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Blim TV
Blim TV
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Blim TV (stylized as blim tv) was an on-demand video subscription service, offered online via TelevisaUnivision,[1] through an Internet connection, which offers access to programs strictly for personal use, in exchange for payment of a monthly subscription fee.[2]

Key Information

Its center of operations was in Mexico City. It was made available in 18 countries: Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Dominican Republic and Belize.[3]

It owned the productions of Televisa, as well the broadcast rights for titles from creators and distributors like Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and BBC.[4]

To compete with other on demand video services, it initially offered a monthly subscription for 109 pesos (approximately $5.65 US).[5] Like Netflix, blim tv offered the first month of its service free of charge.[6]

On 3 September 2019, Blim was relaunched as "Blim TV", adding 30 live television channels like Las Estrellas, Canal 5, Tlnovelas, Telemundo Internacional and Antena 3.[7][8]

As of July 2021, Luis Arvizu was the CEO of the company.[9][10]

In 2022, Blim TV merged all assets to Vix.[11]

Controversy

[edit]

In 2016, Televisa realized people watched Netflix more than cable television. In an attempt to re-gain their lost viewers, they decided to remove all of their original content from Netflix. They then created their own Netflix-like streaming service, called Blim. Soon after Televisa announced Blim, Mexicans began mocking them through Internet memes for producing lesser-quality original content compared to Netflix's more critically acclaimed original content.[12] Netflix itself released an ad which made fun of Televisa's original content. It criticized Blim and Televisa for the perceived lesser quality of their content, as well as for removing it from Netflix. The ad featured a man acting sad because Televisa's original content was removed, with his mom looking at him strangely.[13] Televisa retaliated by releasing an ad where a look-a-like man was happy having subscribed to Blim.[14] However Televisa's ad did not get the response they expected. It only caused more unfavorable criticism compared to Netflix. Blim and Televisa were even more heavily criticized for not understanding Millennials,[need quotation to verify] some of whom went as far as thanking Televisa for removing their content from Netflix. The main argument against Televisa was that there was no need to pay for a streaming service to see series that are available to watch on YouTube without needing to buy cable in the first place.[15][16]

Original programming

[edit]
Title Genre Premiere Seasons Status
40 y 20 Comedy 1 April 2016[17] 4 seasons, 52 episodes Renewed for a fourth season[18]
Nosotros los guapos Comedy 16 August 2016[19] 4 seasons, 57 episodes Ended
Sin rastro de ti Telenovela 9 September 2016[20] 1 season, 16 episodes Ended
Blue Demon Drama 11 November 2016[21] 3 seasons, 65 episodes Ended
Súper X Comedy 20 January 2017[22] 2 seasons, 16 episodes Ended
Sincronía Drama Suspense 1 March 2017[23] 1 season, 12 episodes Ended
Las 13 esposas de Wilson Fernández Black comedy 12 May 2017[24] 1 season, 13 episodes Renewed for a second season[25]
Érase una vez Fairy tale 2 October 2017[26] 1 season, 12 episodes[27] Ended
Dogma Suspense 1 November 2017[28] 1 season, 13 episodes[29] Ended
¡Ay Güey! Comedy 24 December 2017[30] 1 season, 13 episodes Ended

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Blim TV was a subscription-based video-on-demand (VOD) and service operated by Mexican media conglomerate , providing access to a vast library of movies, television series, and live channels primarily in Spanish for audiences in and . Launched in February 2016 as Blim, it positioned itself as a direct competitor to platforms like , offering over 13,000 hours of content at launch, including exclusive productions and international programming. In September 2019, the service was relaunched and rebranded as Blim TV, expanding its offerings to include 30 linear live networks alongside its VOD catalog, which by then encompassed more than 32,000 episodes and films from partners such as , , , and TVE. Priced at approximately 109 Mexican pesos (about USD 5.50) per month, Blim TV targeted cord-cutters with a mix of premium subscription content and, starting in June 2021, a free ad-supported tier to broaden accessibility and compete with services like . The platform's evolution continued amid the consolidation of Televisa and Univision in 2022, when Blim TV was merged into the newly launched ViX streaming service, effectively ending its standalone operations as of March 31, 2022, while integrating its assets into a unified AVOD and premium offering with over 100 channels. This transition marked Blim TV's role as a pioneering Latin American OTT platform, contributing to TelevisaUnivision's broader digital strategy in the region.

