Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT)

Logo used since 2014.
Type	Free-to-air television network
Country	Brazil
Stations	SBT Brasília SBT Central SBT Interior RJ SBT Pará SBT Rio SBT RP SBT RS SBT São Paulo
Affiliates	See List of SBT affiliates
Headquarters	CDT da Anhanguera, Osasco, Brazil
Programming
Language(s)	Portuguese
Picture format	1080i HDTV (downgraded to 480i for the SD feed)
Ownership
Parent	Grupo Silvio Santos
History
Founded	19 August 1981; 43 years ago (1981-08-19)
Founder	Silvio Santos
Replaced	Rede Tupi Rede Excelsior
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television	24 UHF (Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, Jaú, Ribeirão Preto & Nova Fribugo) 26 UHF (Belém) 28 UHF (São Paulo and Porto Alegre)

Black logo, used from 1995 to 1996 (similar to the American Broadcasting Company logo).

The Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) is a big Brazilian TV network. It was started on August 19, 1981, by a famous businessman named Silvio Santos. The network began after the Brazilian government decided to create two new TV channels. These new channels took over from older networks called Tupi and Excelsior, which had lost their licenses. SBT's very first broadcast was a live show where the agreement to create the network was signed. Before SBT officially started, Silvio Santos already owned a TV station in Rio de Janeiro called TVS Rio de Janeiro (now SBT Rio), which began in 1976. This station was very important for building SBT.

In April 2018, SBT was the second most-watched TV network in Brazil, right after Globo. For most of its history, SBT has been one of the top networks in terms of viewers. However, between 2007 and 2014, another network called Record took its place. SBT has 114 TV stations across Brazil, including those it owns and those that are partners. You can also watch SBT through pay television (like cable and satellite), on free-to-air satellite, and by streaming media on its website and mobile apps. On its website, you can watch shows for free whenever you want. SBT also shares its content on YouTube since 2010. By March 2017, SBT's YouTube channels had over 20 million subscribers!

SBT shows many different types of programs. Most of its own shows are about entertainment. It also broadcasts many foreign shows, especially telenovelas (soap operas) from a Mexican company called Televisa. SBT is the only major commercial TV channel in Brazil that still shows programs just for children. It even works with The Walt Disney Company to broadcast two hours of Disney shows every day. The network also has news programs, with three daily newscasts and two weekly news shows.

The network's main home is the CDT da Anhanguera. This is a huge TV complex located in Osasco, São Paulo. It covers a massive area of 231,000 square meters. It's the third-largest TV studio complex in Latin America.

SBT's Journey Through Time

How SBT Began

Rede Tupi was a TV channel in São Paulo that started in 1950. Silvio Santos began producing his own TV shows on Tupi and other networks in the 1960s. He soon dreamed of having his very own TV channel. His production company was very successful.

In 1976, Silvio Santos got a license for his own station in Rio de Janeiro, called "TVS." This new channel started on May 14, 1976. It quickly became popular because people wanted something different from the other channels. TVS was one of the first stations in Brazil to use computer animation for its logos and ads. While it started in Rio, TVS moved its main production to São Paulo around 1978–79.

Headquarters of the SBT in Rio de Janeiro.

When Rede Tupi closed down in 1980, Silvio Santos was able to get three of its stations: one in São Paulo, one in Porto Alegre, and one in Belém. This led to the creation of SBT, which officially launched on August 19, 1981. However, some of its stations continued to use the "TVS" name until 1990. Before SBT was fully formed, the Silvio Santos Group also had a TVS station in Nova Friburgo, which opened in 1979.

In 1978, Minas Gerais' TV Alterosa became SBT's first partner station. Other stations joined after Tupi closed in 1980. The official launch of SBT in 1981 was a big event, broadcast live from Brasilia. SBT quickly grew to have 18 partner channels across the country.

The 1980s: Growing Strong

Former headquarters of the SBT in São Paulo

During the 1980s, SBT became a very important network. It hired popular TV hosts and showed a mix of its own programs and shows from Televisa in Mexico. These included popular Mexican telenovelas and comedy shows like El Chavo del Ocho. SBT became the second most-watched network in Brazil. It also aired the Brazilian version of Bozo for kids.

SBT, along with Record, broadcast the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In 1985, SBT had a big success with the Australian miniseries The Thorn Birds. Also, TVS Channel 4 São Paulo officially became SBT Channel 4 São Paulo, making it a truly national network with satellite broadcasts.

In 1986, the talk show Hebe started on SBT. It was hosted by Hebe Camargo and became one of the network's longest-running shows, lasting over 24 years.

In 1987, Silvio Santos wanted to make SBT's programs even better and attract more viewers and advertisers. To compete with other popular children's shows, SBT started adding more kids' programs like Oradukapeta and Show Maravilha. Most of SBT's kids' shows had female hosts.

The network also launched a new slogan, "Quem procura, acha aqui" (Whoever searches, finds it here). This slogan was inspired by NBC's campaigns in the US.

In 1988, famous comedian Jô Soares joined SBT from TV Globo. He started a late-night talk show called Jô Soares Onze e Meia. Also, Boris Casoy became Brazil's first news anchor with his newscast TJ Brasil.

Silvio Santos also made sure that popular host "Gugu" Liberato stayed with SBT in 1988, even though Globo wanted to sign him. Gugu's show, Viva a Noite, was a big hit. Gugu was seen as a possible successor to Silvio Santos on Sunday afternoons. As a result, Silvio Santos's own show, Programa Sílvio Santos, started having two hosts, with Gugu leading parts of it, like the game show Passa ou Repassa.

