8tv

8TV was a private television channel serving Catalonia, Spain, and one of the region’s principal commercial broadcasters alongside the public television system. It broadcast primarily in Catalan and combined local and regional news, talk shows, entertainment, sports, films, series, contests, documentaries and imported programming. The channel was based in Barcelona and ultimately operated under Emissions Digitals de Catalunya, a company acquired by OC 2022 in 2021. The service began broadcasting on 23 April 2001 as Citytv Barcelona. Grupo Godó held the dominant shareholding, with Orfeó Català as a minority partner. Its launch represented the first European use of the Citytv brand, which was licensed from CHUM Television International in Canada. Initially designed as a local Barcelona station, it transmitted on UHF channel 29 and gradually extended its analogue reach to the city’s surrounding municipalities and other Catalan population centres, including Girona and Lleida. The channel’s development was closely connected to Catalonia’s transition from analogue broadcasting to digital terrestrial television. In 2003, Emissions Digitals de Catalunya won a licence connected with digital broadcasting across Catalonia. Although the initial launch of digital terrestrial television in the Catalan Countries was delayed, the station continued expanding through analogue distribution. It began limited DVB-T broadcasting in Barcelona in March 2005 and broadened its digital availability to Tarragona, Girona and Lleida in April 2006. A sequence of rebrandings established the 8TV identity. Citytv became 8TV in late 2005 as its owners sought to position it as a private Catalan broadcaster. On 27 February 2006, it was briefly renamed TD8, short for Televisió Digital 8, before adopting the 8TV - vuit televisió name later that year. These changes accompanied the move toward a Catalonia-wide service. During the late 2000s, 8TV reduced its reliance on original production and increased its use of dubbed series, films and programmes previously associated with TV3. It retained selected entertainment and information shows and developed substantial cooperation with Grupo Godó’s RAC1 radio network, including televised versions of radio programmes. Its better-known programmes included Arucitys, 8 al dia, Envasat al 8, X-tra, Amics, coneguts i saludats, Notícies 8, Força Barça and various film, series and documentary slots. In 2015, Grupo Godó and Mediaset España formed an alliance intended to strengthen the channel. Mediaset acquired 40 percent of Emissions Digitals de Catalunya, the company behind 8TV. The arrangement did not prevent later programming contraction. Arucitys ended in 2018 after presenter Alfonso Arús moved to LaSexta, and 8 al dia was subsequently discontinued. The channel then relied more heavily on acquired series, films, contests, documentaries and other programming that had previously appeared on TV3. After OC 2022 acquired Emissions Digitals de Catalunya in 2021, 8TV entered a restructuring phase. The new owners sought to increase live, internally produced news and entertainment, recruit recognizable Catalan media and political figures, and compete more directly with TV3. The strategy gave the channel a more explicitly opinion-led and politically engaged profile, but it did not produce a sustainable financial turnaround. On 2 June 2023, Emissions Digitals de Catalunya announced a moratorium on debt payments to allow negotiations with creditors. Following an extension related to its broadcasting concession, the company filed for bankruptcy. 8TV was initially expected to stop broadcasting on 15 October 2023, but the final transmission ended at approximately 00:03 Central European Summer Time on 17 October 2023. The closure ended more than two decades of operation under the Citytv, TD8 and 8TV identities.

