SIC (Portuguese TV channel)

Portuguese television network and media company

Television channel

SIC

Country| Portugal
Broadcast area| Portugal
Headquarters| Paço de Arcos, Oeiras, Lisbon
Programming
Picture format| 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner| Impresa
Sister channels| SIC Notícias
SIC Radical
SIC Mulher
SIC K
SIC Caras
SIC Internacional
SIC Internacional África
History
Launched| 6 October 1992; 31 years ago (1992-10-06)
Links
Website| https://sic.pt/
Availability
Terrestrial
TDT| Channel 3 (SD)
Streaming media
SIC Online| https://sic.sapo.pt/direto

SIC (acronym of full name Sociedade Independente de Comunicação) ("Independent Communication Society") is a Portuguese television network and media company, which runs several television channels. Their flagship channel is the eponymous SIC, the third terrestrial television station in Portugal, launched on 6 October 1992. SIC is owned by Impresa, a Portuguese media conglomerate. It is one of the two private free-to-air channels in Portugal, among the seven terrestrial free-to-air channels broadcasting from the country. It too, is the most-watched channel in Portugal from 1995 to 2005 and 2019 to 2024. Today is the day is second place.

Other channels operated by SIC carried on satellite and cable TV in Portugal are:

* SIC Notícias, news channel;
* SIC Radical, general entertainment channel targeting a younger audience;
* SIC Mulher, general entertainment channel targeting a female audience;
* SIC K, general entertainment channel targeting kids;
* SIC Internacional, an international channel which broadcasts in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Australia;
* SIC Caras, an entertainment channel primarily focused on celebrities.

## History[edit]

The first version of SIC's logo, used until 6 October 1997.

On October 27, 1986, the Portuguese government issued a decree in Diário da República to limit government influence in the media industry, while opening the television sector to the private initiative. Among the companies interested for the license were SOJORNAL (owner of Expresso) among other publishing companies.[1]

The company was first registered in 1987, with Granada Television initially holding a 20% interest, with the rest being owned by Impala, Expresso and Projornal. Brazilian television channel Rede Globo later took over Granada's interest after the latter left the company.

The companies that held shares in SIC in 1990 said that private television would only start in 1992, with SIC intending to start broadcasting in the middle of the year. 25 to 30 percent of the initial schedule would be given to news, while the entertainment programming was given to independent production companies, under the status of "associated producers".[2]

In 1991, the licenses were granted to SIC and TVI. In an initial phase, SIC would devote a substantial amount of its programming to news, "not only political news, but also more general and active news, privileging live", according to Pinto Balsemão. The initial line-up had a prospective starting time of 18:30 on weekdays and 15:30 on weekends, ending every night at midnight. The channel would provider counter-programming to the remaining channels, with a wide variety of content.[3]

The channel initially (until January 2019) broadcast from converted studios in Carnaxide. In 1992, SIC was owned by a consortium led by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, backed by Controljornal, TSF, Rádio Comercial, Lusomundo, Expresso, Impala Editores and Globo.

On October 1, 1992 (mere days after starting its signal at least in Lisbon), SIC held its first experimental broadcast. During a five day period, the channel broadcast an international soccer match, a rock concert, two made-for-TV movies and a debate about Maastricht at Associação Comercial de Lisboa.[4]

Regular transmissions began on 6 October 1992, becoming the first Portuguese private television channel.[5]

In its initial years, it acquired a large audience, eventually overtaking RTP1 by 1995. SIC became widely known across Europe for achieving high viewing figures just two to three years after launching, as well as being the subject of an Arte documentary known as Cette Télévision est la Vôtre (This Television is Yours), directed by Mariana Otero.

Emídio Rangel quit SIC in August 2001, moving to RTP in the process, as the channel was starting to face a fall in ratings due to the rise of TVI, as well as the fall in Impresa's stocks.[6] In September, the post of director of programming was occupied by Manuel Fonseca.[7]

Globo, in order to solve its debt issues in 2002, proceeded to sell the 15% of its shares on SIC.[8]

In 2005, TVI, after recovering from a financial crisis, overtook SIC in the ratings. Aside from RTP1 taking over second place in 2007, 2009 and 2010, for the next fourteen years, SIC would be in second place until overtaking TVI in 2019.

In 2011, Impresa opened SIC's new Porto studios in Matosinhos, on the site of a former slaughterhouse. The studios also holds the newsrooms of Expresso, Visão, the Caras magazine, the web portal AEIOU.pt and Infoportugal. In 2019, SIC, along with its parent company Impresa, relocated from its studios in Carnaxide to a new building in Paço de Arcos.

## Programming[edit]

Nowadays, SIC has a programming largely based on talk shows, Brazilian soap operas produced by Globo, Portuguese soaps, game shows and sketch shows. Like the other major broadcaster, TVI, SIC airs international TV series such as Criminal Minds, the various CSI series and Entourage always after 1 a.m. SIC also relies largely on Globo productions, due to an exclusivity contract which obligates SIC to broadcast every soap opera produced.[citation needed] In-house productions include occasional reality shows and comedy sketch shows, which include Malucos do Riso, a long-running series with focus on dramatized jokes, and Gato Fedorento.

