Born on November 15th, 1953 and founded by William H. Phelps, Radio Caracas Televisión became the third TV channel on the air in Venezuela. The following day, the first regular newscast in Venezuela, “El Observador Creole” (The Creole Observer), anchored by Francisco Arnaldo Pernía, was on air (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 1953, RCTV aired on live the World Amateur Baseball League, the first ever technical success on the Venezuelan TV. That same year, the TV channel brought in something new –tele-theaters, such as “Kaleidoscopio,” (Kaleidoscope), “Anecdotario” (Story Book), “Teatro del Lunes” (The Monday Theater), “Ciclorama,” (Cyclorama), “Cuentos del Camino” (Road Tales) and “Candilejas” (Footlights). RCTV produced its first soap opera in 1954, “Camay,” starred by Hilda Vera (on the picture) and Luis Salazar. Each chapter lasted 15 minutes because broadcast was live. Soap operas “Palmolive 1956”, “La Única 1957” and “La Novela LM 1957” followed. (Photo: FAM)

In 1958, a show emblematic of Venezuelan comedy was on air. It was “La Cruzada del Humor” (The Humor Crusade) renamed “Radio Rochela” the following year. This show is in the Guiness Book of World Records for being on air for five decades in a row. Dozen gifted comedians and their unforgettable characters have left a mark on Venezuelans. Rafael “Cayito “ Aponte, Américo Navarro, Joselo, Toco Gómez, Charles Barry, Olimpia Maldonado, José “Pepeto” López, Elisa Parejo, Romelia Agüero, Virgilio Galindo, Kiko Mendive, Fina Rojas, Edmundo Valdemar, Juan Vené, Martha Piñango, Pedro Soto, Martha Olivo, Emilio Lovera, Norah Suárez, Nené Quintana, Nelson Paredes, among others, attended this comedy school. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 1960, the emergence of video-tape, able to record images and sound, caused the first technological revolution in the media. A number of musical shows emerged during that decade, including “El Show de las Doce” (The Noon Show) and “El Show de Renny” (“Renny’s Show”) (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 1961, RCTV tried the stereophonic sound for the first time in Venezuela. A variety show was broadcast concomitantly with Radio Caracas Radio. In 1969, RCTV aired exclusively and live, man’s arrival in the Moon. Sofía Ímber and Renny Ottolina on the image. (Courtesy of RCTV)

In the seventies, RCTV soap operas started to last one hour instead of half an hour per chapter. Multiple classics that many people still remember came out back on that time. The most salient include “El derecho de nacer” (The right to be born), starred in by Conchita Obach and Raúl Amundaray. It lasted two years. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

“Historia de tres hermanas” (The three sisters’ story) was another major success. It was aired on a weekly basis. Main stars included Eva Blanco, Eva Moreno and Doris Wells, along with Raúl Amundaray, Óscar Martínez, Tomás Henríquez, América Barrio, Guillermo González and Luis Calderón. “La usurpadora” (The Usurper, on the image), “Chinita, mi amor,” (Chinita, my love), “La Tirana” (The Tyrant), “Raquel,” “La italianita” (The little Italian), “Cristina,” “La indomable” (The unruly) and “El engaño” (Deceit) are other memorable productions. (Courtesy of RCTV)

In the mid seventies, RCTV started to market its shows worldwide. Nowadays, the programs are aired in more than 60 countries and dubbed in more than 20 languages. That same decade, a number of soap operas became a major event with the highest rating in all social classes. They included “La señora de Cárdenas,” (Mrs. Cárdenas), “La hija de Juana Crespo” (Juana Crespo’s daughter,” and “La fiera” (The wild). While the channel had available already the equipment for broadcast in color, the government ordered it to put electronic filters. The image shows Doris Wells and Miguel Ángel Landa in “La señora de Cárdenas.”

