Telemax (television network)

Telemax is a Mexican broadcast television network based in Hermosillo, Sonora. Its flagship station is XEWH-TV channel 6 in Hermosillo, and is available nationally through satellite and cable coverage. It is also available through a network of over-the-air repeaters, which extend its flagship station's coverage throughout Sonora. Telemax is owned by the State of Sonora and its stated mission is "to promote Sonoran culture and values, the works and programs of the government, and timely and truthful broadcast of information to various social segments of the population."

History

XEWH history

The history of television station XEWH precedes that of Telemax by over 30 years. Founded November 27, 1957 by the Azcarraga family, XEWH went on the air May 30, 1959 as part of Telesistema Mexicano, hence the callsign XEWH, from "XEW", the Telesistema Mexicano flagship station in Mexico City, and "H", for Hermosillo. As typical of Telesistema Mexicano stations, XEWH operated independently, but that changed in 1969. The station became a mere retransmitter of programs from Mexico City, likely from XEW-TV, and remained so until 1978, when it was acquired by local businessmen and broke away to resume producing local programming. In 1984, the station was sold to the Sonoran government. State government decree 369 on August 22, 1985 established XEWH as the official voice of the Sonoran government. Also in 1985, the government began building a network of low-power television stations throughout Sonora to rebroadcast XEWH.