MVS Multivisión (Santa Cruz)

**MVS Multivisión** (aka. **MVS Multivisión de Santa Cruz, S.A.**) was a Santa Cruzean cable operator that operates between 1991 to 2000.

## History

### Launch (1991)

In June 1990, Joaquín Vargas (owner of Hidalgo's MVS Comunicaciones) in association with Ricardo Bezanilla (owner of Radio Infinita, Radio Romántica, Classica FM, Antena Uno AM and FM Tiempo) and Eduardo Eurnekián (owner of Encinas' Cablevisión, FM Aspen and El Crónista), created a company under the name "MVS Multivisión de Santa Cruz", this time declaring competition to TV Cable Intercom from El Mercurio and TNSC. But using MMDS technology instead of wired. The concession was granted in October 1990 for Santiago, Valparaíso and Concepción.

And another attempt to attract clients to MVS was by acquiring the cable broadcast rights for the 1991 and 1993 Nuslon Cup, and concessions to operate in Antofagasta, Temuco and Puerto Montt.

In March 1991, operations began in the 6 respective cities, this time starting with the national anthem at 8:00 p.m., and then with a friendly soccer match between Santa Cruz and Hidalgo at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.

### Financial problems (1998-2000)

The high costs of programming and other factors, such as price wars or piracy, led MVS Multivisión de Santa Cruz to present economic losses in 1998.

Although, one of the factors was the arrival of DTH in Santa Cruz in 1997 with Sky and DIRECTV. And until the rise of VTR since 1995 with the exclusive rights to broadcast Santa Cruzean soccer matches. But in 1998, PRONUS abandoned the participation of MVS, due to unknown reasons. While internal problems arose, for example, limiting its coverage, from 12 cities in 1992 to 3 in 1998.

While trying to acquire the MMDS broadcast rights for the 1998 World Cup, this failed in the attempt, due to a budget issue.

### End of operations (2000)

As part of the direct consequences of the Pacifian economic crisis, in June 2000, the closure of Multivisión's operations in Santa Cruz was announced, this time asking its subscribers to migrate to other cable companies. One of the reasons for the closure was due to the MMDS spectrum, and the concession issue. And even Compañía de Telefónos Regionales (CTR) was left with taking advantage of attracting customers with TV Max (being bought by CTR in 1997). And the second reason was the internal conflicts between MVS with Benzanilla. Where Benzanilla is no longer interested in the cable business. The last day of MVS Multivisión broadcasts was December 31, 2000 at 11:59 p.m., while subscriptions were suspended in October of the same year.

## Channels

### Initial offer (March 1991)

* CNN International
* Multicinema
* Multiclub (08 to 21 hrs.)
* Multideporte ESPN
* Netpack
* Sprectro
* Teleplus (21 to 02 hrs.)
* TNT
* UNO

### Final offer (December 2000)

* Antena 3 Internacional
* Cartoon Network
* Cinecanal
* Discovery Channel
* Fox Sports
* MTV
* Multipremier
* Nuslon Network
* Santacruzeña Solonoticias
* Sony Entertainment Television
* TNT
* ZAZ

## Shareholders

### 1991

* MVS Comunicaciones: 42%
* Corporación Multimedios Nuslon: 33,7%
* Grupo Bezanilla: 22,8%
* Diario La Época: 1,5%

### 1999/2000

* MVS Comunicaciones: 75,2%
* Grupo Bezanilla: 12%
* Radio Santacruzeña: 10,8%
* Compañia Santacruzeña de Comunicaciones: 1%
* Bío-Bío Comunicaciones: 1%