Channel 7 (Mendoza, Argentina)
| Company type | Television station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | April 28, 1958 |
| Founder | Juan Gómez |
| Headquarters | Las Heras, Mendoza , Argentina |
| Products | Television programming |
| Owner | Grupo América |
elsieteTV (call letters LV 89 TV) is a television station transmitting from Las Heras, located in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The channel features programming from América TV and is under the ownership of Grupo América.
History
Canal 7 Mendoza was founded on April 28, 1958, when the National Executive Power issued a broadcasting license to entrepreneur Juan Gómez. Managed by Difusora Mendoza, the station commenced operations on February 7, 1961, as LV 89 TV Canal 7. It holds the distinction of being the first television outlet in western Argentina and one of the earliest within the nation’s interior regions.
During the 1960s, Canal 7 broadened its coverage by establishing repeaters in Tupungato (1963), Uspallata (1969), La Paz, and Cerro Diamante. In 1966, the station adopted videotape technology and started live outdoor transmissions, including comprehensive broadcasts of the National Grape Harvest Festival.
On October 8, 1973, the Argentine government intervened and revoked its private operating license. The station transitioned to color broadcasts on June 1, 1981. After a public tender, Estornell S.A. was awarded the license in 1983. Two years later, a new transmitter was installed atop Cerro Arco, significantly improving signal coverage throughout Greater Mendoza and adjacent Andean areas.
In September 1997, Grupo UNO (currently known as Grupo América) took ownership of Canal 7. By 1999, the station received authorization to conduct digital terrestrial television (DTT) trials employing the ATSC standard. A powerful 20 kW transmitter was added at Cerro Arco in 2008; subsequently, in 2010, DTT testing commenced using ISDB-T technology, eventually obtaining UHF Channel 31 for ongoing high-definition broadcasts.
The official launch of HD transmissions occurred on June 12, 2012, with a rebranding to El Siete following in 2013. By 2015, Canal 7 had fully adopted digital terrestrial television technology. After prolonged legal challenges, Canal 7 was incorporated into DirecTV’s Mendoza service lineup on October 23, 2018.
Currently, the channel retransmits content from América TV while producing local shows such as Noticiero 7, Hola Mendoza, and Sentí la tarde. Several productions like Vinos y Placeres and Brava en el 7 have been honored with Martín Fierro Federal awards.