Cadenatres

Cadenatres was a Mexican television network operated by Grupo Imagen, the media subsidiary of Grupo Empresarial Ángeles. It was created around the Mexico City terrestrial station XHRAE-TV, which Grupo Empresarial Ángeles acquired from Raúl Aréchiga Espinoza on July 18, 2006. The station was relaunched under the CadenaTres name on May 28, 2007, with an ambition expressed in the brand itself: to become Mexico’s third major privately owned national television network, challenging the established dominance of Televisa and TV Azteca. The network began with its principal signal in Mexico City and the Federal District–Valley of Mexico area. Its reach was subsequently extended through subscription television systems and a small number of over-the-air affiliates, including stations serving Ciudad Juárez, Mexicali and Nogales. In 2009, the flagship station’s call sign changed from XHRAE-TV to XHTRES-TV, aligning the station more closely with the network identity. Cadenatres assembled a general-entertainment schedule rather than concentrating on a single audience segment. Its output included news, films, sports, comedy, political satire, drama, telenovelas, daytime talk and variety shows, children’s programs, youth-oriented technology and gaming series, and imported programming. News was a central part of the service. Daily morning, afternoon and evening newscasts were supplemented by hourly updates. Presenters associated with the network included Yuriria Sierra, Pedro Ferriz de Con, Pablo Hiriart and Francisco Zea. The channel’s news presentation was known for strong editorial commentary by its anchors. Sports programming initially emphasized boxing and wrestling, while the network later added selected Liga MX soccer coverage after Grupo Imagen acquired Querétaro FC. International programming partnerships brought Latin American serials and telenovelas from companies and networks including Venevision, Televen, Telemundo and RCN, as well as United States programming acquired through Sony Entertainment Television Latin America. Cadenatres also developed locally produced entertainment. Its association with Argos beginning in 2010 produced original dramas including Las Aparicio, El Sexo Débil and El octavo mandamiento. Political satire became one of the brand’s most distinctive areas through Mikorte Informativo, a news-parody program that premiered in 2009. The show later helped generate the Barra Desinformativa weekend comedy block, which included El Incorrecto and Ya ni llorar es bueno. Other programming included the cooking series Cocinemos Juntos, the entertainment programs No lo cuentes and En compañía de..., retro television blocks, and children’s and youth programming supplied or produced through various partnerships. The network operated in a difficult regulatory and competitive environment. Its national-network ambitions were constrained by the limited availability of terrestrial stations and by competition from Mexico’s long-established television duopoly. The 2013 Federal Telecommunications Act created an opportunity for new nationwide digital networks, and on March 11, 2015, Grupo Imagen was awarded the operation of one of the planned national networks. Despite that award, Grupo Imagen closed Cadenatres on October 26, 2015. The flagship channel’s programming was replaced by Excélsior TV, while Grupo Imagen redirected its resources toward a new nationwide service. Imagen Televisión eventually launched on October 17, 2016. Cadenatres therefore ended as a regional and multichannel network rather than becoming the national “third network” originally envisioned.

