of Telenica, as the details of the sale were kept in secret and that the presidential family showed a clear lack of transparency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canal 8 repite triste película del pasado |url=http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacional/278548-canal-8-repite-triste-pelicula-pasado/ |access-date=5 January 2022 |website=La Prensa |date=19 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105214033/http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacional/278548-canal-8-repite-triste-pelicula-pasado/ |archive-date=5 January 2022}}</ref> The negotiations with Albanisa were held for months, as one of the three potential options for the sale of the channel, including a negotiation related to a debt the channel has been accumulating since 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canal 8 se está negociando |url=https://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/63718-canal-8-se-esta-negociando/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=La Prensa |date=11 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003051957/https://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/63718-canal-8-se-esta-negociando/|archive-date=3 October 2019}}</ref> Briceño confirmed on January 14, 2010 that the channel was set to be under the Juan Carlos Ortega administration effective January 25.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canal 8 vendido |url=https://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/66080-canal-8-vendido/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=El Nuevo Diario |date=11 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002215452/https://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/66080-canal-8-vendido/|archive-date=2 October 2019}}</ref>
The new administration initiated a rebranding process from its first week in control of the channel. One of the channel's main shows under the Briceño administration, Esta Semana, was replaced with Sin Fronteras, hosted by the pro-government presenter William Grigsby, international news reports from Telesur and excerpts of speeches from [[Daniel Ortega]] during commercial breaks. There was a massive concern over the future of the channel, with many speculating over a potential rebrand to ALBA-TV, and with further concerns about the fact that 51% of the channel was under Venezuelan control, which was illegal by the law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canal 8, venezolano |url=https://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/67058-canal-8-venezolano/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=El Nuevo Diario |date=28 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002151656/https://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/67058-canal-8-venezolano/|archive-date=2 October 2019}}</ref> Grigsby's Sin Fronteras was cancelled on February 11, 2010, as the new owner was changing the format of the channel, from a predominantly news service to an entertainment channel, with telenovelas and movies.<ref>{{cite web |title="Sin Fronteras TV" salió del aire como apareció|url=http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/politica/280116-fronteras-tv-salio-aire-aparecio/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=El Nuevo Diario |date=15 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626221413/http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/politica/280116-fronteras-tv-salio-aire-aparecio/|archive-date=26 June 2022}}</ref>
On September 6, 2010, the newscasts that existed under the Briceño administration (Noticiero 24 Horas, Noticiero Independiente), after being subjected to a change of contents to align it with the FSLN, were replaced by a new one, Crónica TN8.<ref name="Análisis"/>
Related to the change in content, the channel started buying a high number of imported television series and movies, mostly from the United States and Japan, setting deals with international production companies (Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Viacom, Toei Animation, etc. including independent production companies), this included a volume deal with Viacom to provide content for a children's programming slot, Hora Nick. In 2015, Álvaro Rocha, TN8's director of programming, stated that the channel's programming was 20% internal and 80% external, competing with cable, and also had imports in English (with Spanish subtitles), a strategy that "worked very well" for the channel.<ref>{{cite web |title=TN8 Nicaragua: 'Hollywood e independientes como diferencial' (Hollywood and independents as differential) |url=https://www.prensario.net/13018-TN8-Nicaragua-Hollywood-e-independientes-como-diferencial.note.aspx |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=Prensario Internacional |date=19 May 2015 }}</ref>
According to a 2020 investigation by [[Reuters]], TN8 was owned by Yadira Leets, wife of Rafael Ortega (owner of state-run radio station La Nueva Radio Ya). It's unknown if Leets was involved in the 2010 purchase of the channel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ortega media enrich his family, entrench his hold on Nicaragua |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/nicaragua-politics-ortega/ |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=Reuters |date=23 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123121258/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/nicaragua-politics-ortega/ |archive-date=23 November 2020}}</ref>
