Channel 8 (San Juan, Argentina)
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 2, 1964 |
| Headquarters | San Juan , Argentina |
| Products | Television programming |
| Owner | Grupo América |
Canal Ocho (call sign LV 82 TV) is a television station located in San Juan Province, Argentina. It is owned by Grupo América and retransmits programming from its América TV network.
History
LV 82 TV Canal 8, commonly known as Channel 8, commenced broadcasting on May 2, 1964, establishing itself as a prominent television broadcaster within San Juan Province. During the mid-1970s, under the government of President Isabel Perón, the station was nationalized as part of broader efforts to centralize media control. The station introduced color transmissions on May 1, 1980, marking a significant upgrade in its broadcast technology and viewer engagement.
In 1994, ownership changed hands when the station was sold to an entity that operated Channel 7 and Channel 9 in Mendoza along with LV10 radio. Shortly thereafter, the proprietors divided their assets: those controlling Channel 7 retained Channel 8, whereas the owners of Channel 9 took over LV10. In September 1997, Grupo UNO (presently Grupo América) acquired Channel 8 as part of a package including two additional free-to-air stations. By March 1999, the Argentine Ministry of Communications granted permission for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) trials utilizing the ATSC standard.
Grupo UNO announced plans in November 2012 to divest Channel 8 to adhere to requirements set by the Audiovisual Communication Services Law. Nevertheless, following regulatory changes enacted in December 2015 through Decree 267/2015, this obligation to sell was rescinded.
Technological advancements continued on March 31, 2015, when Channel 8 was assigned Channel 20.1 for high-definition Digital Terrestrial Television broadcasts. At the beginning of 2018, the station discontinued content partnerships with Artear and reinstated programming sourced from América TV. By August of that year, management highlighted a strategic focus on enhancing local content while still incorporating select América TV shows. The full transition to high-definition broadcasting was completed on December 9, 2019, significantly improving broadcast quality throughout San Juan Province.