Oaxaca TV

CORTV, short for Corporación Oaxaqueña de Radio y Televisión, is the public broadcasting organization of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It operates a television network identified with the CORTV name and a large FM radio network serving communities across the state. The organization’s role is regional rather than national: it provides public-interest programming, state-oriented information, cultural content, and local broadcasting infrastructure for Oaxaca’s geographically diverse population. The roots of public television in Oaxaca reach back to the early 1980s, during the administration of Governor Pedro Vásquez Colmenares. At that time, the state inserted locally produced segments into programming carried by Canal 7, the network associated with Mexico’s then state broadcasting system, Imevisión. Oaxaca initially had very limited production capacity, and its early local output reportedly consisted mainly of television adaptations of plays by the Compañía Teatral Palo Bravo. This beginning established a state presence in broadcasting before Oaxaca had a fully developed independent radio and television organization. In 1988, the state created the Instituto Oaxaqueño de Radio y Televisión, or IORTV, to organize and expand public broadcasting operations. On March 21, 1989, under the direction of Virgilio Caballero Pedraza, the institution was reorganized as Radio y Televisión de Oaxaca, commonly abbreviated RTO. The organization adopted the CORTV name in 1993, reflecting its broader institutional identity as the Oaxacan Radio and Television Corporation. CORTV’s television service has historically depended on a network of terrestrial transmitters distributed throughout Oaxaca. The network once had substantially wider transmitter coverage, but it later shed 30 transmitters and lost six additional sites when they were not converted to digital broadcasting. The organization’s television concessions were consolidated in 2022 into a single concession associated with XHCPBR-TDT, using primary RF channel 36 and permitting transmitters across the state. Existing transmitters were not immediately relocated to that channel. In January 2024, the service moved its virtual channel designation from 9 to 19. The radio operation is also a significant part of CORTV’s public-service footprint. It comprises a 32-station FM network, plus an additional station in Oaxaca. Most stations share network programming, although XHOAX-FM, branded Global 96.9, carries different programming. XHCRR, located at Cerro Corral de Piedra, can be received in the city of Oaxaca. The Oaxaca-area stations XHOAX and XHCRR also broadcast using HD Radio technology. CORTV has operated within Oaxaca’s politically and socially contested media environment. During protests in 2006, its facilities were seized after officials declined a women’s group’s request for airtime to present social demands. The occupation ended on August 20, when transmitters at Cerro del Fortín were fired upon and damaged, taking CORTV’s radio and television services off the air. The incident demonstrated the importance of the broadcaster’s transmission infrastructure to public communication in the state. Today, CORTV is best understood as a state-level public media system rather than simply a television channel. Its activities combine television broadcasting, FM radio distribution, transmitter management, digital-transition work, and regional public-service programming. Publicly available reference material does not identify a current chief executive, detailed programming portfolio, financial figures, or a separate commercial ownership structure.

Public broadcasting in Oaxaca began in the early 1980s under Governor Pedro Vásquez Colmenares. Rather than immediately operating a fully independent state network, Oaxaca contributed local opt-outs to the Canal 7 service of Imevisión, Mexico’s then state broadcasting system. The early operation had limited technical and production resources. Its initial output consisted entirely of television adaptations of plays presented by the Compañía Teatral Palo Bravo, illustrating the institution’s early reliance on local cultural production rather than a broad news or entertainment schedule. The state formalized its broadcasting structure in 1988 with the establishment of the Instituto Oaxaqueño de Radio y Televisión, known as IORTV. On March 21, 1989, the institution was reorganized as Radio y Televisión de Oaxaca, or RTO. Virgilio Caballero Pedraza directed the reorganization. In 1993, the organization adopted the name Corporación Oaxaqueña de Radio y Televisión, abbreviated CORTV, which remains its principal institutional identity. CORTV developed as a combined radio and television organization serving Oaxaca. Its television service was distributed through a network of terrestrial transmitters, while its radio operation expanded into a 32-station FM network with an additional Oaxaca station. The network’s geographic purpose has been particularly important in a state with numerous distinct communities and challenging terrain. Over time, however, the television footprint contracted. Thirty transmitters were removed from service in recent years, and six more were lost when they were not converted to digital operation. The institution became directly involved in the political tensions surrounding Oaxaca in 2006. On August 1, during a period of protests, CORTV facilities were seized after officials refused a women’s group access to the airwaves for the presentation of social demands. The takeover ended on August 20, when transmitters located at Cerro del Fortín were fired upon and damaged. The damage interrupted both CORTV radio and television broadcasts, making the organization’s transmission sites a direct focus of the conflict. CORTV’s later history has included regulatory and technical changes associated with Mexico’s digital television transition and spectrum repacking. In March 2018, transmitters serving Juchitán de Zaragoza and Pinotepa Nacional were assigned new channels so that digital television operations could continue while services were moved out of the 600 MHz band. In 2022, the television concessions were consolidated into a single concession associated with XHCPBR-TDT. That concession uses RF channel 36 as its primary channel and can support transmitters throughout Oaxaca, although existing transmitters were not transferred to channel 36 at that time. In January 2024, the service changed its virtual channel from 9 to 19. The radio network remains a major part of CORTV’s identity. Most of its FM stations carry network programming, but XHOAX-FM, branded Global 96.9, operates with different programming. XHCRR, based at Cerro Corral de Piedra, is receivable in the city of Oaxaca. The XHOAX and XHCRR services serving Oaxaca also use HD Radio. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete account of current management, detailed program schedules, budgets, or audience figures. CORTV is therefore most accurately described as an active Oaxaca state public-media organization whose principal functions are regional broadcasting, public communication, and operation of radio and television transmission infrastructure.