A spin-off of Crónica TN8, Crónica TN8 Internacionales, premiered at 5pm on September 29, 2021, replacing the sitcoms that aired in that time slot up until then. This caused the creation of an extended block of news programs, as it precedes 8 Deportivo and the main edition of Crónica TN8.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nuevo espacio de noticias con Crónica TN8 – Internacionales |url=https://www.tn8.tv/nacionales/nuevo-espacio-de-noticias-con-cronica-tn8-internacionales/ |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=TN8 |date=29 September 2021 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210929170025/https://www.tn8.tv/nacionales/nuevo-espacio-de-noticias-con-cronica-tn8-internacionales/ |archive-date=29 September 2021}}</ref> Longtime TN8 presenter under Juan Carlos, Karleydi Zelendón, left the channel in 2023 and joined the editorial team of [[Canal 4 (Nicaragua)|Canal 4]].<ref>{{cite web |title=El regreso de Karleydi Zeledón a la tv: Ahora llenará de luz a Multinoticias |url=https://www.tn8.tv/nacionales/el-regreso-de-karleydi-zeledon-a-la-tv-ahora-llenara-de-luz-a-multinoticias/ |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=TN8 |date=10 October 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231011025908/https://www.tn8.tv/nacionales/el-regreso-de-karleydi-zeledon-a-la-tv-ahora-llenara-de-luz-a-multinoticias/ |archive-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
==Programming==
Current programming on TN8 includes:
*Crónica TN8 (news)
*Crónica TN8 Internacionales (world news)
*Estudio TN8 (analysis)
*8 Deportivo (sports news)
*Rebeldes (weekend afternoon program for the youth)
*El Lobby (video games and related topics)
*Hora Nick (kids)
*Hogar y Estilo<ref>{{cite web |title=TN8 trae las mejores soluciones en casa con el nuevo programa "Hogar y Estilo"
|url=https://www.tn8.tv/entretenimiento/tn8-soluciones-hogar-programa-moda-y-estilo/ |access-date=1 April 2022 |website=TN8 |date=24 May 2021 }}</ref>
*International feature films
*E-sports tournaments
==La Rock 22==
Juan Carlos Ortega started UHF channel 22 on December 23, 2015, assigned to another company he controls, Difuso Comunicaciones.<ref>{{cite web |title=Otro canal TV para la familia Ortega (Another TV channel for the Ortega family) |url=https://www.confidencial.com.ni/politica/otro-canal-tv-para-la-familia-ortega/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=Confidencial |date=5 January 2016}}</ref> The channel was sanctioned on July 17, 2020 by the United States Department of Treasury, owing to such sanctions, advertising slots on the channel stopped.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sanciones a empresa Difuso también aniquilan al Canal 22, propiedad de Juan Carlos Ortega (Sanctions to Difuso also annihilate Channel 22, owned by Juan Carlos Ortega) |url=https://www.articulo66.com/2020/07/18/sanciones-difuso-juan-carlos-ortega-estados-unidos/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=Artículo 66 |date=19 July 2020}}</ref> At the time of the sanctions, much of the programming consisted of US imports. Juan Carlos Ortega subsequently renamed the channel to Rock FM (after the radio station) and switched its to predominantly rock music videos to evade the sanctions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Juan Carlos Ortega camufla el Canal 22 con la marca Rock FM, para evadir sanciones de Estados Unidos (Juan Carlos Ortega disguises Channel 22 with the Rock FM brand, to evade sanctions from the United States) |url=https://www.articulo66.com/2020/07/27/juan-carlos-ortega-rock-fm-canal-22-nicaragua-sanciones-ee-uu/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=Artículo 66 |date=29 July 2020}}</ref> The channel was taken off the air on July 29, 2020 from cable operators.<ref>{{cite web |title=Suspenden canal de Difuso de Juan Carlos Ortega (Juan Carlos Ortega's Difuso channel suspended) |url=https://nicaraguainvestiga.com/politica/23318-suspenden-canal-de-difuso-de-juan-carlos-ortega/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=Nicaragua Investiga |date=29 July 2020}}</ref> At an unspecified date, the channel resumed operating under its current name, La Rock 22. The channel is alongside TN8 engaged in the promotion of events like Rock City, with support from the government platform Nicaragua Emprende.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rock City listo para viajar al Diamante de las Segovias, Estelí (Rock City ready to travel to the Diamond of the Segovias, Estelí) |url=https://www.tn8.tv/musica/540244-rock-city-listo-para-viajar-al-diamante-segovias-esteli/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=Artículo 66 |date=14 April 2021}}</ref>
==Controversies==
===Zeta Gas affair===
In July 1998, Mexican oil company Zeta Gas sued the channel due to its airing of a 60 Minutes report about Zeta Gas' ties to drug traffickers.<ref>{{cite book |title=Media Power in Central America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Luz_t4VpyBwC&dq=%22telenica%22+%22zeta+gas%22+1998&pg=PA168 |access-date=3 November 2022 |date=2010 | isbn=9780252092282 | last1=Rockwell | first1=Rick | last2=Janus | first2=Noreene | publisher=University of Illinois Press }}</ref>
===Under the Juan Carlos administration===
In September 2020, Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo tweeted about a situation involving the buying of the Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya anime franchise to the channel that took place in 2011. [[Toei Animation]] offered them first-run prices, but Juan Carlos said that [[Canal 12 (Nicaragua)|Canal 12]] had aired the former before, and hadn't paid for the rights.<ref>{{cite web |title=Juan Carlos Ortega acusa a los propietarios de Canal 12 |url=https://nicaraguainvestiga.com/politica/34867-juan-carlos-ortega-acusa-a-canal-12-de-no-pagar-por-emitir-programas-de-dragon-ball-z/ |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Nicaragua Investiga |date=16 September 2020}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nicaragua TV}}
[[Category:Television stations in Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Spanish-language television stations]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1956]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1992]]