Radio Televisión Dominicana (RTVD), formerly known as La Voz Dominicana and later as Corporación Estatal de Radio y Televisión (CERTV), is the first television station in the Dominican Republic and the third to be founded in Latin America. Since its launch in 1952, it has played a key role in the media history of the country, serving as a platform for information, culture, education, and entertainment, while also reflecting the political and social processes that the nation has experienced.
Origins: From La Voz de Yuna to La Voz Dominicana
RTVD has its roots in radio. It was founded on August 1, 1942 in the municipality of Bonao under the name La Voz de Yuna, by initiative of José Arismendy Trujillo Molina, known as Petán, brother of the dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. In 1946, it was moved to Santo Domingo, consolidating as the most influential station in the country at that time. With technological advancement and the regime’s interest in total control of the media, August 1, 1952 becomes a national milestone: La Voz de Yuna transforms into La Voz Dominicana, the first television station in Dominican Republic and the third in Latin America, after Mexico and Cuba. This innovative broadcaster was a hybrid between radio and television, transmitting up to six hours daily of live programming. Its content combined shows, news, live music, and also political propaganda in favor of the Trujillo regime. Among its first productions, the series Romance Campesino stands out, a pioneer in the teletheater format in the country.Later stages and institutional transformations of RTVD
After Trujillo’s execution in 1961 and the collapse of his regime, the station began to change its identity to distance itself from its propagandistic image. In 1963, it adopted the name Radio Santo Domingo Televisión. For a brief period it was also known as Palacio Televisor, reflecting the institutional instability of the time. It was in the 1970s when the name Radio Televisión Dominicana (RTVD) was consolidated, which would prevail for several decades as the official signal of the Dominican State. One of the relevant moments of this stage was the management of the renowned filmmaker Agliberto Meléndez between 1983 and 1984, who later became the first Dominican director to produce a feature film: Un pasaje de ida (1988). In 1996, national frequencies were unified under channel 4, and RTVD began to be known as Canal 4 RD, expanding its coverage to the entire national territory.CERTV: New Institutional Structure
On July 29, 2003, through Decree No. 212-03, the channel was reorganized as a public entity with its own legal personality under the name Corporación Estatal de Radio y Televisión (CERTV). This transformation allowed it to be sustained both by the state budget and by income generated by sponsorships, content production, and alliances with the private sector.
Functions and Legal Framework
Law 134-03, which regulates the State Corporation of Radio and Television, establishes that its main mission is to manage and execute public telecommunications for the transmission of content by:
- Open signal (VHF/UHF)
- Digital terrestrial television (DTT)
- Frequency modulated and amplitude modulated
- Cable networks and future platforms
- Digital and virtual media
Its purpose is to offer educational, cultural, informative and general interest content, guaranteeing universal access to information.