History

Launch as Blim

Blim was founded by media conglomerate as a subscription-based video-on-demand (VOD) service, launching on February 22, 2016, with a primary aim to serve Spanish-language audiences across the region. The platform was designed to compete with established streaming services like by providing on-demand access to 's extensive content library, which included popular telenovelas, original series, and feature films produced or distributed by the company. Headquartered in , Blim initially launched in and expanded availability to select Latin American countries, such as , , and , through internet-connected devices including smart TVs, mobile apps, and web browsers. The service offered a monthly subscription priced at 109 Mexican pesos (approximately $5.65 USD at the time), with the first month provided free to new subscribers to encourage early adoption. To bolster its content offerings beyond Televisa's catalog, Blim secured early partnerships with major international studios including , Paramount, , and , enabling the streaming of licensed movies, series, and documentaries that appealed to diverse Spanish-speaking viewers. These collaborations helped establish Blim's library at launch with over 13,000 hours of programming, focusing on high-quality, on-demand entertainment tailored for the Latin American market.

Relaunch and expansion

On September 3, 2019, Blim underwent a rebranding to Blim TV, shifting its focus to incorporate streaming alongside its existing video-on-demand offerings. This relaunch aimed to enhance user engagement by blending linear TV with on-demand content, positioning Blim TV as a more comprehensive streaming platform from . A key feature of the relaunch was the addition of 30 live channels, including major Televisa networks such as , Canal 5, and Tlnovelas, as well as others like Telehit and Distrito Comedia. The service also expanded its geographic reach to 18 countries, primarily across , including , , , , and the , allowing broader access to Spanish-language programming. In 2021, under the leadership of CEO Luis Arvizu, Blim TV introduced an ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) tier called Plan Básico, complementing the existing premium subscription model and providing free access to a selection of content. This tier offered over 14,000 hours of programming, contributing to the platform's overall content library growth to thousands of hours of diverse entertainment, including series, films, and live feeds. Arvizu, who assumed the role that year, oversaw these expansions to bolster the service's competitiveness in the streaming market.

Merger with ViX and closure

In February 2022, TelevisaUnivision announced the merger of its streaming services, including Blim TV, into the newly relaunched ViX platform as part of a broader consolidation of digital assets. This integration aimed to create a single, global Spanish-language streaming service by combining Blim TV's content library with PrendeTV and the legacy VIX AVOD service, enabling a unified offering for over 600 million Spanish speakers worldwide. The move followed the completion of the $4.8 billion merger between Grupo Televisa and Univision Communications on January 31, 2022, which sought to enhance competitiveness against major players like Netflix and Disney+ in the underserved Spanish-language market by leveraging combined production capabilities and audience reach. All Blim TV content, including original productions, licensed titles, and live channels added since 2019, was transferred to , with the platform launching its free ad-supported tier on March 31, 2022, in the United States and expanding to and later that year. The premium subscription tier, Premium, launched on July 21, 2022, fully integrating Blim TV's premium content. User accounts from Blim TV were automatically migrated to , ensuring subscribers retained access to exclusive Blim content through the ViX Premium tier without interruption, while free users gained entry to an expanded catalog of over 50,000 hours of programming. Blim TV was discontinued as a standalone service on March 31, 2022. In April 2023, the company further unified its offerings by dropping the ViX+ premium branding in favor of a single banner, solidifying the post-merger structure and focusing resources on scaling the platform toward profitability by year-end. This transition supported subscriber growth, with reporting millions of users across tiers while maintaining Blim-originated assets as core elements of its library. As of 2025, continues to expand, projected to reach 10.5 million paying subscribers by year-end.

