National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru

The National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru is the state-owned broadcaster responsible for public radio and television services in Peru.

The institutional history of IRTP extends back to the beginnings of Peruvian broadcasting. Radio Nacional del Perú started operations in Lima in 1925 and became the country's first radio station. Television followed in 1958, when OAD-TV began broadcasting on VHF channel 7 in Lima. The channel later became the principal television service associated with the Peruvian State and ultimately developed into TV Perú. Educational television was another important part of the early media landscape. The National Institute of Tele-education developed programming during the 1960s and became a significant producer of instructional content. It continued operating alongside emerging state broadcasting structures until its closure in 1995. In 1973, the military government established ENRAD Perú to consolidate Channel 7, Radio Nacional, and selected expropriated media outlets under one state broadcasting organization. The entity's responsibilities included Radio La Crónica AM and Channel 9 in Lima for periods of its history. In the late 1970s, Channel 7 moved progressively to color transmission and completed the transition of its programming by 1979. The organization was reorganized in 1981 as ENCRTP, the Peruvian Film, Radio and Television Company. Channel 7 adopted the RTP identity and began satellite transmission. This significantly improved national distribution because stations outside Lima had previously depended on microwave links to relay the capital's programming. Plans for a production center were considered in 1982, but the organization struggled to determine a sustainable balance between public education, original production, and commercially viable programming. Educational programming was reduced in 1984. Regional subsidiaries were created in 1985 in an effort to make the public broadcaster more nationally competitive. Nevertheless, RTP remained exposed to political influence and uncertainty over its editorial independence. The corporation was liquidated in 1996. During Alberto Fujimori's government, ENCRTP and the National System of Social Communication were brought together, and the resulting institution was renamed IRTP in 1997. The institution was restructured in the early 2000s under Valentín Paniagua. The reform aimed to bring in professionals without political affiliations and to diversify the voices appearing on its services. IRTP also added or supported more specialized programming, including classical music and opera through its relationship with Radio Filarmonía. A proposed international television service known as TNP 2 was considered in 2004 but was not completed under the proposed plan. Expansion efforts continued during the 2000s. In 2007, IRTP emphasized local and regional news and acquired additional transmitters, including UHF and VHF equipment, to extend television reach. Administrative supervision changed over time: the institute was placed under the Prime Minister's Office after restructuring, temporarily attached to the Ministry of Culture between 2010 and 2012, and thereafter remained connected to the Ministry of Culture. A major modernization phase began after María Luisa Málaga became board president and executive president in 2012. IRTP invested in facilities and technical equipment, launching TV Perú 7.3 in November 2013 and TV Perú 7.4 in December 2013. The digital portfolio later evolved: TV Perú 7.4 became Canal IPe in 2016, while the institute continued expanding children's, cultural, news, and educational services. Radio coverage also grew, with FM, AM, and Radio La Crónica reaching different portions of the national territory. Leadership changes in 2016 and 2017 reflected the sensitivity of public broadcasting to national politics. Hugo Coya became board president after Málaga's departure but resigned following President Kuczynski's pardon of Alberto Fujimori. Eduardo Guzmán Iturbe was subsequently appointed to lead the board. In 2019, IRTP pursued a broader renewal of its television services, broadcast the Pan American and Parapan American Games, and explored producing fiction for external distribution. New services and a revised information system followed. During the COVID-19 emergency in 2020, TV Perú 7.2 and TV Perú Noticias temporarily rebroadcast the main TV Perú service. The Ministry of Education also used IRTP's platform for Aprendo en casa, an educational channel and multimedia initiative intended to reach students across Peru. The government announced a further reorganization of IRTP in the same year.

1. 2020Aprendo en casa introduced

   The Ministry of Education used IRTP services to distribute remote educational programming during the COVID-19 emergency.

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2. 2019Pan American Games coverage

   IRTP broadcast the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games while pursuing a wider television renewal.

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3. 2016Canal IPe replaces TV Perú 7.4

   The cultural signal was replaced by Canal IPe, focused on children's and cultural programming.

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4. 2013Digital news and cultural channels launched

   TV Perú 7.3 and TV Perú 7.4 were introduced as specialized digital terrestrial services.

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5. 2007Transmission infrastructure expanded

   IRTP invested in additional UHF and VHF transmitters to broaden local and regional news coverage.

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6. 1997IRTP adopts its current institutional identity

   ENCRTP and the National System of Social Communication were consolidated and the institution was renamed IRTP.

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7. 1996RTP corporation liquidated

   The RTP-era corporation was liquidated during the government of Alberto Fujimori.

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8. 1985Regional subsidiaries established

   Regional subsidiaries were created as part of an effort to strengthen the public broadcaster's national presence.

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9. 1981ENCRTP and RTP identities introduced

   ENRAD was reorganized as ENCRTP, while Channel 7 became Radio Televisión Peruana and began satellite transmission.

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10. 1979Channel 7 completes color transition

    Channel 7 progressively adopted color broadcasting and produced all of its programming in color by this year.

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11. 1973ENRAD Perú is established

    The state created a national broadcasting company combining Channel 7, Radio Nacional, and selected expropriated media assets.

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12. 1958State television predecessor launches

    OAD-TV began broadcasting on VHF channel 7 in Lima, establishing the lineage of TV Perú.

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13. 1925Radio Nacional begins broadcasting

    OAX-AM, later known as Radio Nacional del Perú, began broadcasting in Lima as the country's first radio station.

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A nationwide public-service media institution providing state radio, television, news, cultural, educational, and digital programming for audiences in Peru and, through selected services, abroad.

