The ongoing electrical crisis in Cuba has now impacted the digital TV screens of thousands in Havana. Radiocuba's Havana Division has officially announced that digital television channels 24, 48, and 50 are experiencing transmission failures due to power supply instability at the K Tower building, located at 23 and K, in Vedado.
The state-run company released a statement saying, "Transmission services for digital TV channels 24, 48, and 50, broadcast from the K Tower, located at 23 and K in Vedado, have been facing issues due to power supply challenges and energy backup instability."
This disruption is affecting residents in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality and nearby areas that rely on this transmission center for digital signal reception.
As a workaround, Radiocuba suggests redirecting antennas towards the Televilla transmission center in La Lisa, where channels 15, 36, and 38 are available through manual or automatic search.
For further information, users can contact the numbers 7 620 3644 or 5 9978 370.
What the official statement fails to mention is the broader context behind these failures: Havana is enduring one of its worst electrical collapses in recent memory.
The Havana Electric Company confirmed that the capital was without power for 24 hours on Thursday, June 25, with a peak shortfall of 640 MW at 11:10 PM.
Nationally, the electricity deficit surpassed 2,200 MW on Thursday, reaching a historic high of 2,208 MW at 8:50 PM, exceeding the previous record of 2,174 MW set on May 14.
Conditions did not improve on Friday: by 6 AM, 1,866 MW were affected with only 995 MW available, compared to a demand of 3,200 MW.
The K Tower is a relatively new infrastructure. Just in March 2026, Radiocuba expanded digital coverage in Havana by launching channels 24, 48, and 50 from this location, using DTMB standard transmitters funded by Chinese donations.
Three months later, this expansion is halted by the same energy crisis gripping the nation.
The pattern is repeating in other provinces. In Las Tunas, power outages and fuel shortages forced Radiocuba to drastically reduce its transmissions in June, concentrating the signal on a single channel.
The structural causes of the collapse include 106 distributed generation plants shut down due to lack of fuel—890 MW out of service—the halt of Venezuelan oil supplies since January 2026, and the chronic deterioration of thermoelectric plants.
The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant has already suffered 16 breakdowns this year, with the latest occurring on Wednesday, June 24.
The accumulated frustration has led to street protests. On Wednesday, June 24, Cubans took to the streets in Vedado and other Havana neighborhoods to protest the nearly 24-hour blackouts, while pots and pans were banged in Santiago de Cuba.
Radiocuba concluded its statement with a brief note: "We apologize for the inconvenience caused."
Understanding the Impact of Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the digital TV transmission issues in Havana?
The transmission issues for digital TV channels in Havana were caused by power supply instability at the K Tower, which affected channels 24, 48, and 50.
How has the power crisis affected Havana's residents?
Residents have faced significant disruptions, including nearly 24-hour power outages and transmission failures for digital TV channels, prompting protests in various neighborhoods.
What alternatives are available for affected TV viewers in Havana?
Radiocuba suggests redirecting antennas towards the Televilla transmission center in La Lisa, where channels 15, 36, and 38 are available.