Those who know him say that he has had the idea in his head for a long time. But it was six months ago when Juan Sutil -current president of the CPC- began to put numbers on it and initiate conversations with owners of Chilean free-to-air television channels, radios, controllers of international channels with a presence in the country, as well as entrepreneurs who have created digital channels in recent years.
His plan, still in development, is to buy one means of communication -or more than one- to develop spaces for conversation and information there.
As they reveal from their environment, this idea was born out of personal concern, since in their opinion the press content of some channels is “sometimes biased”. This was intended to be done in March, when he left the CPC, but it is likely to be postponed for a couple of months, given that this week the confederation postponed its departure to July.
In the meantime, keep zapping.
Influence and inspiration
Due to his position as union leader, Juan Sutil has toured various channels. It is common to see him as a panelist and as an interviewee in various local media. And it is right there, on set – they assure his surroundings -, where he has been learning and enchanting with this industry in which despite being critical – especially of the press departments – he is convinced and wants to enter. It is also there where he has strengthened ties with executive directors and owners ranging from La Red to Channel 13.
He is clear that if this idea is realized and he participates in the ownership of a medium, his political profile – he is recognized for being a center-right businessman – can generate antibodies in press teams. This, because he has openly expressed his reproaches in the past, before entering the CPC.
The most remembered episode is when he deleted an advertisement from CNN Chile’s Agricultural Agenda program due to the political bias with which, in his opinion, the station covered the social outbreak.
In these months several have made him see that point. But he contrasts as an example what Fox does in the US, whose editorial line -conservative- “is known and respected,” he said.
He has also mentioned what El Líbero does (On the property are Hernán Büchi, Federico Ruiz Tagle, among others) and Radio Pauta (from the Chilean Chamber of Construction), both classified as center-right, but, he has commented, “all examples of good journalism without an agenda.” In fact, they are part of his inspiration. In addition, the work of El Siglo, linked to the PC, stands out.
The case of Canal 13 and Mega is different – the first by Andrónico Luksic, the second by Carlos Heller – because in his opinion – he has pointed out – they have press departments with an editorial line that are far from the project he has in mind.
Sutil has commented that he feels interpreted by Ascanio Cavallo, National Journalism Prize winner, who has stated in columns and interviews that the October 18 coverage was made “Through a fixed camera, installed on Plaza Italia”.
“In any case, Juan does not want to set up a channel to promote right-wing ideas only, but he does want to unload the ideologization of the news story, especially, from October 2019 onwards,” they point out from his environment. Another adds: “He usually remembers and puts the work that Raquel Correa did as an example of good journalism.”
The ones that sound
There are several in the industry who are aware of Sutil’s plans. In fact, it is strongly rumored which are some of its candidates: CNN Chile and La Red.
The most adventurous say that precisely these days the journalist Víctor Gutiérrez (executive director of La Red) is traveling in the US, where the Mexican Ángel González, controller of Albavisión, lives, a multinational multinational media conglomerate that in addition to the Chilean firm, It owns 43 television stations, 46 radio stations, 11 print media and 3 cinema companies, with a presence in 14 countries.
The problem, industry insiders explain, is that the signal has not completed the digitization process that concluded on December 15 – work that according to industry insiders requires at least US $ 2 million – which would be a hindrance to finalize the deal.
Anyway, Gutiérrez’s team – which rules out being in talks with a buyer – would be about to conclude the process for half the year.
On the part of CNN Chile, which operates in the cable, who must give the go-ahead for a possible operation of this type is Warner Media, the same US holding company that was in charge of Chilevisión and that this year passed into the hands of the US conglomerate Viacom. .
And, in case you bought a television channel and an open one, there would be no problems: What the legislation does not allow is that the same group owns two open stations.
Model and partners
Juan Sutil, owner of Sutil companies, is clear that this adventure is expensive. Not only because of the high public exposure, but also because open television has long ceased to be a business.
To the first, he has shown not to be afraid of him. While on the second, despite the fact that the first steps and conversations have been led by himself, the model you are building contemplates the entry of a partner, a group of partners or a foundation: TV channels have a lower price than before, but they are still worth more than US $ 10 million in the case of the cheapest, they estimate in the market. And to that, you have to add the losses you have.
TV channels are priced lower than before, but are still worth more than $ 10 million for the cheapest.
This is what would have happened in the sale of CHV to Viacom, whose figure was private, but that in the market there was talk of between US $ 14 million and US $ 18 million, plus the accumulated debt.
One of the partners that could be included in this figure is the owner of a digital television operator. In this way they would take advantage of the synergies of all the platforms. And experts in this field, believe that it would be a “low cost” model, outsourcing productions, as Juan Diego Garretón does on TV +, and choosing a department to promote, in this case, the press and conversation spaces, instead of entertainment and from the dramatic area.
“Regardless of the channel, medium or figure, this is serious”, assure those who are aware of the initiative.
TV figures
According to the CMF, between January and September of this year, MEGA had revenues of $ 65,442 million; CHV for $ 47,944 million; Channel 13 for $ 44,760 million; TVN for $ 37,260 million; TV MAS for $ 3,829 million Y The Network for $ 3,360 million.
Regarding gains and / or losses, CHV leads the ranking, with $ 26,961 million; TVN follows with $ 5,461 million; MEGA with $ 4,529 million; Channel 13 with $ 2,335 million and TV MAS with $ 266 million, while La Red did not have blue figures, but losses of $ 5,492 million.
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