XHI-TDT

XHI-TDT is a television station in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. Broadcasting on virtual channel 2, XHI is part of the regional network of Televisoras Grupo Pacífico, carrying selected Televisa programs and featuring extensive local production.

History

XHI came to air on analog channel 2 on August 30, 1965; the final concession had been awarded just four days prior, on August 26. The original transmitter was located next to the studios on a 200 metres (660 ft) tower. The 60 tonnes (66 short tons) antenna was destroyed in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Kirsten on September 28, 1966; fortunately, there were no technical damages, which allowed the resumption of broadcasting days later with a temporary antenna.

In 1968, XHI relocated its transmitter to Cerro Yucuribampo; four years later, the station relocated to its present studios on Miguel Alemán Avenue in Ciudad Obregón. A power hike raised the station's effective radiated power from 75 to 86 kW in the 1980s and again to the maximum 100 kW in the 1990s.

In 1988, XHI built a repeater on Cerro de la Memoria in Los Mochis, more than 200 kilometres (120 mi) away in the neighboring state of Sinaloa. The Los Mochis repeater, while still licensed as such, soon turned into a full-fledged local station with its own programming.

The late 2000s saw XHI expand north to the town of Guaymas. An analog repeater was built on Cerro del Vigía, broadcasting on channel 34, and limited local production began, primarily of newscasts.

Programming

XHI's stations in Obregón and Mochis produce substantial local programming; while the latter is licensed as a repeater, it is treated by Televisoras Grupo Pacífico as a separate station, with its own local news. The local programming includes news, lifestyle shows and sports programming. Televisa output is present in the form of FOROtv national newscasts and selected Major League Baseball games, as well as telenovelas.

In October 2016, XHI, including all its repeaters, will switch to virtual channel 10 as a result of new guidelines harmonizing television virtual channels nationwide. Channel 2 will be used for the Las Estrellas network nationwide, requiring XHI to move; similarly, other national networks prompted other TGP stations to move to virtual channel 10.

Digital television

XHI was the first commercial station in Sonora to broadcast in digital and the first in Obregón after receiving Cofetel approval to build digital facilities in 2010; Los Mochis also built digital facilities. Televisoras Grupo Pacífico was an early builder of digital facilities for its stations; Guaymas was converted in 2015, only because it was a flash-cut on the same channel as its analog predecessor.

Repeaters

Subchannels

In 2015, XHI in Obregón began multiplexing its signal:

The Los Mochis station airs its main programs on 2.1 and a -1 hour feed on 2.2.

References

External links

• Televisoras Grupo Pacífico website