1. 2024Virtual channel changed to 19

   CORTV television moved from virtual channel 9 to virtual channel 19 in January.

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2. 2022Television concessions consolidated

   Television concessions were consolidated into one concession associated with XHCPBR-TDT, with primary RF channel 36.

   Source
3. 2018Digital television channel reassignment

   The Juchitán de Zaragoza and Pinotepa Nacional transmitters received new channel assignments during 600 MHz band repacking.

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4. 2006Broadcast facilities occupied and damaged

   CORTV facilities were seized during Oaxaca protests, and transmitters at Cerro del Fortín were later damaged by gunfire, interrupting radio and television services.

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5. 1993CORTV name adopted

   The organization adopted the name Corporación Oaxaqueña de Radio y Televisión.

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6. 1989Reorganization as Radio y Televisión de Oaxaca

   On March 21, IORTV was reorganized as Radio y Televisión de Oaxaca under the direction of Virgilio Caballero Pedraza.

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7. 1988IORTV established

   The Instituto Oaxaqueño de Radio y Televisión was created to organize public radio and television activity in the state.

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8. 1980Local public television begins in Oaxaca

   Oaxaca began inserting locally produced segments into the Canal 7 network associated with Imevisión. Early programming consisted of televised plays produced with limited state resources.

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A state-level public broadcaster focused on regional television and radio coverage, local information, culture, and public-service communication across Oaxaca.

• CORTV television networkTelevision broadcasting

  CORTV’s terrestrial television service provides state-level public broadcasting across Oaxaca. The network has used a distributed transmitter system and has carried locally oriented public-service programming. Its transmission footprint has changed during the digital transition, including transmitter closures, channel reassignment, concession consolidation, and a virtual-channel change from 9 to 19 in 2024.

• CORTV FM radio networkFM radio broadcasting

  The radio operation consists of 32 FM stations plus an additional station in Oaxaca. The network distributes public broadcasting and regional programming across the state. Most stations carry shared programming, while individual outlets can have distinct identities or schedules.

• Global 96.9FM radio station

  Global 96.9 is the broadcast identity of XHOAX-FM. Unlike the other stations in much of the CORTV network, it is described as carrying programming different from the network’s common output.

• HD Radio servicesDigital radio broadcasting

  The XHOAX-FM and XHCRR services serving Oaxaca broadcast using HD Radio technology, extending CORTV’s radio operation beyond conventional analog FM transmission.

• 2024Change virtual television channelOther

  CORTV continued adjusting its terrestrial television presentation after digital broadcasting changes.

  What changed. The television service changed its virtual channel designation from 9 to 19 in January.

  Aftermath. Viewers were directed to find the service under virtual channel 19.

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• 2022Consolidate television concessionsStrategy

  CORTV's television transmission structure was being regularized during the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

  What changed. The television concessions were consolidated into one concession associated with XHCPBR-TDT, using primary RF channel 36 and permitting transmitters throughout Oaxaca.

  Aftermath. The concession created a unified regulatory basis for the television service, although the existing transmitters were not moved to channel 36 at that point.

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• 2018Reassign digital television channels during spectrum repackingOther

  Mexico's television services were being moved out of the 600 MHz band, requiring channel changes for some CORTV transmitters.

  What changed. The transmitters serving Juchitán de Zaragoza and Pinotepa Nacional were assigned new channels for continued digital operation.

  Aftermath. The affected transmitters could continue digital broadcasting under their revised channel assignments.

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• 2006Occupation and shutdown during Oaxaca protestsControversy

  CORTV facilities were seized on August 1 after officials refused a women's group airtime to present social demands. The occupation ended on August 20 when transmitters at Cerro del Fortín were fired upon and damaged, taking CORTV radio and television off the air.

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• 2024CORTV television service changes virtual channel

  The television service changed its virtual channel designation from 9 to 19 in January 2024.

  Other
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• 2022Television concessions consolidated

  CORTV's television concessions were consolidated into one concession associated with XHCPBR-TDT, with primary RF channel 36 and authorization for transmitters throughout Oaxaca.

  Regulation
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• 2018Juchitán and Pinotepa Nacional transmitters reassigned for digital repacking

  Transmitters serving Juchitán de Zaragoza and Pinotepa Nacional received new channel assignments as part of the relocation of television services out of the 600 MHz band.

  RegulationOther
  Source

1. CORTV
2. Corporación Oaxaqueña de Radio y Televisión official website