Did you know that TV Azteca revolutionized Mexican television? It all started in the early 1990s. Mexico decided to privatize some state-owned companies. Among them was Imevisión. It was a struggling television network.
TV Azteca’s story began with a bold move. Ricardo Salinas Pliego purchased Imevisión in 1993. He transformed it into TV Azteca. This marked the birth of Televisa’s first true competitor.
Salinas Pliego invested heavily in new studios. He also updated the transmission network. TV Azteca quickly gained popularity. By mid-1994, Channel 13 reached 85 percent of Mexican homes. Channel 7 reached 65 percent.
TV Azteca challenged Televisa’s dominance. It offered a fresh perspective. The network canceled low-rated programs. TV Azteca launched new shows. These programs were produced or acquired cheaply abroad.
In 1996, TV Azteca changed the telenovela landscape. Nada personal was a hit show. It was based on the seamy realities of Mexican public life. The show featured drug-dealing criminals. It also featured corrupt policemen. Nada personal was filmed in public places around Mexico City.
TV Azteca also introduced innovative programs. Ciudad Desnuda used hidden cameras. It exposed crimes as they occurred. Te cache was a modern version of Candid Camera. The company’s nightly news presented a young anchorman. He countered Televisa’s establishment image.
1997 was a golden year for TV Azteca. The company went public. It raised $604 million in Mexico City and New York. TV Azteca’s share of the prime-time audience rose to 35 percent. It enrolled hundreds of advertisers.
TV Azteca expanded its reach. It purchased a stake in an El Salvador station. TV Azteca also invested in a Guatemala City station. The network aimed to create a national network.
In 1999, TV Azteca faced a challenge. Game-show host Francisco Stanley was murdered. The company blamed the city’s mayor for the high crime rate. Prosecutors arrested several of Stanley’s colleagues. They were charged with the murder.
TV Azteca continued to innovate. In 2000, it partnered with Columbia Pictures Television. They co-produced films. TV Azteca also worked with Pearson plc. They produced game shows.
TV Azteca planned to launch Azteca America Inc. It would be a new Spanish-language network in the U.S.. This venture aimed to capture the growing U.S. Hispanic market.
Today, TV Azteca operates two national networks. These are Azteca 7 and Azteca Uno. It generates over 10,000 hours of content each year. TV Azteca continues to be a major player in Mexican media. It shapes the country’s television landscape.