In 1970, RCTV broadcast, live and exclusively, the first Football World Cup ever seen on Venezuelan screens –Mexico 1970. Later on, it aired the Football Junior World Cup, the Professional Baseball League and the Basketball Special League. The image shows actor and TV presenter César Lemoine besides the RCTV logo. (Photo FAM)

In 1979, RCTV aired “Doña Bárbara,” featuring Marina Baura (on the image). It was the first adaptation to color TV. The story authored by Rómulo Gallegos, was a version by José Ignacio Cabrujas. “Doña Bárbara” was an innovation at the production level as 80 percent of the scenes were recorded outdoors. Also, it was the first Venezuelan soap opera aired in Europe. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 1977, the channel aired “La hija de Juana Crespo,” (Juana Crespo's Daughter) the first cultural soap opera made in Venezuela. It was authored by José Ignacio Cabrujas and Salvador Garmendia, and adapted to television by Ibsen Martínez. Leading actors were Mayra Alejandra and José Luis “El Puma” Rodríguez. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

Additional adaptations included “La Trepadora” (The climbing plant), “Pobre Negro” (Poor Negro), “Canaima,” “Sobre la misma tierra” (On the very land) and “La Balandra Isabel llegó esta tarde” (Cutter Isabel arrived this evening). However, following “La hija de Juana Crespo”, RCTV put adaptations aside and started to create its own stories, scripted for television. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 1981, RCTV started color broadcasting. “El Ciclo de Oro de Rómulo Gallegos” (Rómulo Gallegos Golden Cycle) was a roaring success in the eighties. There were also renowned dramas, such as “Estefanía” (on the image), starred in by Pierina España and José Luis Rodríguez, and “Elizabeth”, with Caridad Canelón and Orlando Urdaneta as the leading actors. (Photo: FAM)

In the eighties, soap operas, such as the controversial “Leonela,” starred in by Mayra Alejandra and Carlos Olivier, were noteworthy, in addition to “Topacio,” with Grecia Colmenares and Víctor Cámara as leading actors, and “Cristal” (on the image), starred in by Jeanette Rodríguez and Carlos Mata. They repeated their success with “La Dama de Rosa” (Lady in Pink) In “Cristal,” the most significant soap opera in the eighties, acted also Lupita Ferrer, Raúl Amundaray, Gigi Zancheta and Mariela Alcalá. The soap opera was successful to such an extent that it was broadcast seven times in Spain and yielded billionaire profits. Spots during its broadcast reached the cost of more than seven million pesetas (approximately USD 57,000) (Photo: FAM)

The eighties were also characteristic of series “Gómez I” and “Gómez II,” each of 24 episodes. They told the story of Venezuelan dictator Juan Vicente Gómez. A great effort was made in production, as it recreated locations, set design and costumes of early 20th century. Honorable and renowned actor Rafael Briceño was the leading actor (Photo: FAM)

In the nineties, RCTV developed single shows, including “La Madamme” (on the image), featuring Mimí Lazo; “Cuerpos clandestinos” (Undercover bodies), starred in by María Conchita Alonso and Franklin Virgüez; “Volver a tí” (Getting back to you) featuring Ruddy Rodríguez; and “Buen Corazón” (Kind heart) with Coraima Torres. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

On June 3rd, 1992, the first urban soap opera made in Venezuela came up –“Por estas calles” (Around these streets). Leading actors were Marialejandra Martín, Aroldo Betancourt, Gledys Ibarra and Franklin Virgüez and script by Ibsen Martínez. It smashed the record of 1,342 chapters aired, ending on August 30th, 1994. (Photo: FAM)

“Kassandra” was another dramatic production that went down in history. It came up in the nineties, authored by Delia Fiallo and featuring Coraima Torres and Puerto Rican Osvaldo Ríos. This soap opera was not only included in the Guiness Book of World Records, but also it is said that managed to appease the Bosnia war during broadcasting. “Kassandra” was the first soap opera watched in Japan, where it turned out to be a success as well. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 1995, RCTV aired “Amores de fin de siglo” (Love at the end of the century). It was the first Venezuelan story including a whole cast of stars. Maricarmen Regueiro, Flavio Caballero, Daniel Lugo, Ana Karina Manco, Franklin Virgüez and Ruddy Rodríguez recreated ordinary people’s lives. (Photo: Courtesy of RCTV)

In 2000, RCTV introduced the reality shows, including “Fama y aplausos” (Fame and applauses), “Fama, sudor y lágrimas” (Fame, sweat and tears), and shows involving the audience, such as the globally acclaimed “Who wants to be a millionaire,” hosted by Eladio Lares. (Photo: FAM)