Operations and features

Content library

Blim TV's content library primarily consisted of a core collection of Televisa-produced programming, focusing on Spanish-language telenovelas, reality shows, and family-oriented series tailored for and Latin American audiences. This foundational library emphasized culturally resonant content, including dramatic soaps and lifestyle programs that reflected regional themes and narratives. At its launch in , the service offered over 13,000 hours of such on-demand video, providing subscribers with extensive access to Televisa's proprietary catalog. To broaden its appeal, Blim TV incorporated licensed international content from major partners, including dubbed Spanish versions of titles from (such as Marvel and franchises), , (MGM), and the . These additions diversified the library beyond Televisa's output, integrating global hits in entertainment, animation, and factual programming to attract a wider demographic while maintaining a Spanish-dubbed focus for accessibility in . By the 2019 relaunch, the library had grown to include more than 32,000 episodes and films. By early 2022 prior to its merger into , Blim TV and related platforms such as PrendeTV hosted over 40,000 hours of high-quality content. Initially launched as a video-on-demand (VOD)-only platform, Blim TV evolved into a hybrid model in September 2019 with the addition of live simulcasts from over 30 channels, including Televisa networks like and Canal 5, as well as international options such as . This shift allowed users to access both archived on-demand material and real-time broadcasts, enhancing the service's versatility for live events and ongoing series. The library's Mexican-centric and Latin American emphasis persisted throughout, prioritizing content that catered to regional preferences in genres like and variety shows. Premium users benefited from interactive features integrated into the content experience, such as personalized recommendations based on viewing and the ability to download select titles for offline viewing on mobile devices. These tools improved user engagement by curating suggestions and enabling flexible consumption, particularly for telenovelas and family programming during travel or without .

Subscription and pricing

Blim TV launched in with a single-tier subscription model priced at 109 Mexican pesos per month, equivalent to approximately $5.65 USD at the time, targeting competition with other video-on-demand services. By the end of , the service introduced a three-tiered pricing structure to accommodate different user needs: 99 MXN for one device in standard definition, 129 MXN for two devices in high definition, and 159 MXN for up to four devices in high definition. Prepaid options provided discounts, including 289 MXN for three months and longer-term plans for annual access, alongside a free first month for new subscribers. Following its 2019 relaunch as Blim TV, which added live linear networks to the on-demand library, the core subscription pricing remained consistent at 109 MXN per month for the premium tier, now encompassing both VOD and live content without additional cost. In June 2021, expanded the model by introducing a free ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) tier, enabling access to select content with advertisements, while retaining the ad-free premium subscription at 109 MXN monthly (approximately $5.30 USD as of June 2021). This hybrid approach aimed to broaden accessibility across , where the service was available with pricing denominated in Mexican pesos. Promotional strategies focused on integrations with Televisa's ecosystem, such as bundling Blim TV subscriptions with cable services like izzi, where premium access was included or heavily discounted in packages like izzi Unlimited for 660 MXN monthly, combining , TV channels, and streaming. Partnerships extended to other providers, offering temporary free trials or reduced rates to drive adoption, particularly in markets like and select Latin American countries including , with pricing adjusted for local economic conditions where applicable.

Technical platform and availability

Blim TV operated as an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service delivered via connection, supporting high-definition (HD) video playback for both on-demand and live content. The platform was headquartered in and managed by , with backend operations leveraging servers optimized for efficient content delivery across its user base. While specific details on server architecture are not publicly detailed, the service utilized standard streaming protocols to enable seamless HD streaming, including integration with pay TV operators for enhanced accessibility. The service was accessible on a range of devices, including mobile apps for Android and , web browsers on platforms such as , macOS, and Windows, and connected TV devices like , Fire TV, /Google TV, , Xbox, PlayStation, Samsung TVs, and LG TVs. This multi-device support allowed users to stream content flexibly, with some models subject to compatibility restrictions based on year and manufacturer. Blim TV was available in 18 countries primarily across , including , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , the Dominican Republic, and the United States. Access was enforced through geo-restrictions to comply with licensing agreements, limiting content availability to users within these regions unless bypassed via VPN services. Following its 2019 relaunch, Blim TV introduced enhancements such as the integration of 30 channels, which required a stable connection for uninterrupted viewing. Additionally, the platform added offline viewing capabilities for select on-demand content through downloads, enabling users to watch episodes without an active connection. The user interface, developed in-house by , featured intuitive tools including a robust search function, personalized watchlists for tracking content, and multiple user profiles to support family sharing. These elements were complemented by a multi-device synchronization system, ensuring consistent viewing progress and recommendations across supported platforms.

