1974-1999: New television center and expansion
In 1974, due to issues with the new rector of the Catholic University, Jorge Swett Madge—appointed by the Military Junta—Raúl Hasbún resigned from his position. Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte succeeded him. Programming increased, and starting in March of that year, the channel began its daily broadcasts at 9:00 a.m. and continued until 1:00 a.m. It also retransmitted its programs on a delayed basis to La Serena and Coquimbo after signing an agreement with Canal 8 UCV Televisión in 1975.
In 1976, the channel broadcast, in conjunction with National Television, the Chilean team's matches in the Davis Cup and the playoff match of the Copa Libertadores final between Cruzeiro and River Plate at the National Stadium. The channel also extended its signal to other parts of Chile, inaugurating a repeater in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar in November 1976 on channel 8, a frequency previously held by UCV Televisión until February 1969.[24] In December 1976, the channel signed an agreement with the Universidad del Norte Television Network, allowing it to retransmit its programs in Antofagasta, Arica, Calama, Chuquicamata, Iquique, María Elena, and Tocopilla.
In 1975, the Treasury ended the subsidies it had periodically granted to university television stations since their inception. Consequently, Canal 13 began to finance itself solely through advertising and contributions from the Catholic University. However, advertising revenues soon allowed the channel to operate as a commercial station and generate additional profits. This new direction was symbolized by programs created by director Gonzalo Bertrán and presenter César Antonio Santis, who joined from National Television in 1976. They first produced musical specials featuring foreign artists and later created two-hour variety shows, starting with Esta noche fiesta in 1977.
On April 12, 1978, color television transmissions were authorized in Chile, establishing the American NTSC standard as official. Canal 13 adapted quickly, acquiring four RCA TK-760 cameras and a TK-28 equipment within three months.[27] By June, the channel, along with National Television, broadcast the Soccer World Cup from Argentina using this new technology. On December 2 of that year, Canal 13, TVN, and the channels of the University of Chile and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso organized and broadcast the OTI Song Festival at the Municipal Theater of Santiago. Additionally, on December 8 and 9, the channels came together again to broadcast the first Teletón.
In 1981, the soap operas La Madrastra and Casagrande and the news programs Teletarde and Telenoche premiered. Following this, the channel's production increased, and on May 15, 1983, it inaugurated its Television Center in Providencia, moving from the studios on Lira Street. Studio D at the former location, where La Madrastra was recorded, had suffered a fire on July 20, 1981.[28] One of the first programs produced in the new studios was the variety show Martes 13, which launched live from Studio 3 on July 7, 1983. Additionally, Canal 13 continued to expand, premiering its signal in Talca on August 21, 1984, through channel 8, and extending to Chillán and Los Angeles through channel 13 on December 18.
On March 3, 1985, Channel 13 extended the edition of Teletrece until around 1 a.m. in response to the earthquake in Algarrobo. Additionally, on March 8 and 9, the channel organized the first edition of the Chile ayuda a Chile campaign to gather aid for earthquake victims, with a broadcast that lasted more than 30 hours. On September 6 of that year, it began broadcasting in Constitución through channel 9. In 1986, in collaboration with National Television, it broadcast the Davis Cup match involving the Chilean team and premiered the telenovela Ángel Malo, an adaptation of a Brazilian telenovela from 1975, during the first half of the year. The channel also broadcast Secreto de Familia in the second half of the year. Canal 13 continued its expansion by reaching Cauquenes (channel 7) and Temuco (channel 4), with transmissions in Temuco beginning on July 18. In June, it broadcast the 1986 FIFA World Cup from Mexico with TVN, and on July 30, it inaugurated Channel 5's studios in Concepción, modeled after the Providencia Television Center.
