MCom releases EBC and Legislative Network TV channels to more than 150 cities.

A report released by the Broadcasting Secretariat (Serad) reveals the number of authorizations granted so far under the program that expands the availability of public television in the country.

Over the past two years, the Ministry of Communications has granted 312 licenses to Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) and TV Câmara to broadcast their channels to more than 150 Brazilian municipalities. The authorizations were granted within the scope of Brasil Digital, a program that works to expand the supply of public TV channels. The balance was released this Friday (13) by the Broadcasting Secretariat (Serad).

The program, coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, enables stations for the transmission of signals from EBC (TV Brasil, Canal Educação, Canal Saúde and Canal Gov, including local content from partners of the National Public Communication Network) and the Legislative Network (TV Câmara, TV Senado and stations of the legislative assemblies and municipal chambers). In addition to promoting greater access to public channels, the program also allows the sharing of infrastructure implemented by private broadcasters, expanding the diversity of programming on free-to-air television offered to the Brazilian population.

The allocations to TV Câmara (155 in total) automatically authorize the transmission of TV Senado, legislative assemblies, and municipal chambers as well. For EBC, 157 allocations were granted, authorizing the retransmission of the channels TV Brasil, Canal Gov, Canal Saúde, and Canal Educação.

The first public call for proposals was published in June 2024. The resources come from the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), approximately R$ 100 million, and from funds raised by the 4G tender (R$ 105.5 million). The expectation is to benefit 400 municipalities throughout Brazil.

Fifteen cities have already been included in the program (pilot project and distance learning). Another 385 municipalities already have resources secured for the implementation of the stations. To install the stations, partner institutions are selected that provide the locations and basic infrastructure necessary for the installation of the digital TV stations.

The institutions can be bodies or entities of the direct or indirect public administration (federal, state, district or municipal) that provide the installation site and basic infrastructure, when available, for the implementation of the program’s digital television stations, such as city halls, municipal chambers, legislative assemblies and universities.

“The Digital Brazil program brings information, news, services, culture and entertainment, free of charge, to all corners of the country, offering more options for Brazilians to stay informed and entertained through free-to-air TV. That is our mission. It is the mission of President Lula’s government: to disseminate and expand access to Brazilian broadcasting,” stated the Minister of Communications, Frederico de Siqueira Filho.