The 1990s: A Decade of Growth

In 1990, the "TVS" name was fully changed to "SBT" across all stations. This change was part of a new advertising campaign. SBT also broadcast the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In 1991, new successful shows like the newscast Aqui Agora and the variety show Programa Livre began. Despite some challenges, the 1990s were a great time for SBT. It started the decade with 74 partner stations, much more than when it first began.

SBT started making its own telenovelas and remaking popular ones from other countries, like Chiquititas. It also had many variety shows, news programs, and rights to broadcast sports events. In 1998, it signed host Carlos "Ratinho" Massa, got more Mexican shows, and launched game shows like Show do Milhão in 1999. By the end of the 1990s, SBT was still the second most-watched network in Brazil, after Globo. This was helped by its new, advanced TV complex, the CDT da Anhanguera, which opened in 1996.

Ad Campaigns

SBT used many advertising campaigns during the 1990s, often inspired by popular campaigns from American and Australian TV networks. These campaigns helped promote the network and its shows to viewers. For example, in 1996, SBT launched a new logo and a new slogan, "Tudo Pra Você" (Everything for You), for its 15th anniversary.

The 2000s: Challenges and Changes

At the start of the 2000s, SBT invested in showing movies, including films from Disney and Time Warner. In 2001, a reality show called Casa dos Artistas became very popular. It was similar to Big Brother and helped SBT win the Sunday-night ratings for the first time.

However, after 2003, SBT's viewership started to decline as other networks like Record and Rede Bandeirantes gained popularity. One major event that caused problems was a controversy in 2003 involving the program Domingo Legal. After this, the show's audience never fully recovered.

Despite these challenges, SBT aired successful shows like Rebelde and programs with the popular child host Maisa Silva. Sometimes, shows would change without much warning, which could confuse viewers. In 2006, SBT celebrated its 25th anniversary during a difficult period.

SBT is still the second-largest network in Brazil, competing closely with Record. The CDT da Anhanguera is the second-largest TV production center in Brazil. Over 5,000 people work for SBT's 110 TV stations.

In 2008, SBT lost its second-place spot in the ratings to Record, but they tied for second the next year. In 2009, Gugu Liberato moved to Record, but SBT signed new presenters like Roberto Justus and Eliana. SBT also became available on SKY Brasil, a satellite TV service.

Recent popular shows include What's Your Talent, a Brazilian version of Britain's Got Talent, and a version of 1 vs. 100. SBT also hosts an annual telethon to raise money for charity.

The 2020s: A Focus on Sports

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many businesses, including TV networks. However, SBT found new success in sports broadcasting. It gained the rights to show the final of the Campeonato Carioca 2020 football championship. Then, it got a new agreement to broadcast the Copa Libertadores football tournament from 2020 to 2022. In 2021, SBT secured even more sports contracts, including the Copa America. This was a big step for the network as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. Because of these sports successes, SBT brought back its sports news programs: Arena SBT returned in 2020, and SBT Sports launched in 2021.

SBT's Main Stations

Meet the SBT Team

SBT has many talented people who work on its shows, from hosts to directors.

Popular Hosts

News Reporters

Sports Reporters

Show Directors

SBT's Programs

A Look at SBT's Shows

SBT is known for its many programs for children and pre-teens. It's very popular with young viewers. In 1998, SBT had the longest block of children's programming in Brazilian TV history, lasting 14 hours! They called it "SBT Kids."

While many Brazilian TV stations create their own shows, SBT often uses programs from other countries, especially Mexico and the US. For example, El Chavo del Ocho (known as Chaves in Brazil) has been one of the station's most popular shows since 1984.

Mexican telenovelas have always been a big part of SBT's schedule. They were especially popular in the early 1990s with shows like Carrusel and the "María trilogy" (María Mercedes, Marimar, and María la del Barrio). These shows are known for being dramatic and exciting.

Other big hits in the 1990s included Domingo Legal (Cool Sunday), a Sunday variety show that was once SBT's most-watched program. However, its ratings dropped after a controversy. Programa do Ratinho (Ratinho's Show), Show do Milhão (The Million Show, similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?), and the Brazilian version of the Argentine soap opera Chiquititas were also very popular, especially with kids.

For over 20 years, SBT was the second most-watched TV network in Brazil, only behind Rede Globo. But in February 2007, Rede Record took its place in São Paulo. However, SBT made a comeback and successfully overtook Record for second place again in June 2014.

Since their peak in the 1990s, Mexican telenovelas have become less popular. In 2001, SBT started remaking Mexican soap operas with Brazilian actors. Some of these, like Marisol, did well, but later ones were less popular.

Besides Mexican soaps and their remakes, SBT also shows cartoons in the mornings. It has aired Brazilian versions of international shows like Supernanny and Deal or No Deal. Silvio Santos himself hosts many of the network's programs. SBT also broadcasts movies and a long-running comedy show called A Praça é Nossa.

Popular Soap Operas

Exciting Reality and Game Shows

• Bake Off Brasil
• Júnior Bake Off Brasil
• Hell's Kitchen: Cozinha sob Pressão
• Roda a Roda Jequiti (Wheel of Fortune)
• Programa Silvio Santos
• Passa ou Repassa (Double Dare)
• Show do Milhão PicPay
• Te Devo Essa! Brasil (Property_Brothers)
• Esquadrão da Moda (What Not to Wear)
• Qual é o Seu Talento? (What's Your Talent?)
• Topa ou Não Topa (Deal or No Deal)
• Um Contra Cem (1 vs. 100)
• Supernanny
• Popstars Brasil (Popstars)
• Casa dos Artistas

Images for kids

• 

  Carlos Roberto Massa, the popular and polemical "Ratinho (Little Mouse)"

• 

  Celso Portiolli

• 

  Eliana

• 

  Helen Ganzarolli

See also

In Spanish: SBT para niños