### Shows[edit]

* Casa Feliz (Happy House)
* Júlia
* Episódio Especial (Special Episode)
* Fama Show (Fame Show)

### Family entertainment[edit]

* Peso Pesado (The Biggest Loser)
* Factor X (X Factor)
* Ídolos (Idol)
* Ponto de Encontro
* Cantor ou Impostor? (I Can See Your Voice)

### Soap operas[edit]

Main article: List of SIC telenovelas

* Laços de Sangue (Blood Ties)
* Rosa Fogo (Fire of Rose)
* Dancin' Days (Dancin' Days)
* Poderosas (Powerful)
* Coração d'Ouro (Golden Heart)
* Rainha das Flores (Queen of Flowers)

### Sports[edit]

* UEFA Europa League
* Red Bull Air Race World Championship

### TV series[edit]

* CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CSI: Las Vegas)
* CSI: Miami
* CSI: NY (CSI: Nova Iorque)
* Criminal Minds (Mentes Criminosas)
* Downton Abbey
* NCIS (Investigação Criminal)
* NCIS: Los Angeles (Investigação Criminal Los Angeles)
* In Treatment
* The Walking Dead (Os Mortos Vivos)
* Los Protegidos (Os Protegidos)
* CSI: Cyber
* Blacklist
* Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

### News[edit]

* Edição da Manhã (Morning Edition)
* Primeiro Jornal (1:00 pm News)
* Jornal da Noite (Evening News)

### SIC Kids[edit]

* Oggy and the Cockroaches (Oggy e as Baratas)
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
* W.I.T.C.H.
* Popeye The Sailor
* Dexter's Laboratory
* Gravion
* Looney Tunes
* Pinkalicious & Peterrific (La Rose de Curioso La) (upcoming July 22, 2022)
* The Magic School Bus
* Recess \- Disney Kids
* House of Mouse \- Disney Kids
* Kim Possible \- Disney Kids
* Lilo and Stitch \- Disney Kids
* Brandy and Mr. Whiskers \- Disney Kids
* Timon & Pumbaa \- Disney Kids
* The Emperor's New School \- Disney Kids
* The Replacements \- Disney Kids
* Phineas and Ferb \- Disney Kids
* Teamo Supremo \- Disney Kids
* Fish Hooks \- Disney Kids
* DuckTales \- Disney Kids
* Ultimate Spider-Man \- Disney Kids
* The Suite Life on Deck \- Disney Kids
* The Wizards of Waverly Place \- Disney Kids
* Sonny with a Chance \- Disney Kids
* Shake It Up \- Disney Kids
* Jessie \- Disney Kids
* Doug \- Disney Kids
* Action Man
* Animaniacs
* Bratz
* Pokémon
* Digimon (aired only 4 seasons)
* Sailor Moon
* Dragon Ball
* Dragon Ball Z
* Dragon Ball GT
* Dragon Ball Super
* Super Pig
* YAT Anshin! Luxury Space Tours
* Flint the Time Detective
* Sigma 6
* Shin-Chan (Vitello and Phuuz dubs)
* Mirmo
* Yu-Gi-Oh!
* Monster Rancher
* Mon Colle Knights
* Shinzo
* MegaMan NT Warrior
* Ōban Star-Racers
* Pucca
* Monster Warriors
* Naruto \- SIC and SIC K
* Yin Yang Yo!
* Inspector Gadget \- SIC and SIC K
* Ben 10 \- SIC and SIC K
* Ben 10: Alien Force \- SIC and SIC K
* Gormiti \- SIC K
* Iron Man: Armored Adventures \- SIC K
* Mr. Bean (animated TV series) \- SIC K
* Angel's Friends \- SIC K
* Madison Online \- SIC K
* Bleach \- SIC K
* Yu-Gi-Oh! GX \- SIC K
* Horseland \- SIC K
* Zorro: Generation Z \- SIC K
* Legend Of The Dragon \- SIC K
* Michaelais Wild Challenge \- SIC K
* I.N.K Invisible Network Kids \- SIC K
* Puppy in My Pocket \- SIC and SIC K
* Power Rangers (1994–present)
* Violetta (2015–2016)
* SpongeBob SquarePants (only aired 2 seasons)
* ChalkZone (only aired 3 seasons)

In 2006, started to broadcast the block "SIC Kids", broadcasting a few hours later the block "Disney Kids" (the featured, and still features, only Disney programming).

