Telefe changes hands: an Argentine businessman bought the leading local TV channel

In an unexpected turn, Telefe —the most-watched channel on Argentine television— was sold to an Argentine businessman. The news was confirmed by journalist Ángel de Brito, who shared key details through his social media accounts.

According to the host of LAM on his X account (formerly Twitter), the sale has already been finalized and the new owner is a national shareholder. "Telefe, finally sold to an Argentine businessman, as the main shareholder," wrote De Brito, adding that the official announcement would be made the following week.

A channel in transition: conflicting reports and a tense atmosphere

The news had an impact within the channel. There was an assembly among employees due to uncertainty about their job future, and he mentioned that some managers confirmed the transaction while others categorically denied it.  "There will be controversy," the journalist anticipated.

The sale process would have been managed from Paramount's headquarters in New York, at One Astor Plaza, Times Square.  Paramount Global, which acquired Telefe in 2016 for 345 million dollars,decided to part with the channel after its merger with CBS and Viacom. This time, the price would have been less than 120 million.

Potential buyers and Argentine interest

Among the candidates to acquire the channel were names with a strong presence in the media.  The Werthein family, which manages DirecTV in Latin America and owns media outlets in Uruguay, was one of the interested parties. Gustavo Yankelevich —historic programmer of Telefe in the '90s— also sought to return to the station. Another player was Alpha Media group, led by Marcelo Fígoli, which operates radio stations, digital media, soccer clubs, and Parque de la Costa.

The channel reaches 95% of Argentine households and keeps seven of the country's ten most-watched programs. In addition, it produces more than 3,000 hours of content annually, manages a catalog of 33,000 hours, and has an international presence in 17 countries.

Meanwhile, negotiations have already begun to sell Telefe Rosario to Grupo Plus, owned by the Vignati brothers. The transaction would be part of Paramount's gradual withdrawal from the Argentine market, after also selling channels in Córdoba, Tucumán, Salta, and Mar del Plata.

Although the name of the final buyer is not yet known, the official announcement is expected in the coming days. What is certain is that, with this transfer, significant changes are coming to the channel's programming and internal structure. The bidding process could be fully completed before the end of the year.