Programming

Original productions

Blim TV's original productions were primarily developed in-house by or through co-productions, emphasizing Mexican cultural themes such as family dynamics, romance, and social satire tailored for streaming audiences. These series often featured emerging talent from Mexico's entertainment industry and adapted traditional formats to shorter, bingeable episodes suitable for on-demand viewing. One of the flagship originals was the comedy series 40 y 20, produced by Gustavo Loza, which premiered exclusively on Blim on April 1, 2016, and ran for five seasons until 2020. The show explored generational clashes in relationships through the story of a divorced father and his son navigating romantic entanglements, blending humor with relatable family scenarios. It became Blim's most-watched content shortly after launch, highlighting the platform's focus on lighthearted, youth-oriented narratives. Another key comedy, , created by Guillermo del Bosque and produced by , debuted on Blim on August 19, 2016, spanning four seasons through 2019. Centering on two aspiring actors and their misadventures in , the series showcased humor and character-driven stories, with new episodes released weekly to build viewer engagement. It exemplified Blim's strategy of leveraging Televisa's comedy expertise for exclusive streaming content. In the drama genre, , a produced by Nicandro Díaz, was made available on Blim starting in 2020. This series followed a cross-cultural romance between a Mexican woman and an Argentine man, incorporating elements of adventure and social commentary, and was crafted to appeal to Blim's Latin American audience with its vibrant storytelling. Other notable originals included the mystery drama Sin rastro de ti, an original story by Carlos Quintanilla Sakar and Adriana Pelusi, produced by Silvia Cano and premiered on Blim in September 2016, which delved into themes of identity and loss through a suspenseful . Blim's output encompassed dozens of original episodes and multiple seasons annually during its peak years from 2016 to 2020, with select series like 40 y 20 continuing production on following the merger. These efforts underscored Televisa's investment in fostering local talent and innovative formats for digital platforms.

Licensed and live content

Blim TV's licensed content primarily consisted of acquired programming from international studios and broadcasters, secured through targeted rights agreements to enhance its appeal in the Latin American market. Key partnerships included deals with major Hollywood entities such as for exclusive first-window streaming rights to the franchise, including films like , making these titles available on a subscription video-on-demand basis across the region. Similarly, Viacom International Studios (now part of ) provided a range of series and films, contributing to Blim's library of dubbed Hollywood content localized in Spanish for audiences. Other notable acquisitions encompassed over 200 hours of programming from , focusing on documentaries and educational series adapted for Spanish-speaking viewers. These agreements emphasized family-friendly and culturally resonant material, such as children's programming from —over 800 episodes of animated and live-action shows like —and premium kids' content from , totaling more than 200 hours. Blim also secured international dramas, including 18 TV series from Spain's , such as , to bridge cultural narratives with Latin American preferences. The platform's acquisition strategy prioritized regional exclusivity in , often negotiating first-window rights to differentiate from competitors like , while focusing on content that aligned with family-oriented and culturally relevant themes to retain subscribers in and beyond. For instance, deals with granted exclusive streaming rights for series like , ensuring premium telenovelas were available solely on Blim in targeted markets. This approach allowed Blim to build a diverse library of third-party content at launch, complementing Televisa's in-house productions without overlapping into original developments. Localization efforts, including Spanish dubs and subtitles, were integral to these partnerships, enabling broader accessibility for non-English speakers across the region. In addition to on-demand licensed titles, Blim TV offered live content through a simulcast model that streamed linear television channels in real-time, effectively bridging traditional broadcast viewing with on-demand flexibility. Following its 2019 relaunch, the service added over 30 live channels, including Televisa's flagship networks such as for general entertainment like soap operas, news, and variety shows; Canal 5 for diverse programming including comedies and educational content; and Telehit for music videos and concerts. These were supplemented by feeds from partners, including for telenovelas and series, Atresmedia channels like Atreseries and Antena 3 for Spanish dramas, and Televisión Española's TVE and for news, cultural programs, and family-oriented fare. News and sports coverage was prominent via Televisa's channels, featuring live soccer matches and current events, all accessible without geographic restrictions within supported Latin American territories. This simulcast functionality, priced at approximately 109 MXN (about USD 5.50) monthly, provided users with immediate access to over 32,000 hours of combined VOD and live programming, enhancing engagement by mimicking cable TV experiences on streaming devices.