### Live shows[edit]

* Globos de Ouro (Golden Globes)
* Parabéns, SIC ("Happy Birthday, SIC", literally "Congratulations"—airs when it's SIC's birthday)

### Movies[edit]

#### Exclusive broadcasting rights[edit]

* Walt Disney Pictures/Touchstone Pictures
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists
* Lions Gate Entertainment/Summit Entertainment

#### Co-shared broadcasting rights[edit]

* Warner Bros./New Line Cinema (rights co-shared with RTP)
* Columbia Pictures/TriStar Pictures (rights co-shared with RTP)
* 20th Century Fox/Regency Enterprises (rights co-shared with RTP and TVI)
* Universal Studios/Focus Features (rights co-shared with RTP and TVI)
* Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures (rights co-shared with TVI)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Diário de Lisboa: Governo regulamenta reprivatização de órgaõs de Comunicação Social (27 October 1986)
2. ^ O Jornal: TV privada só daqui a dois anos (9 March 1990)
3. ^ O Jornal: Igreja prefere o quarto (April 5, 1991)
4. ^ "O Jornal: Viagem ao centro da SIC (25 September 1992)". Citizen Grave (Blogspot). 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
5. ^ "A Good Impres[a]sion from Portuguese Media" (PDF). Equity Research. 1 September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
6. ^ "Emídio Rangel sai da SIC; pode ir para a RTP". Jornal de Negócios. 31 October 2002. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
7. ^ "SIC nomeia directores de informação e programação". Correio da Manhã. 18 August 2001. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
8. ^ "GLOBO VENDE PARTICIPAÇÃO NA SIC". Correio da Manhã. 31 October 2002. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Official site (in Portuguese)
* Behind the scenes of SIC's first day on air
* Impresa
* TSF Rádio Notícias
* Rádio Cidade (Amadora)

* v
* t
* e

Television in Portugal

RTP|

* RTP1TDT
* RTP2TDT
* RTP3TDT
* RTP MemóriaTDT
* RTP MadeiraAC/MA
* RTP AçoresAC/MA
* RTP Internacional
* RTP África

SIC|

* SICTDT
* SIC Notícias
* SIC Mulher
* SIC Radical
* SIC K
* SIC Caras
* SIC Internacional

TVI|

* TVITDT
* CNN Portugal
* TVI Ficção
* TVI Reality
* TVI Internacional

AMC+A+E|

* Odisseia
* História
* AMC
* AMC Crime
* Canal Hollywood
* Canal Panda
* Biggs
* Panda Kids

Disney Portugal|

* 24Kitchen
* BabyTV
* Disney Channel
* Disney Junior
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
* Star Channel
* Star Comedy
* Star Crime
* Star Life
* Star Movies

Globo Portugal|

* Globo
* Globo News
* PFC

Record Europa|

* Record
* Record News
* UniFé TV

Sport TV|

* SportTV 1
* SportTV 2
* SportTV 3
* SportTV 4
* SportTV 5
* SportTV 6
* SportTV +
* NBA TV

Eleven Sports|

* Eleven Sports 1
* Eleven Sports 2
* Eleven Sports 3
* Eleven Sports 4
* Eleven Sports 5
* Eleven Sports 6

Paramount Global|

* MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV Live
* Nickelodeon
* Nick Jr.

NOS|

* TVCine Top
* TVCine Action
* TVCine Edition
* TVCine Emotion

Sony|

* AXN
* AXN White
* AXN Movies

Warner Bros. Discovery|

* Cartoon Network
* Cartoonito
* CNN Portugal
* Discovery Channel
* Eurosport 1
* Eurosport 2
* Food Network
* Investigation Discovery
* TLC
* Travel Channel

NBCUniversal|

* E!
* Syfy

Stingray Group|

* Stingray Classica
* Stingray Djazz
* Stingray iConcerts
* Stingray Loud
* Stingray Retro
* Stingray Brava
* Stingray Qello

Other channels|

* A Bola TV
* Afro Music
* ARtvTDT
* Benfica TV
* Canal 11
* Canal 180
* Caça e Pesca
* Canção Nova
* Cinemundo
* CMTV
* Fuel TV
* HOT
* Kuriakos TV
* Localvisão TV
* Mezzo
* Mezzo Live HD
* Playboy TV
* Porto Canal
* Sporting TV
* STV Notícias
* TPA
* Venus

Services and platforms|

* TDTDTT
* NOSCATV, SAT
* MEOIPTV, SAT
* VodafoneIPTV
* NowoCATV, IPTV
* LigaTOTT

Defunct|

* A&E
* Animax
* Woohoo
* TV Brasil
* Clubbing TV
* AXN Black
* Euronews
* Discovery Showcase HD
* Disney Cinemagic
* Fine Living
* KidsCo
* MOV
* MTV Dance
* MTV Music 24
* MTV Rocks
* MTV 80s
* MVM
* SIC Comédia
* RTV
* +TVI
* TVSéries
* VH1
* VH1 Classic
* TVI24
* JimJam
* SundanceTV
* TVI África
* RTP HD

TDT: free-to-air on DTT – AC/MA: free-to-air on regional DTT
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