For over four days, the city of Camagüey has been without digital television signals, leaving residents frustrated and without any official explanation. Social media platforms have become the outlet for their grievances, as no local authorities or state-controlled media have addressed the issue.
One of the first to voice his frustration was Yurisdan Paneque, who questioned the silence: "Why have we been without TV signal in Camagüey for more than three days and no one says anything?"
Paneque directly criticized the province's main media outlets—Cadena Agramonte, the newspaper Adelante, and Televisión Camagüey—for their lack of response.
“None of the press outlets in Camagüey serve any purpose; they don't reflect the province's reality or keep up with events. Visiting their Facebook pages reveals nothing but empty and outdated information, nothing of interest to the people,” he stated.
Community Outcry Intensifies
Other residents echoed Paneque's sentiment. Alexis Olano took to Facebook with his query: “Good morning, I’d like to know what’s happening with digital TV in Camagüey, as it’s been down for several days.”
Leidis Marian Manso, posting in the Revolico Camagüey group, was even more blunt: “Anyone got TV signal in Camagüey? Will we be able to watch the World Cup?”
This signal outage coincides with the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off on June 11 with an inaugural ceremony at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
Television Blackout Amidst Widespread Power Issues
Journalist José L. Tan Estrada confirmed on Thursday that Camagüey has been without a TV signal for over four days, with no official explanations forthcoming.
“In addition to the prolonged blackouts, another issue now plagues thousands of families: the complete absence of both analog and digital TV signals since Monday afternoon. Even in areas with electricity from solar panels or batteries, accessing TV programming is impossible,” he reported.
Ironically, even if the signal were restored, Camagüey residents would have little to watch. Tele Rebelde, the channel designated to broadcast the tournament, aired only about ten minutes of the opening ceremony before switching to cycling.
Accumulating Challenges
Paneque succinctly described the mounting challenges: “It’s not enough that we endure power outages lasting over 20 hours and the lack of 4G coverage from ETECSA's radiobases, preventing official communication from reaching the people. Now, we are also without TV signal, something so basic.”
The province experiences power cuts exceeding 20 hours daily. These prolonged outages also deplete the energy backup for ETECSA's radiobases in roughly four hours, leaving the population without mobile phone service or internet access.
Paneque concluded his denunciation with a poignant image, capturing the province's plight: “On the cusp of the most-watched event on the planet in Cuba in 2026, we remain in a primitive community, desperately needing a new discovery, a new dawn for the good of all.”
Understanding the Broadcasting Crisis in Camagüey
Why is Camagüey without digital TV signal?
Camagüey has been without digital TV signals for over four days, but no official explanation has been provided by authorities or state media.
How have Camagüey residents reacted to the TV signal outage?
Residents have expressed their frustration on social media, criticizing local media for their silence and demanding answers about the prolonged outage.
What impact does the TV signal outage have on the community?
The lack of TV signal, combined with frequent power outages, leaves many families without access to vital information and entertainment, especially during major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.