8TV originated as Citytv Barcelona, a local private station launched on 23 April 2001. Grupo Godó, the media group associated with La Vanguardia and RAC1, held 95 percent of the venture, while Orfeó Català held the remaining 5 percent. The station transmitted from Barcelona on UHF channel 29 and used the Citytv name under licence from CHUM Television International. This made it the first European broadcaster to use the Citytv franchise identity, which had originated in Canada. Although Citytv was initially local, it gradually extended coverage beyond the city. Its development coincided with the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Catalonia. Emissions Digitals de Catalunya won a digital broadcasting licence in 2003, with Grupo Godó participating in the commercial bid. The first Catalan digital television rollout encountered delays, so the station continued expanding its analogue footprint. Limited DVB-T transmission began in Barcelona in March 2005, followed by availability in Tarragona, Girona and Lleida in April 2006. The owners changed the station’s public identity as its reach expanded. Citytv became 8TV in late 2005 and was renamed TD8 on 27 February 2006. The TD8 name was short-lived; later in 2006 the service returned to an 8TV-branded identity, styled as 8TV - vuit televisió. The channel subsequently operated as a Catalonia-wide private general-interest broadcaster, principally in Catalan, although imported films and series were commonly dubbed in Spanish. In the second half of the 2000s, 8TV reduced the proportion of programming produced internally. Its schedule combined a smaller group of entertainment and information programmes with acquired films, series and documentaries. The station also increased its relationship with RAC1, allowing selected radio programmes to receive television versions. Programmes associated with the channel included Arucitys, Envasat al 8, X-tra, Amics, coneguts i saludats, Notícies 8 and Força Barça. The channel also carried the game show Ni de conya!, which premiered in January 2011. A significant programming shift occurred in 2011 with the arrival of journalist and presenter Josep Cuní. His current-affairs programme 8 al dia premiered on 12 September and became one of the channel’s most prominent offerings. Television versions of RAC1 programmes, including Tu diràs and La competència en color, also formed part of the schedule. In 2015, Grupo Godó entered an alliance with Mediaset España. Mediaset acquired a 40 percent interest in Emissions Digitals de Catalunya, the company operating 8TV, in an attempt to improve the channel’s competitive position. Later, however, the station lost two of its most recognizable programme pillars. Arucitys ended in 2018 when Alfonso Arús moved to LaSexta, and 8 al dia was also discontinued. The schedule subsequently moved back toward films, series, contests and documentaries, including material previously broadcast by TV3. OC 2022 acquired Emissions Digitals de Catalunya in 2021 and initiated a reform intended to make 8TV more reliant on live original programming. The new strategy emphasized news and entertainment produced for the channel and recruited figures connected with Catalan politics and TV3. Its stated competitive ambition was to challenge TV3 and attract viewers dissatisfied with the public broadcaster. The repositioning gave 8TV a more strongly opinionated profile but did not resolve the financial problems of its operating company. On 2 June 2023, Emissions Digitals de Catalunya declared a moratorium on debt payments, opening a three-month period for creditor negotiations. After an extension connected with the broadcasting concession, the company filed for bankruptcy. The channel was expected to close on 15 October, but its actual final broadcast occurred at approximately 00:03 CEST on 17 October 2023. 8TV therefore ended as a defunct Catalan-language private television brand after operating through several corporate structures and three principal identities: Citytv, TD8 and 8TV.

1. 2023Broadcasting ends

   Following debt difficulties and bankruptcy proceedings involving its operating company, 8TV ends transmission on 17 October.

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2. 2021OC 2022 acquires the operating company

   OC 2022 buys Emissions Digitals de Catalunya and begins a plan to increase original live programming.

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3. 2015Mediaset alliance

   Mediaset España acquires 40 percent of Emissions Digitals de Catalunya as part of a commercial and programming alliance.

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4. 20118 al dia premieres

   Josep Cuní’s news and current-affairs programme 8 al dia begins on 12 September.

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5. 2006TD8 rebrand and wider digital availability

   The channel adopts the TD8 name in February, expands digital availability to Tarragona, Girona and Lleida in April, and later returns to an 8TV-branded identity.

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6. 2005Digital transmission begins and Citytv becomes 8TV

   Limited DVB-T transmission begins in Barcelona, and the Citytv brand is replaced by 8TV later in the year.

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7. 2003Digital broadcasting licence awarded

   Emissions Digitals de Catalunya wins a licence connected with digital terrestrial broadcasting across Catalonia.

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8. 2001Launch as Citytv Barcelona

   The station begins local broadcasting in Barcelona on 23 April under the Citytv name.

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A privately owned Catalan-language general-interest television channel positioned as a commercial alternative to Catalonia’s public broadcaster, with a mix of regional news, entertainment, talk, sport and acquired programming.

