Tele Haiti
| Country | Haiti |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | French, Haitian Creole |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Access Haiti S.A. |
| History | |
| Launched | December 13, 1959 |
| Links | |
| Website | telehaiti.ht |
Tele Haiti (French: Télé Haïti, stylized TeleHaiti) is a Haitian telecommunications company that operates a cable television network. It was founded in 1959 as Haiti's first television station, and it operated as a terrestrial service during its first decade.[1] It is owned by Access Haiti S.A.
History[edit]
Télé Haïti's first broadcast took place on December 13, 1959. The station was founded under the initiative of American Gérald Bartelt, and its transmitter was located in the sector of Boutiliers, broadcasting on VHF channel 5.[2][3] The channel's financial difficulties in its early years resulted in a cut of its broadcasting hours (from over six hours every day of the week, to just one day per week from March 15, 1965).[4]
A new contract signed between Tele Haiti and the Haitian State in December 1969 enabled the establishment of a cable television network, while also authorizing the channel to begin its color broadcasts.[5] The system debuted in 1971, where Tele Haiti inaugurated a new two-channel system, on channels 2 and 4, subsequently abandoning the terrestrial station on channel 5.[1]
In December 1974 the Haitian government announced Tele Haiti's end of the television monopoly — which generated uncertainties among the American investors (which controlled 87% of the company's stocks) over possible economical compensations on that regard— which was achieved with the launch of National Television of Haiti in 1979.
In 1982, under the helm of Philippe Bayard, and with the company nearing bankruptcy, the process to start relays of foreign channels started.[6] In July 1985, the company's headquarters located at the Jean Jacques Dessalines Boulevard was destroyed by a fire,[4] for which in 1987 a new building at the Harry Truman Boulevard in Port-au-Prince was built.[7]
After being heavily damaged by the 2010 earthquake and suspending its operations, Télé Haiti announced the rebuilding of its network after the company's acquisition by Access Haiti S.A.,[8] restarting its activities in April 2012, this time by means of a wireless digital television system (unlike the cable system used before).[9][10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Considérations générales sur la Télévision en Haïti" (in French). Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1967. p. 947. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "First T.V. Station Opens Dec 13". Haiti Sun. 6 December 1959. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Présentation de la Télé Haïti". Memoire Online (in French). Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Le Nouveau Contrat entre l'Etat Haitien et Télé-Haiti". Le Nouvelliste (in French). 26 December 1969. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Philippe Bayard". Challenges (in French). 6 May 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Siège Social Télé Haïti, Blvd Harry Truman, 1987" (in French). Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Télé Haïti reprend ses services". Haiti Numerique (in French). 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Haiti - Telecommunications : Tele Haiti announces its return and new services". Haiti Libre. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Haiti - Telecommunication : Renaissance of Tele Haiti in digital". Haiti Libre. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2018.