Chile’s Channel 13 is behind América Vivo, a platform launching in July that aggregates live channels from across Latin America. América Vivo initially targets Hispanic audiences in the US. While an official launch is set for July, the platform has been in beta for a few months, gathering compatible devices.
“We prioritized a rapid launch to capture early market share and meet the high demand from South American broadcasters eager to enter the US market,” explained Cristián Hernández, Digital Director of Canal 13 in Chile.
He revealed that América Vivo is in advanced discussions to form joint ventures with two major US apps. He explained the rationale behind the move: “We aim to empower broadcasters by placing them in the strategic position they deserve: collaborating and building a platform we control. This will allow us to compete effectively, prioritize our content, and create a launch window for it.”
40 CHANNELS
América Vivo is a free, open-access platform (no registration required) that offers a growing lineup of channels, aiming for a total of 40. Currently, it features 15 diverse channels, including broadcasters like T13 en Vivo (Chile), Ecuavisa or Latina Noticias (Peru), and thematic channels like Canal 26 (Argentina, news), Teatrix (theater), TyC Sports (sports), and Canal E (Argentina, business).
The app caters to Latin American immigrants in the US and across the continent by providing news, programs, and familiar faces from their home countries. Hernández, who positioned Channel 13 Chile’s digital platform as the most-watched in the country, believes these elements – a sense of familiarity, connection to current events, and staying close to their roots – are crucial for this audience.
“Technology is a bridge, not a hurdle. While content remains king, the distribution landscape is wide open. However, our role as broadcasters launching this initiative gives us a unique edge over other platforms,” he concluded.