• Regional news and current affairsTelevision programming

  The channel’s news output included Notícies 8 and the prominent current-affairs programme 8 al dia. These programmes were part of 8TV’s effort to establish a Catalan commercial alternative in news, debate and political commentary, particularly during periods when the channel emphasized live original production.

• Entertainment and talk programmingTelevision programming

  Entertainment formed a recurring part of the schedule through programmes such as Arucitys, Envasat al 8, X-tra and Amics, coneguts i saludats. The mix included talk, comedy, celebrity discussion and general-interest formats, with Arucitys becoming one of the channel’s most recognizable shows before its presenter moved to LaSexta.

• Films and seriesTelevision programming2001

  8TV regularly filled parts of its schedule with older films, imported series and dubbed fiction. This acquired-programming strategy became more important after the channel reduced original production and after several flagship entertainment and news programmes left the schedule.

• Sports programmingTelevision programming

  Sports content included Força Barça, reflecting the channel’s broader effort to combine local-interest programming with general entertainment. Sports occupied a smaller role than news, talk and acquired fiction but was part of the channel’s recognizable programme portfolio.

• 2023Debt moratorium and cessation of broadcastingOther

  Emissions Digitals de Catalunya faced debts that required negotiations with creditors and later entered bankruptcy proceedings.

  What changed. The company declared a debt moratorium on 2 June, sought additional time concerning its concession, and subsequently filed for bankruptcy.

  Aftermath. 8TV stopped transmitting at approximately 00:03 CEST on 17 October 2023.

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• 2021Attempt to rebuild 8TV around original live programmingStrategy

  OC 2022 acquired the operating company after years in which 8TV had reduced original production and relied heavily on acquired series, films and documentaries.

  What changed. The new owner sought to expand live news and entertainment and recruited figures associated with Catalan politics and TV3.

  Aftermath. The repositioning aimed to compete with TV3 but was followed by debt difficulties and the channel’s closure in 2023.

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• 2015Strategic alliance with Mediaset EspañaM&A

  The channel’s owners sought to improve 8TV’s commercial and programming position.

  What changed. Mediaset España acquired 40 percent of Emissions Digitals de Catalunya, the company operating 8TV.

  Aftermath. The alliance reinforced selected programmes but did not prevent later cancellations and a return to heavier reliance on acquired content.

  Ownership stake. 40% (2015)

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• 2005Rebrand from Citytv to 8TVGeneration change

  The station was expanding beyond its original local identity while digital terrestrial television was being relaunched in Catalonia.

  What changed. The owners replaced the licensed Citytv identity with the 8TV brand and positioned the service as a private Catalan broadcaster.

  Aftermath. The channel continued through a further TD8 rebrand in 2006 before settling on the 8TV identity.

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• 2023Emissions Digitals de Catalunya enters a debt moratorium

  The company managing 8TV declared a moratorium on debt payments on 2 June, beginning a period for negotiations with creditors.

  Bankruptcy
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• 20238TV ceases broadcasting

  After the operating company filed for bankruptcy, the channel’s final transmission ended at approximately 00:03 CEST on 17 October 2023.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2018Arucitys leaves 8TV

  The channel ended its broadcast of Arucitys after presenter Alfonso Arús joined LaSexta for a nationally distributed programme with a similar format.

  Leadership change
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• 2015Mediaset España acquires a minority stake in the channel’s operating company

  Grupo Godó and Mediaset España entered an alliance, with Mediaset acquiring 40 percent of Emissions Digitals de Catalunya in an effort to reinforce 8TV.

  M&A
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• 20068TV is briefly renamed TD8

  The service changed its name to TD8, or Televisió Digital 8, in February before returning later in the year to the 8TV - vuit televisió identity.

  Product generation
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• 2005The channel adopts the 8TV identity

  Citytv was renamed 8TV as its owners moved to present the service as a private Catalan broadcaster during the expansion of digital terrestrial television.

  Product generation
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• 2001Citytv Barcelona begins broadcasting

  The channel launched in Barcelona on 23 April under the Citytv name, with Grupo Godó as its principal shareholder and Orfeó Català as a minority partner.

  Product launch
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1. 8TV (Catalonia)
2. 8TV official website