Nayara Henriques
"Don't switch it off/ The problem's on our end/ I'm doing what I can/ To fix the TV signal." (Jingle that aired on TV Excelsior whenever it went off the air in 1964).
In 1964, the main TV networks in Rio de Janeiro were: Tupi, Excelsior, Record, Continental, and Rio. Soap operas were already taking over the programming and were the big draw for audiences. That would be the year of "Alma Cigana," "O Direito de Nascer," and "Renúncia," among the nearly 30 serials launched that year.
It was the first time a broadcaster had launched a soap opera with daily episodes (TV Tupi – "Alma Cigana"). That was how the "Show do Golias" was, leading prime time on TV Record, followed by the "Chico Anysio Show". Ronald Golias became famous on the radio and, in the 1960s, established himself on television. Chico Anysio, in turn, launched his iconic characters: Qüem-Qüem, the nasally-voiced barman, Coronel Limoeiro, Bento Carneiro, as well as the much-missed Professor Raimundo.
Although television newscasts emerged in 1950, they still did not have videotape technology, so the outdoor recordings were still short, silent videos. With the change in technology starting in 1960, TV Excelsior launched "Primeiro Plano" in 1964, a variety and news program hosted by Cid Moreira, Terezinha Mendes and Luiz Jatobá. The "Jornal Nacional" would only be launched in 1968.
Sports already had a place in the networks' schedules, with TV Continental's "Atualidades Esportivas" and TV Tupi's "Futebol em Revista." Starting in 1962, it was already possible to watch World Cup matches the very next day. As on the radio, the networks relied on advertisements and sponsorships, which sports programming attracted in order to stay on the air.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white advertising poster. On the left side, we see two men in suits, one of them with a beard and the other with short hair. In the center is a woman in a pink dress, smiling. To her right is another woman wearing a white headscarf. At the top, there is prominent text that reads "O DIREITO DE NASCER" ("THE RIGHT TO BE BORN"). On the right, there is information about the "TV TUPÍ CANAL 4" network and broadcast times. The text mentions that it is "O MAIOR SUCESSO DA TV BRASILEIRA!" ("THE BIGGEST HIT ON BRAZILIAN TV!")Sem autoria.
Cartaz da Novela "O direito de nascer"
. Fatos e Fotos, 28 de agosto de 1965, Ano V, Número 239. Acervo IHGB