Band

Rede Bandeirantes, widely known as Band, launched on May 13, 1967, from VHF channel 13 in São Paulo. The station began as a joint venture between businessman João Saad and former governor Adhemar de Barros, quickly establishing itself as a pioneer in Brazilian broadcasting technology. It became the first station in the country to broadcast all programming in color in 1972 and introduced satellite broadcasting for nationwide simulcasts in 1982.

The network shortened its branding to simply "Band" in 1990 but reverted to "Bandeirantes" after public preference. It permanently returned to the moniker "Band" during the 1995 Carnival broadcasts, where it also introduced the screen watermark logo for the first time in Brazil. Today, it operates as the fourth largest television network in the nation by audience reach and revenue, maintaining a strong presence through owned-and-operated stations and affiliates.

Beyond entertainment, Band has built a reputation for significant journalistic coverage and sports broadcasting. The news division hosted early gubernatorial debates in 1982 and presidential debates in 1989. During the 1980s and 1990s, the channel aired diverse events including the IndyCar Series, NBA games, and European football leagues. Current ownership involves the Saad family legacy through Grupo Band and digital operations managed via UOL (Universo Online). [edit]