Reception

Critical and user response

Blim TV received mixed critical reception upon its 2016 launch, with reviewers praising its emphasis on Spanish-language content tailored to Mexican and n audiences, including a vast library of telenovelas and local productions that filled a niche underserved by global platforms like . However, critics frequently highlighted shortcomings such as a clunky interface lacking personalized recommendations, frequent technical bugs including buffering issues, and limited appeal outside due to its heavy reliance on regional content. Content repetition was another common complaint, as the platform often repackaged older titles and re-aired episodes as "originals," which undermined its competitiveness against more innovative services. User feedback in showed high initial engagement, with Blim capturing approximately 8% of the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market by 2019, reflecting strong demand for its affordable access to live channels and . Despite this, many users reported frustrations with the service's , particularly buffering delays on slower connections common in the region. The ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) tier introduced in 2021 also drew complaints for ad interruptions. Retention proved challenging amid rising competition from and Disney+, as Blim struggled to retain subscribers beyond its core audience, contributing to slower growth targets and eventual merger discussions. The platform's cultural impact was notable for popularizing local Spanish-language content in , where it fostered engagement with telenovelas and comedies that resonated with , yet it also spawned widespread memes satirizing early technical glitches and perceived low-production aesthetics, often contrasting it unfavorably with in a "Blim and Chill" trope that highlighted class-based humor. These memes amplified user critiques of interface flaws and content staleness, cementing Blim's reputation as a valiant but flawed entry in the streaming wars.

Marketing and controversies

Blim's launch in February was marked by an aggressive promotional from Televisa, positioning the platform as a direct competitor to in and , with marketing efforts emphasizing its extensive library of over 13,000 hours of localized content, including telenovelas and exclusive Televisa productions. The campaign highlighted Blim's affordability at 109 pesos per month and its focus on Spanish-language programming to appeal to regional audiences, though specific details on billboards or TV spots were not widely documented in contemporary reports. The launch quickly escalated into a public advertising feud with Netflix, particularly after Blim enforced the removal of Televisa's content—such as popular telenovelas like Rebelde and Teresa—from Netflix's catalog in October 2016, a move aimed at bolstering Blim's exclusivity. Netflix responded with a series of humorous social media videos in October 2016, trolling the content loss by depicting disappointed users and promoting its originals like Narcos and Stranger Things, implicitly accusing Blim of relying on outdated programming while highlighting Netflix's market dominance through superior production values. Blim retaliated with parody ads that continued Netflix's scenes, showcasing its own hits like El Señor de los Cielos and accusing Netflix of aggressive tactics to maintain subscriber growth amid the competitive streaming landscape. This back-and-forth, amplified on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, drew significant media attention but also underscored Blim's underdog status against Netflix's established presence. The platform faced early controversies, including widespread social media memes that mocked its branding and perceived inferiority to , often portraying Blim as a low-quality alternative with jokes about repetitive content and technical shortcomings like crashes and inaccurate during beta testing. These viral reactions, peaking around the launch, contributed to by fueling perceptions of Blim as an unpolished entrant in the streaming market, though they also inadvertently boosted through public discourse. In 2019, Blim underwent a relaunch as Blim TV on September 3, with promotional campaigns emphasizing the addition of 30 live channels—such as , TUDN, and —to its VOD offerings, positioning it as a hybrid service for real-time , , and . The push highlighted live TV's immediacy to differentiate from pure on-demand rivals, featuring endorsements from Televisa's star talent in ads that promoted exclusive access to events like football matches and wrestling. This marketing effort aimed to revitalize subscriptions by blending traditional broadcast appeal with streaming convenience, maintaining the 109-peso price point. OTT platforms like Blim TV operated amid a regulatory environment in that presented challenges related to content licensing, stemming from the region's fragmented frameworks that complicate cross-border rights management and taxation for such services. In , where Blim operated primarily, it complied with general and data laws without specific OTT mandates, but broader discussions on local content quotas and digital taxes—such as IVA on foreign-licensed material—highlighted challenges for services like Blim in securing affordable regional distribution deals. No major enforcement actions targeted Blim directly, though these issues reflected ongoing debates about fair competition in the evolving streaming ecosystem.

References

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