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|
 | |
| Country | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV (downscaled to480i/576i for theSDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Enlace Internacional |
| Sister channels | EJTV |
| History | |
| Launched | September 9, 1988; 37 years ago (1988-09-09) (as Canal 23 Costa Rica) November 1, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-11-01) (as Enlace) |
| Former names | Canal 23 (1988–1996) |
| Links | |
| Website | enlace |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Digital UHF (Costa Rica) | Channel 23.1 (Main Feed) Channel 23.2 (Enlace+) Channel 23.4 (Enlace Costa Rica) |
| Digital terrestrial television (United States) | x.4 on TBN stations (select markets) |
Enlace is aLatin AmericanChristian-basedbroadcasttelevision network. The network primarily broadcasts faith-based programming targeted to theHispanic community.[1] Enlace's primary headquarters are inSan José, Costa Rica, with studios, offices, and call centers in most Latin American countries.
In the United States, Enlace is distributed by theTrinity Broadcasting Network (asEnlace TBN) and the broadcast facilities for Enlace's US feed are located inIrving, Texas.[2] TBN stopped distributing Enlace on February 12, 2024 to pay-TV providers and many of its stations to accommodatePhil McGraw's new joint venture networkMerit Street, but readded it in several markets with a large Hispanic population due to feedback against the removal of the channel.
Around the world, the channel is broadcast free-to-air via satellite as well ondigital terrestrial television in Peru, Costa Rica, Spain, Panama, and Bolivia.
Jonas González Rodriguez first got the idea for Enlace in 1981, and in 1984 Rodriguez sent a letter to Costa Rica's National Radio Control Department. On July 17, 1986, he was awarded a television license under Number 167 for use of the channel 23 UHF frequency in the Metropolitan region of Costa Rica.
In 1987, Rodriguez established an office for Enlace inSan Antonio, TX in theContinental Building. In August 1988,TBN founderPaul Crouch donated a 10-watt transmitter to Channel 23, and engineerRicardo Jarquín installed it. Channel 23 began transmitting on September 9, 1988. In January 1990 they installed a transmitter with 1000 watts in the Irazú volcano. In 1991 a trademark was filed for the name Enlace. In 1992, Channel 23 installed three repeaters inLimón,Santa Elena andCerro de la Muerte. In 1994, Channel 23 opened its first studio, and on August 2 of that year, Channel 23 began transmitting via satellite duringTBN's flagship programPraise the Lord.
In 1996 Enlace launched a 24/7 broadcast on the Mexican satelliteSoldaridad 2, thus extending their signal all over Latin America. In 1998 they upgraded their satellite toPas-5, thereby extending the network's reach all over Europe. In 2000 they upgraded their satellite once again toPas-9, also on that year Enlace Juvenil TV was launched. On September 1, 2002, TBN Enlace USA was launched as part of TBN's digital lineup; the network planned to start covering the 10 top Hispanic markets of the country in its first year.[3] In 2003, Enlace started transmitting on the satellitesHispasat-1C andHotbird 6, thus extending to the Middle East. In 2005, Enlace started transmitting onGalaxy 23 andGalaxy 19 extending to North America. In 2006 they moved transmission to the satelliteGalaxy 14.
In 2007, Enlace started retooling their infrastructure in Costa Rica, in addition to launching on theNossa TV platform in Brazil transmitting from satelliteGalaxy 28. In 2008, Enlace and Enlace Juvenil received new imagery and look, and they started transmitting onDirecTV Latin America for the first time from the satelliteGalaxy 3C.
The network's lineup consists of faith programs including church services, music videos, concerts, talk shows, children's programs, and movies. Over 80% of its programs are produced in Latin America by ministries such asClaudio Freidzon ofArgentina, Cash Luna of Casa De Dios inGuatemala, and U.S. Hispanic organizations such asGuillermo Maldonado ofMiami,Florida, andDanilo Montero ofLakewood Church inHouston,Texas.
The network is accessed via free-to-air satellite. Having been launched in the United States on May 1, 2002, Enlace is currently available through various cable providers nationwide, and previously was carried over-the-air ondigital subchannels of TBNowned-and-operated and affiliated stations, usually on the fourth subchannel until February 2024. Enlace is also available across North America, including Mexico onGlorystar Christian Satellite. The network is also streamed on Enlace and TBN's official website for use externally in browsers and media players, available at different speeds for dial-up and broadband connections, and is also available through TBN'siOS,Google Play andRoku apps.
On December 16, 2009,DirecTV in the United States began carrying Enlace on channel 448, making it available for part of its various English, Spanish and international packages.[4] In February 2011,Dish Network began carrying Enlace on channel 9411.