Cadenatres emerged from Grupo Empresarial Ángeles' expansion into Mexican broadcasting. On July 18, 2006, the group acquired XHRAE-TV, a Mexico City terrestrial station previously owned by Raúl Aréchiga Espinoza. Grupo Imagen, the group's media division, relaunched the station on May 28, 2007, as CadenaTres. The name referred to the network's strategic objective of becoming Mexico's third important private television network, positioned against Televisa and TV Azteca. The service initially covered Mexico City and the surrounding Federal District and Valley of Mexico. It later reached viewers nationwide through cable and other subscription television systems, supplemented by informal or affiliated over-the-air stations in Ciudad Juárez, Mexicali and Nogales. The flagship station changed its call sign from XHRAE-TV to XHTRES-TV by September 30, 2009. Although the brand had national ambitions, its terrestrial footprint remained limited, and the established two-network structure, regulatory restrictions on acquiring stations, and the cost of national distribution made expansion difficult. Cadenatres built a broad commercial schedule. News occupied a prominent place, with morning, afternoon and evening editions and frequent updates. Yuriria Sierra led the afternoon newscast, while Pedro Ferriz de Con, Pablo Hiriart and later Francisco Zea were among the principal evening-news anchors. The network's editorial style was assertive, with anchors often delivering pointed opinions alongside conventional reporting. Sports coverage included boxing and wrestling and later selected Liga MX matches associated with Grupo Imagen's ownership of Querétaro FC. Fiction and entertainment were developed through external partnerships. Deals with Venevision, Televen, Telemundo and RCN supplied Latin American serials and telenovelas, while an arrangement with Sony Entertainment Television Latin America provided imported series and reality programming such as The Shield, CSI: New York and Latin American Idol. A 2010 agreement with Argos was particularly important for local scripted production. It generated Las Aparicio, El Sexo Débil and El octavo mandamiento, programs that gave Cadenatres a more distinctive identity than a schedule based solely on acquired content. A separate 2012 collaboration with Adicta Films produced the sitcoms El Albergue and La Clínica, although those shows received a generally negative critical and audience response. The network's best-known original comedy was Mikorte Informativo, a satirical news program that premiered on November 29, 2009. Its fictional presenters, depicted as simian news anchors from the planet Mikón, commented on current Mexican affairs in a format resembling a parody newscast. Its popularity led to Barra Desinformativa in 2014, a weekend block that included El Incorrecto, hosted by Eduardo Videgaray and José Ramón San Cristóbal, and Ya ni llorar es bueno, hosted by Gon Curiel. Cadenatres also offered daytime variety and talk shows such as Bien familiar and Nuestro Día, the cooking program Cocinemos Juntos, and entertainment reporting led by Gustavo Adolfo Infante. Children's and youth programming expanded the brand's audience. Early weekday cartoon blocks included programs associated with Sony, while later weekend schedules emphasized older anime, American cartoons and nostalgic children's series. Youth content from Epic Network covered video games, Asian popular culture, consumer technology, social networks and music through programs including Gamer#Tag, CTRLGAMER, Japantastic, TechCity, LOL TV and top diez. Some of this material continued through other outlets after the network closed. A major opportunity appeared after Mexico's 2013 Federal Telecommunications Act mandated the creation of two nationwide digital networks. On March 11, 2015, Grupo Imagen received authorization to operate one of them, apparently bringing the long-standing third-network ambition within reach. Nevertheless, Grupo Imagen unexpectedly discontinued Cadenatres on October 26, 2015. The flagship channel carried Excélsior TV afterward, and most Cadenatres programming ended abruptly, apart from news-related material and paid programming. Contemporary accounts associated the closure with a strategic decision to concentrate on the forthcoming national network; approximately 300 employees were reportedly affected, although that employment figure is not independently quantified here. Imagen Televisión launched nationally on October 17, 2016. Cadenatres consequently remains a defunct predecessor brand in Grupo Imagen's Mexican broadcasting history.

1. 2016Imagen Televisión launch

   Grupo Imagen launched Imagen Televisión as the national successor to its network-building strategy.

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2. 2015National network authorization

   Grupo Imagen was granted operation of one of Mexico's planned nationwide over-the-air digital networks.

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3. 2015Network closure

   Cadenatres ceased operations on October 26, with Excélsior TV replacing its flagship channel feed.

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4. 2010Argos content partnership

   Cadenatres and Argos began developing exclusive scripted programming for the network.

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5. 2009Flagship identity changes to XHTRES-TV

   The flagship station adopted the XHTRES-TV call sign, reflecting its association with the network.

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6. 2007Cadenatres relaunch

   XHRAE-TV was relaunched as CadenaTres with a general-interest commercial television schedule.

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7. 2006Acquisition of XHRAE-TV

   Grupo Empresarial Ángeles acquired the Mexico City station that became the operational foundation of Cadenatres.

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A general-interest Mexican television network positioned as an alternative to Televisa and TV Azteca, with an explicit ambition to become the country's third major private national broadcaster.

• Mikorte InformativoPolitical satire2009

  A satirical news program and one of Cadenatres' most recognizable original formats. It used fictional simian presenters from the planet Mikón to parody news coverage and comment on Mexican current affairs. Its success helped establish a broader comedy identity for the network and led to the Barra Desinformativa weekend block.

• Las AparicioDrama series2010

  An original scripted production created through the Cadenatres-Argos relationship. It formed part of the network's effort to distinguish itself through Mexican drama rather than relying exclusively on imported telenovelas and syndicated programming.

