Sociedade Independente de Comunicação

SIC - Sociedade Independente de Comunicação is a Portuguese television network and a media company, which runs several television channels. Their flagship channel is the eponymous SIC, the third terrestrial television station in Portugal, launched on October 6 1992. SIC is owned by Impresa, a Portuguese media conglomerate.

Other channels operated by SIC carried on satellite and cable TV in Portugal are:

• SIC Notícias, news channel;
• SIC Radical, general entertainment channel targeting a younger audience;
• SIC Mulher, general entertainment channel targeting a female audience;
• SIC Internacional, an international channel which broadcasts in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Australia.

History

SIC was the first private television channel to operate in Portugal. In its first years of existence, SIC was owned by a consortium led by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, and backed by Controljornal (now Impresa Jornais, a holding that contains Impresa's newspapers and magazines), Impala Editores, BPI and Rede Globo. SIC was also a pioneer of television sensationalism in Portugal with programs such as "Praça Pública" and "Big Show SIC", a mouthpiece of the Pimba subculture.

SIC became widely known in Europe not only for achieving high viewing figures just 3 years after launching, but for also being the subject of an Arte documentary, "Cette Télévision est la Vôtre" (directed by Mariana Otero), which exposed the mischiveous sensationalist programming and the fait-divers culture that dominated SIC's programming.

Nowadays, SIC has a programming largely based on 4 hour talk shows, brazilian novelas produced by Globo and campy, sexist and homophobic sketch shows. Like the other major broadcaster, TVI, SIC airs international TV series such as Criminal Minds, the various CSI series and Entourage always after 1 a.m. Its talk shows, which account for more than 10 hours a day, mainly focus on human interest stories and playback performances by Pimba artists. SIC also relies largely on Globo productions, due to an exclusivity contract which obligates SIC to broadcast every soap opera produced. In-house productions include occasional reality shows and comedy sketch shows, which include "Malucos do Riso", a long-running series with focus on slapstick comedy and discrimination of ethnic minorities, LGBT people and women.

Programs

Shows

• Fátima - with Fátima Lopes
• Contacto - with Maya and Nuno Graciano
• Lucy - kids programme with Luciana Abreu
• Episódio Especial
• Fama Show

Game shows

• O Momento da Verdade - Teresa Guilherme hostess the The Moment of Truth's portuguese version
• A Roda da Sorte - with Herman José and Vanessa Palma (assitent) - the second version of Wheel of Fortune
• Todos em Linha - call-tv

Brazilian Soap Operas

• A Favorita
• Como uma Onda - R/
• Ciranda de Pedra
• Beleza Pura

Portuguese Ficcion

• Rebelde Way, argentinian Rebelde Way version
• VIP Manicure

TV Series

• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Crime Sob Investigação)
• CSI: Miami
• CSI: NY
• Desperate Housewives (Donas de Casa Desesperadas)
• Rescue Me (Socorro)
• Ghost Whisperer (Entre Vidas)
• Ugly Betty (Betty Feia)
• Shark (A Lei do Mais Forte)
• Kommissar Rex
• Entourage (A Vedeta)
• Criminal Minds (Mentes Criminosas)

News

• Jornal Da Noite
• Primeiro Jornal

Cartoon series

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• W.I.T.C.H.
• Sonic X
• Gravion
• One Piece
• Kim Possible - Disney Kids
• Lilo and Stitch - Disney Kids
• Brandy and Mr. Whiskers - Disney Kids
• Action Man
• Bratz
• Pokémon
• Dragon Ball
• Sigma
• South Park
• Yu-Gi-Oh
• Sailor Moon
• Pucca
• Monster Warriors
• ''Naruto

Trivia

• The station's acronym is often a source of amusement by English speaking celebrities interviewed by SIC. Danny DeVito once jokingly stated that he liked the acronym because he was "in the same line of work"

External links

• Official Site
• Live webcast
• SIC's remarkable opening ident, used since 1992