Datos y Mensajes was a Colombian programadora founded in 1979 by Andrés Pastrana^[1] and disestablished in the early 2000s. It mainly focused on news programs, including its flagship program Noticiero TV Hoy (1979-2001).

History

In 1991, upon the split of programadoras across Cadena Uno and Canal A, Datos y Mensajes became part of the former group, which had 12 programadoras. It was one of five on that channel with a license to broadcast news.^[2] During this time, it was a member of OTI Colombia, a coalition that also included Producciones PUNCH, Producciones JES, Caracol Televisión, RTI Colombia and RCN Televisión and brought the World Cup and Olympic Games to the country.^[3]

It moved over to Canal A after the 1998 bidding cycle, where in early 2000 and mid-2001, amidst the growing programadoras crisis (ironically, under Pastrana's presidency), it was one of several companies that partnered to attempt a coherent programming schedule for the channel from 1:00 to 8:00 pm, along with Coestrellas, Big Bang TV and Mejía & Asociados. This partnership was a disaster, claiming the life of Noticiero TV Hoy in December 2001 after 22 years uninterrupted on the air.^[4] It was Colombia's second-longest-running newscast ever (after Noticiero 24 Horas) and the oldest newscast on air by the time it bid farewell.

By 2000, Datos y Mensajes had entered bankruptcy; after eight months of negotiations, it agreed to with a restructuring agreement with its creditors.^[5] The company would disappear by early 2003.

References