Cuban Institute of Radio and Television
Encyclopedia
The Cuban Institute of Radio and Television is the organization responsible for the control of radio and television broadcasters in Cuba.
The popularity of radio led to the development and launch of television stations. The first years of television in Cuba were marked by a climate of competitiveness between two Cuban businessmen who were backed by US companies: Gaspar Pumarejo by DuMont
and Goar Mestre by RCA Victor
. Mestre started construction of a building called Radio Center transmissions, inspired by the Radio City in New York, while Gaspar Pumarejo tried to develop a television studio in his own home trying to be the first in establishing a TV station.
Gaspar Pumarejo's channel, Channel 4 (Unión Radio Televisión) was the first TV channel to start broadcasts in the island; it began broadcasting on 24 October 1950 with an address by President Carlos Prío Socarrás
from the Presidential Palace. Mestre began broadcasts on Channel 6 (CMQ) on 18 December that year, and both networks would develop a program similar to the radio, in addition to live sports and special events. On 18 February 1953, Channel 2 (Telemundo) began its broadcasts.
With the advent of the Cuban Revolution
in 1959, the new government applied a series of measures that transformed all national media. Radio Rebelde
, the first radio station developed under the revolution, started broadcasting on 24 February.
During the early years of the revolution there was a division between the mainstream media in Cuba, created with private capital and against the new political situation and a series of small radio stations whose editorial line was in favor of the new government, which organized an "Independent Front of Free Broadcasters" (. These radio stations were recognized as official by the new government. The government develops an Bureau of Broadcasting, attached to the Ministry of Communications and attended by the political leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba
. Radio stations and television channels in the country were completely put under state control on 24 May 1962 under the management of the newly established Cuban Broadcasting Institute. Under the new broadcasting system, all media must meet a set of values established by the government to strengthen the political process in the country, some names of TV and radio stations are changed and the coverage of the TV and radio services are extended to reach the whole country. In 1975, the institute changes its name to the "Cuban Institute of Radio and Television", but maintained the same attributions it had under its past name.
The ICRT also has several regional radio stations, and Radio Havana Cuba
, an international broadcaster.
The institute also has a network of provincial channels and Cubavision International
, which broadcasts via a number of satellite services.
History
Cuba was one of the first countries in the Americas to have radio and television services. In 1922, under the cooperation of the US-based International Telephone and Telegraph, the first radio station in the country (2LC) began broadcasts on 22 August. However, the first regular broadcasts were made by the PWX on 10 October, with the issuance of a speech by President Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso. The radio stations in the country were developed by private initiatives, and its programming was initially based on news and entertainment.The popularity of radio led to the development and launch of television stations. The first years of television in Cuba were marked by a climate of competitiveness between two Cuban businessmen who were backed by US companies: Gaspar Pumarejo by DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
and Goar Mestre by RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. Mestre started construction of a building called Radio Center transmissions, inspired by the Radio City in New York, while Gaspar Pumarejo tried to develop a television studio in his own home trying to be the first in establishing a TV station.
Gaspar Pumarejo's channel, Channel 4 (Unión Radio Televisión) was the first TV channel to start broadcasts in the island; it began broadcasting on 24 October 1950 with an address by President Carlos Prío Socarrás
Carlos Prío Socarrás
Carlos Prío Socarrás was the President of Cuba from 1948 until he was deposed by a military coup led by Fulgencio Batista on March 10, 1952, three months before new elections were to be held.- Governance :...
from the Presidential Palace. Mestre began broadcasts on Channel 6 (CMQ) on 18 December that year, and both networks would develop a program similar to the radio, in addition to live sports and special events. On 18 February 1953, Channel 2 (Telemundo) began its broadcasts.
With the advent of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
in 1959, the new government applied a series of measures that transformed all national media. Radio Rebelde
Radio Rebelde
Radio Rebelde is a Cuban Spanish-language radio station. It broadcasts 24 hours a day with a varied program of national and international music hits of the moment, news reports and live sport events...
, the first radio station developed under the revolution, started broadcasting on 24 February.
During the early years of the revolution there was a division between the mainstream media in Cuba, created with private capital and against the new political situation and a series of small radio stations whose editorial line was in favor of the new government, which organized an "Independent Front of Free Broadcasters" (. These radio stations were recognized as official by the new government. The government develops an Bureau of Broadcasting, attached to the Ministry of Communications and attended by the political leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
. Radio stations and television channels in the country were completely put under state control on 24 May 1962 under the management of the newly established Cuban Broadcasting Institute. Under the new broadcasting system, all media must meet a set of values established by the government to strengthen the political process in the country, some names of TV and radio stations are changed and the coverage of the TV and radio services are extended to reach the whole country. In 1975, the institute changes its name to the "Cuban Institute of Radio and Television", but maintained the same attributions it had under its past name.
Radio
The ICRT has several nationwide radio stations:- Radio RebeldeRadio RebeldeRadio Rebelde is a Cuban Spanish-language radio station. It broadcasts 24 hours a day with a varied program of national and international music hits of the moment, news reports and live sport events...
- Radio ProgresoRadio ProgresoRadio Progreso is a Cuban Spanish language radio station....
- Radio TainoRadio TaínoRadio Taíno is a Cuban Spanish language radio station.Taíno Radio Station, the tourism radio station of Cuba, broadcasting 24 hours a day from Radio Center Havana.-External links:*...
- Radio RelojRadio RelojRadio Reloj is an internationally-broadcast Spanish language radio station, located in Cuba.The station is heard on various AM frequencies throughout the country and also on certain FM frequencies, such as 101.5 FM in Havana....
- CMBF Radio Musical Nacional
- Radio Enciclopedia
The ICRT also has several regional radio stations, and Radio Havana Cuba
Radio Havana Cuba
Radio Havana Cuba is the official government-run international broadcasting station of Cuba. It can be heard in many parts of the world including the United States on shortwave at 6000 kHz and other frequencies...
, an international broadcaster.
Television
Cuba has several television channels; which are known for airing various kinds of locally-produced programming (soap operas, recitals, documentaries and comedy programs), but have begun airing foreign children and family-focused programming, even from the United States.- Cubavisión (founded in 1950)
- Tele Rebelde (founded in 1968)
- Canal Educativo (founded 2001)
- Canal Educativo 2 (founded in 2004)
- Multivisión (founded in 2008)
The institute also has a network of provincial channels and Cubavision International
Cubavision International
Cubavision International is an internationally broadcast Spanish language channel run by Cuba's national broadcaster, Cuban Television. The channel offers the world a variety of programming, the production of which is entirely Cuban...
, which broadcasts via a number of satellite services.