Featured Programming
RTVD has a wide range of programs that address topics of general interest, culture, entertainment, history, sports, gastronomy, and fashion. Among its most outstanding programs are:- El Mangú de la Mañana
- Central de Noticias
- Topi Tok
- TV Revista
- Luna Llena
- La Mirada
- El Club de la Moda
- Manuel y Hermes
- Fiestas y Personalidades
- Celuloide
- La Cultura Vive
- La Cocina de Wandy
- Etiqueta Tropical
- Radar Deportivo
- Cine Dominicano
- Al Límite con Rafaelina Bisonó
- Momentos de la Historia
- Bienvenidos a la Casa
- Dar Para Vivir
- Momento Deportivo
- Buen Vivir
- Central Deportes
- Recorriendo con Salvador
Main historical broadcasters of RTVD
Among the professionals who have left their mark on RTVD are prominent announcers such as:
- Vicente López
- Jochy Villalona
- Ángel Rodríguez
- Cristian López
- Mariano Álvarez
Radios operated by CERTV
| Emisora | Tipo de contenido | Frecuencias |
|---|---|---|
| Dominicana FM | Generalista, informativa y miscelánea | 98.9 FM (Sur, Este y Metropolitana), 99.9 FM (Cibao), 99.5 FM (Sur profundo) |
| Quisqueya FM | Musical y cultural | 96.1 FM (Sur, Este y Metropolitana), 98.5 FM (Cibao) |
| Radio Santo Domingo | Musical tradicional | 620 AM (Sur, Este, Metro), 640 AM (Cibao) |
| EDUMAS Radio | Educativa | 95.3 FM (Sur, Este, Metro), 106.5 FM (Cibao) |
Television Channels Operated by CERTV
| Canal | Contenido | Frecuencia / Plataforma |
|---|---|---|
| RTVD 4 | Generalista, informativa y miscelánea | Canal 4 y 12 físico, 4.1 virtual, 17.4 TTD |
| Quisqueya Televisión | Cultural | Canal 17.1 TTD |
| EDUMAS TV | Educativo | Canal 17.2 TTD |
| RTVD 4 Internacional | Señal para la diáspora dominicana | Internacional / Streaming |
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Technical Sheet of Radio Televisión Dominicana (RTVD / CERTV)
Official name:
State Corporation of Radio and Television (CERTV)
Trade name:
Radio Televisión Dominicana (RTVD)
Canal 4RD
Foundation Date:
August 1, 1942 (as La Voz de Yuna)
August 1, 1952 (start of television broadcasts as La Voz Dominicana)
Founder:
José Arismendy Trujillo Molina (Petán Trujillo)
Main Office:
Av. San Martín esq. Leopoldo Navarro,
Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Current owner:
Dominican State
Type of company:
Autonomous public company
(Decree No. 212-03 / Law 134-03)
Former Directors
- José Arismendy Trujillo Molina
- Agliberto Meléndez (1983–1984)
- Dr. Héctor Pérez Reyes
- Poncio Pou Saleta
- Julio César Martínez
- Julio Félix Gimbernard
- Luis Armando
- Héctor B. Castro Noboa
- Juan Alfonseca
- Luis Dhimes Pablo
- Ramón Lorenzo Perelló
- Ramón Font Bernard
- J.A. Bruno Pimentel
- Rafael Vásquez
- Miguel Peguero Calzada
- Max Pou
- Luis Armando Asunción
- Marino Mendoza
- Juan Bosco Guerrero
- George Rodríguez
- Juan Deláncer
- Nelson Mate
- Héctor Olivo
- Ramón Colombo
- Pedro José Batista Caba (Pedro Caba)
- Ramón Tejeda Reid
Current legal name:
State Radio and Television Corporation (CERTV)
Main channel:
RTVD Canal 4 (4.1 virtual DTT / 4 physical)
Other television channels:
- Quisqueya Televisión (Channel 17.1 DTT)
- EDUMAS TV (Channel 17.2 DTT)
- RTVD Internacional (Streaming and international signal)
Managed radio stations:
- Dominicana FM – 98.9 / 99.9 / 99.5 FM
- Quisqueya FM – 96.1 / 98.5 FM
- Radio Santo Domingo – 620 / 640 AM
- EDUMAS Radio – 95.3 / 106.5 FM
National coverage (free-to-air, cable, satellite, radio)
International coverage (RTVD 4 International signal and digital platforms)
Featured Programming:
- News Central
- The Mangú of the Morning
- TV Magazine
- Wandy’s Kitchen
- Dominican Cinema
- Sports Radar
- Moments in History
- Culture Lives
- Touring with Salvador, among others.
Featured Events Broadcast:
- Santiago 2023 Pan American Games (Official channel in RD)
- Special state, educational and cultural coverages
Digital Platforms:
- rtvd.gob.do
- Social media: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
To provide public communication services through national radio and television, with an educational, cultural, informative, and entertainment focus, ensuring access to information for all citizens. Legal Regulations:
Law No. 134-03 n
Decree No. 212-03 of institutional creation
