Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
      • Middle East
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
      • Middle East
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Your Escape Plan

News and Media in Colombia

  • BY David Steckenreiter
  • April 22, 2012
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The news and media in Colombia are important modes of communication. Colombians love the printed word and newspapers of all types are available on almost every busy street corner. In total there are 24 papers published daily in Colombia. El Tiempo, founded in 1911 and El Espectador, founded in 1887 are the two main newspapers with national distribution. In Medellin, El Colombiano dominates the market. El Pais is the largest journal in the Cali/Valle del Cauca area and El Heraldo covers the Caribbean region. Popular magazines are Cambio, Semana, Cromos, Fuchsia, Jet Set and in the business category you will find Portafolio, Dinero and La Republica.

There are approximately 515 radio stations broadcasting in Colombia with 3 major networks, Caracol Radio, RCN Radio and Radiodifusora Nacional de Colombia which is operated by the state.

Television is a popular form of entertainment in Colombia and often the poorest of poor have a tv set. There are 5 major networks with a total of 60 stations. General programming is broadcast by Caracol TV and RCN TV. Señal TV is a cultural and educational broadcaster while Canal Institucional provides institutional programing. City TV is a private local channel in Bogota with roots to City TV in Canada. Many of areas of Colombia also have regional broadcasting. For example in Medellin and Antioquia you will encounter Teleantioquia or in Cali, Telepacifico.

A very important part of the television culture in Colombia is the telenovela or soap opera. A popular soap opera, like a World Cup football match can bring the country to a standstill ! The first successful soap to do this was ” Cafe, con aroma de mujer” or ”Coffee with the Scent of a Woman”.

Probably the most famous and most successful telenovela of all time is ”Yo soy Betty, la fea”. This show was written in Colombia and ran between 1999 and 2001. There have been many other versions of this show produced around the world with the most noticeable production by Salma Hayek in the United States from 2006 to 2010.

Internet usage is high in Colombia. Depending on the source, Colombia has either the 3rd or 4th largest number of internet users in Latin American with 25,000,000 consumers. Colombia is in the top 10 countries in the world for social media usage with approximately 492 minutes per month spent on Facebook. Nearly 50% of all users view their news online. In March 2012, the number seven site in the country was El Tiempo.

The incredible growth of the internet has generated the development of online commerce. According to Caracol Radio, in June 2011, travel sites had over 3 million hits. Approximately 5% of Colombians shop online and this is expected to increase to 20% in the near future.

As of 2011 mobile phone penetration had reached 100% and El Tiempo reported in 2011 that every one out of two cellphones was being replaced with a smart phone. Not only that in 2011, 43 % of the web traffic came from non-computer devices such as tablets. With the increased use of internet in Colombia, it comes as no surprise that in 2011 online ad spending went up 33%.

The growth of high tech in Colombia has been astounding. Even when a new Smart phone or Blackberry was beyond the reach of the average Colombian’s pocket book, students and workers earning very moderate salaries were seen sporting them, as much for their status, as for their use. Even more surprising in a country where privacy is still a relatively important factor, Facebook has had an incredible penetration.

More and more companies are moving to mobile phone apps and the marketplace in Colombia is young, savvy and ready to embrace technology.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • media
  • television
Previous Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Pirates of the Pacific – Expats in Ecuador

  • BY EA Editors
  • January 24, 2012
View Post
Next Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Freedom Is Yours! Will You Take It?

  • BY mhollen
  • January 24, 2013
View Post
You May Also Like
Welcome sign in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a laid-back Caribbean town that offers one of Costa Rica’s most colorful and affordable coastal lifestyles.
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Moving to Costa Rica: Your Guide for a Smooth Transition
  • BY Carla Rodrigues
  • October 20, 2025
Top 10 Cities in Ecuador to Visit and Live In
View Post
  • Know Before You Go
Top 10 Cities in Ecuador to Visit and Live In
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 17, 2025
Starting a Business Abroad - A world of new markets and global possibilities
View Post
  • Business
The Beauty of Starting a Business Abroad
  • BY Aneesa Marufu
  • October 17, 2025
Costa Rica Cost of Living Guide: Prices, Budgets, and Tips
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Costa Rica Cost of Living Guide: Prices, Budgets, and Tips
  • BY Carla Rodrigues
  • October 15, 2025
How to Legally Pay Less Tax Abroad
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Legally Pay Less Tax Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 15, 2025
7 Best Cities to Live in Mexico for Safety, Cost, and Lifestyle
View Post
  • Mexico
7 Best Cities to Live in Mexico for Safety, Cost, and Lifestyle
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 14, 2025
Cost of Living in Spain: What to Expect in 2026
View Post
  • Spain
Cost of Living in Spain: What to Expect in 2026
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 13, 2025
Buying a Property abroad
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Why More Investors Are Buying Homes Offshore
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Trending Posts
  • Buying a Property abroad 1
    • Your Escape Plan
    Why More Investors Are Buying Homes Offshore
    • October 8, 2025
  • Life between borders 2
    • Field Notes
    Living Between Continents, Cultures, and Contradictions
    • October 13, 2025
  • How to Legally Pay Less Tax Abroad 3
    • Plan B
    How to Legally Pay Less Tax Abroad
    • October 15, 2025
  • Living in Paris: Digital Nomad Guide 4
    • Digital Nomadism
    A Digital Nomad’s Guide to Living Like a Local in Paris
    • October 10, 2025
  • Starting a Business Abroad - A world of new markets and global possibilities 5
    • Business
    The Beauty of Starting a Business Abroad
    • October 17, 2025
InterNations
Know Before You Go
  • Welcome sign in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a laid-back Caribbean town that offers one of Costa Rica’s most colorful and affordable coastal lifestyles. 1
    • Costa Rica
    Moving to Costa Rica: Your Guide for a Smooth Transition
    • October 20, 2025
  • Top 10 Cities in Ecuador to Visit and Live In 2
    • Know Before You Go
    Top 10 Cities in Ecuador to Visit and Live In
    • October 17, 2025
  • Costa Rica Cost of Living Guide: Prices, Budgets, and Tips 3
    • Costa Rica
    Costa Rica Cost of Living Guide: Prices, Budgets, and Tips
    • October 15, 2025
  • 7 Best Cities to Live in Mexico for Safety, Cost, and Lifestyle 4
    • Mexico
    7 Best Cities to Live in Mexico for Safety, Cost, and Lifestyle
    • October 14, 2025
  • Cost of Living in Spain: What to Expect in 2026 5
    • Spain
    Cost of Living in Spain: What to Expect in 2026
    • October 13, 2025
Learn More
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/