• El Sexo DébilDrama series2011

  An Argos-produced original drama carried by Cadenatres as part of its exclusive-content strategy. Along with Las Aparicio and El octavo mandamiento, it represented the network's investment in locally produced scripted television.

• El octavo mandamientoDrama series2011

  A scripted series developed with Argos and broadcast by Cadenatres. The production contributed to the channel's reputation for carrying original Mexican drama during its attempt to compete with the country's larger broadcasters.

• Cocinemos JuntosCooking show2011

  A daytime cooking program hosted by Many Muñoz. It became one of the network's more successful daytime offerings and remained on the schedule until shortly before Cadenatres closed in October 2015.

• Barra DesinformativaComedy programming block2014

  A weekend comedy and satire block created after the success of Mikorte Informativo. It included El Incorrecto and Ya ni llorar es bueno and extended Cadenatres' current-affairs parody format into a broader entertainment proposition.

• 2010La Televisión más abierta que nunca

  Mexico

  A positioning campaign emphasizing accessibility and the network's alternative identity in Mexican television.

  Outcome. Used from 2010 until the network's closure.

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• 2008Encadénate a Cadena Tres

  Mexico

  A branding slogan inviting viewers to connect with the CadenaTres service.

  Outcome. Used as a network slogan during 2008-2009.

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• 2007Cadena Tres, La Televisión Abierta

  Mexico

  Launch positioning that presented the network as open, freely available television.

  Outcome. Used during the network's first year.

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• 2015Close Cadenatres and redirect resources to a national networkStrategy

  After receiving authorization to operate a nationwide digital network, Grupo Imagen reassessed the role of its existing Cadenatres service.

  What changed. Cadenatres was shut down on October 26, 2015, and the flagship channel was replaced by Excélsior TV.

  Aftermath. Grupo Imagen focused on developing Imagen Televisión, which launched nationally in October 2016. Most Cadenatres programming ended, and reports cited substantial employee displacement.

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• 2010Exclusive programming agreement with ArgosProduct launch

  The network needed distinctive local content to compete with larger Mexican broadcasters and imported programming.

  What changed. Cadenatres and Argos agreed to create original exclusive productions.

  Aftermath. The partnership produced several recognized drama series, including Las Aparicio, El Sexo Débil and El octavo mandamiento.

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• 2007Build a third private national television networkStrategy

  Grupo Imagen sought to challenge Mexico's established Televisa-TV Azteca television structure.

  What changed. It relaunched XHRAE-TV as Cadenatres and assembled a nationwide-oriented general entertainment schedule.

  Aftermath. The network expanded through subscription systems and a limited number of affiliates but did not achieve a full terrestrial national footprint.

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• 2016Imagen Televisión launches nationally

  Grupo Imagen launched Imagen Televisión on October 17, 2016, following the closure of Cadenatres and the reallocation of resources toward a national network.

  Product launch
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• 2015Grupo Imagen receives authorization for a national digital network

  Following Mexico's 2013 telecommunications reforms, Grupo Imagen was granted operation of one of two planned nationwide over-the-air digital networks.

  Regulation
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• 2015Cadenatres shuts down

  Grupo Imagen ended Cadenatres broadcasts on October 26 and replaced the flagship feed with Excélsior TV while preparing its future national network strategy.

  BankruptcyLeadership change
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• 2010Cadenatres expands original drama through Argos agreement

  Cadenatres and Argos agreed to create exclusive content, leading to original productions such as Las Aparicio, El Sexo Débil and El octavo mandamiento.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2009Flagship station adopts XHTRES call sign

  The network's flagship station changed its call sign from XHRAE-TV to XHTRES-TV, reinforcing the relationship between the station and the Cadenatres brand.

  Other
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• 2007CadenaTres launches from Mexico City

  The acquired station was relaunched as CadenaTres with a general-interest schedule and the strategic aim of building a third major Mexican private television network.

  Product launch
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• 2006Grupo Empresarial Ángeles acquires XHRAE-TV

  Grupo Empresarial Ángeles acquired the Mexico City television station XHRAE-TV from Raúl Aréchiga Espinoza, creating the platform later relaunched as Cadenatres.

  M&A
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1. Cadenatres