• TV PerúPublic television network1958

  IRTP's principal general-interest television service and the modern continuation of the Channel 7 service that began in Lima in 1958. TV Perú carries news, national affairs, cultural programming, entertainment, educational content, and coverage of major public events. It serves as the institution's primary television brand and provides programming that can also be relayed by related digital signals.

• Radio Nacional del PerúPublic radio network1925

  Peru's historic state radio service, whose lineage begins with OAX-AM broadcasts from Lima in 1925. Under IRTP, the network provides national radio programming, news, public information, cultural content, and general-interest shows through AM and FM distribution. Its coverage has expanded over time through a network of transmitters and repeaters.

• TV Perú NoticiasNews television service

  A specialized IRTP news service developed during the institute's digital and information-system modernization. It focuses on news and current affairs and has also been used as part of the public broadcaster's emergency communications structure.

• Canal IPeChildren's and cultural television channel2016

  A digital television service introduced in 2016 when it replaced TV Perú 7.4. Canal IPe is oriented toward children, young audiences, and cultural programming, broadening IRTP's public-service portfolio beyond general television and news.

• TV Perú 7.2Digital television signal

  A digital television signal associated with IRTP's expanded terrestrial portfolio. It was later associated with the Nacional TV identity and, during the COVID-19 emergency, temporarily rebroadcast programming from TV Perú.

• Aprendo en casaEducational television service2020

  An education-focused television initiative introduced by Peru's Ministry of Education in 2020 and distributed using IRTP's media infrastructure. It was designed to provide lessons and learning support to students nationwide during the COVID-19 emergency and was expected to evolve as satellite distribution capacity developed.

• Radio FilarmoníaClassical music radio service

  A classical-music and opera service associated with IRTP through an agreement with Radio Filarmonía. It reflects the institution's role in distributing specialized cultural programming alongside its general-interest radio and television services.

• 2020Aprendo en casa

  Peru

  The Ministry of Education and IRTP used television and related media to deliver remote learning content to students during the COVID-19 emergency.

  Outcome. The initiative provided nationwide educational programming; the reference does not state a final audience measurement or completion date.

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• 2019Pan American and Parapan American Games coverage

  Peru

  IRTP used its television portfolio to provide coverage of the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games, supporting its public-service role and broader plans to renew its television output.

  Outcome. The games were broadcast through the state media system; the available reference does not provide audience or financial results.

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• 2020Emergency broadcasting and institutional reorganizationStrategy

  The COVID-19 emergency required rapid distribution of public information and educational programming across Peru.

  What changed. IRTP temporarily aligned several services with TV Perú programming and supported the Ministry of Education's Aprendo en casa initiative. The government also announced an institutional reorganization.

  Aftermath. IRTP became a central platform for emergency education and public communication, while the longer-term structure of the reorganization was not specified in the reference.

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• 2019Television portfolio renewalStrategy

  IRTP sought to modernize its television services and reduce dependence on state funding by developing original programming.

  What changed. Management proposed new services, additional programming, and original fiction that could potentially be distributed to other networks.

  Aftermath. The strategy was accompanied by coverage of the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games, although the reference does not report commercial results.

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• 2016Replacement of TV Perú 7.4 with Canal IPeGeneration change

  IRTP continued refining its digital channel mix after launching specialized news and cultural services.

  What changed. TV Perú 7.4 was replaced by Canal IPe, with a stronger emphasis on children's and cultural programming.

  Aftermath. The change gave the portfolio a distinct youth and culture-oriented channel.

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• 2013Launch of TV Perú 7.3 and TV Perú 7.4Product launch

  IRTP invested in new facilities and technical equipment as part of its digital broadcasting expansion.

  What changed. The institute introduced a dedicated news signal and a separate cultural signal.

  Aftermath. The launches expanded IRTP's digital terrestrial portfolio and created specialized outlets for news and culture.

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• 1997Consolidation into IRTPStrategy

  The previous state media structures had undergone repeated reorganizations and the RTP-era corporation was liquidated in 1996.

  What changed. The government consolidated ENCRTP and the National System of Social Communication under the current IRTP name.

  Aftermath. IRTP became the principal institutional framework for Peru's state radio and television services.

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• 2017Resignation following controversy over Fujimori pardonControversy

  IRTP board president Hugo Coya resigned after President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski granted a pardon to former president Alberto Fujimori. The episode illustrated the political sensitivity surrounding leadership and editorial independence at Peru's state broadcaster.

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• 2020Aprendo en casa uses IRTP broadcasting infrastructure

  The Ministry of Education introduced Aprendo en casa through television and other media to support students during the COVID-19 emergency.

  Product launchRegulation
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• 2020IRTP reorganization announced

  The government announced another reorganization of the national public media institution.

  Regulation
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• 2019IRTP broadcasts Pan American and Parapan American Games

  The institute carried coverage of the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games as part of its television renewal plans.

  Product launchOther
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• 2016TV Perú 7.4 replaced by Canal IPe

  The former cultural signal was replaced by Canal IPe, oriented toward children's and cultural programming.

  Product generation
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• 2016Hugo Coya appointed IRTP board president

  Journalist and writer Hugo Coya became president of the IRTP board after María Luisa Málaga's resignation.

  Leadership change
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• 2013IRTP launches TV Perú 7.3 news service

  The institute introduced TV Perú 7.3 as a dedicated news channel after investing in facilities and technical equipment.

  Product launch
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• 2013Cultural television signal introduced

  IRTP launched TV Perú 7.4, a digital channel focused on cultural content.

  Product launch
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1. National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru
2. Instituto Nacional de Radio y Televisión del Perú official website