In 1987, Channel 13 expanded its reach to several cities: Puerto Montt (channel 13), Osorno (channel 9, starting October 28), Angol (channel 10), San Felipe, Lebu, Lautaro, Traiguén, and Saladillo.[29] From April 1 to 5, it broadcast Pope John Paul II's visit to Chile live as the official channel, at the request of the Chilean episcopate, and was the only station to cover the entire event. Additionally, on August 7 and 8, Sábados Gigantes celebrated its 25th anniversary with a 25-hour special program. Finally, from October 10 to 25, it co-broadcast the U-20 Soccer World Cup held in Chile that year with National Television. In addition, the comedy show De chincol a jote premiered that year.[30]
During 1990, Universidad Católica de Chile Televisión achieved national coverage, reaching from Arica (channel 8) to Quellón (channel 5).[31] On May 29, 1991, the channel, along with Televisión Nacional de Chile, broadcast the final match of the 1991 Copa Libertadores, achieving high ratings for both channels. The broadcast was presented by Pedro Carcuro, Ignacio Hernández (for TVN), and Alberto Fouillioux (for Channel 13). On June 5, both channels broadcast the second leg of the 1991 Copa Libertadores final, again with high ratings for both stations. This broadcast was directed by Gonzalo Bertrán and presented by Pedro Carcuro, Sergio Livingstone (for TVN), Alberto Fouillioux, and Julio Martínez (for Channel 13). Additionally, on June 28, the channel added the American series The Simpsons to its schedule, which became a long-standing and iconic program on Channel 13. Coverage continued to expand in 1991, reaching Vallenar, Rancagua, and Punta Arenas.[32] At the beginning of 1992, the channel began broadcasting in the communes of Petorca and Illapel. In Punta Arenas, the signal began transmitting on May 15, 1991, with 6 hours of programming initially, which was gradually extended. This system remained in place until April 1993, when it was replaced by live satellite signals from Santiago.
On March 16, 1992, the press department underwent a restructuring, with Eduardo Riveros taking over at Teletarde. As a result, Jeanette Frazier and the announcer Augusto Gatica left the news reading roles. Gatica then became the official voice-over of the channel, along with Christian Gordon, until August 1997. Additionally, on December 26, Sábado Gigante was broadcast for the last time from Santiago; the program subsequently moved to the Univision network in the United States. The soap operas Marrón Glacé and Doble Juego were also released. Furthermore, Channel 13 achieved definitive national coverage with its arrival in the Aysén Region.
In December 1994, the final stage of the Television Center was inaugurated with the presence of President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte. The center became the television channel with the largest infrastructure area in the country at that time, covering 30,000 square meters. That same year, Punta Arenas began to be broadcast in Compressed Digital Image format via satellite from the channel's Press Department. On May 1, 1995, the press department underwent a renewal, with Javier Miranda taking over Teletrece, Eduardo Riveros heading Teletarde, and Jorge Díaz Saenger or Loreto Delpin in Telenoche. On July 25, Martes 13 was broadcast for the last time, and on October 16, Viva el Lunes premiered. In terms of sports, the channel broadcast last season's Copa Interamericana final from the Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo.
In 1996, the channel broadcast the Chilean team's matches in the Davis Cup, a trend that continued in 1997 and 1998. Additionally, in February of that year, it extended its signal to Coyhaique on channel 6. However, on November 13, Channel 13 ended local production in Concepción after 23 years due to economic issues, converting Channel 5 into a full-time repeater of programming from Santiago. On April 24, Channel 13 broadcast the Qualifiers for France '98, covering the Chilean soccer team's away matches against Venezuela, Argentina, and Ecuador. In 1997, the channel began broadcasting 24 hours a day on weekends and premiered telenovelas such as Adrenalina, Playa Salvaje, Marparaíso, and Fuera de Control.[33]
In 1998, Channel 13 was awarded the broadcast rights to the Copa Libertadores de América, which had previously belonged to Megavisión. The channel also acquired the children’s program Cachureos, which had previously been broadcast on Televisión Nacional and had four seasons on Channel 13. Additionally, in July, the channel broadcast the Chilean team's Davis Cup match against Colombia for the last time. On July 18, Eleodoro Rodríguez Matte, the director of the television station since 1974, passed away. Rodrigo Jordán succeeded him as director on August 6.
