Tela Brasil
Brazilian streaming video service
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tela Brasil[a] is the Brazilian public streaming platform of the country's Ministry of Culture; it first launched on 30 May 2026.[2] It allows citizens of Brazil to watch over 500 Brazilian films free of charge, free of ads or behavior tracking.[3]
| |
.png) Platform after logging in, featuring the film Nadando em Dinheiro (1952) | |
Website type | OTT platform |
|---|---|
| Available in | Brazilian Portuguese |
| Headquarters | |
| Owner | Government of Brazil (2026–present) |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Website | telabrasil |
| Advertising | No |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | Required |
| Users | 295 thousand (first week)[1] |
| Launched | 30 May 2026 |
| Current status | Active |
Background
Previous initiatives
In August 2018, Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) launched EBC Play, a free streaming platform available online and on mobile apps.[4] It initially featured ten productions by TV Brasil, including documentaries and children's programming, and later that year would also platform the presidential candidates' debate.[4] In August 2020, the platform was rebranded as TV Brasil Play and featured, alongside live TV Brasil programming, newly licensed works, such as the British TV series Sherlock.[5]
In June 2022, the Minas Gerais state government launched EMCplay,[b] rebranded in July 2024 as MINASplay, a free streaming platform for audiovisual works that were either made by Minas Gerais-born artists, or relating to the state in some way.[6][7]
Development
The platform was developed by around 80 researchers, students, technicians and developers of the Federal University of Alagoas in partnership with other universities around the country.[8] It reportedly cost R$9 million (approx. US$1.8 million) to build, between project management, technological development and content licensing.[9] It is hosted by Serpro.[3]
Platform
Launch
The platform was launched during the 2026 edition of the Rio Creative Conference (Rio2C) event, hosted at Cidade das Artes, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[2] At launch, it featured 555 Brazilian motion pictures made from 1910 through 2025.[2] Among those, 267 were short films, 139 feature-length films, 85 medium-length films and 64 were serialized works.[2] Additionally, integration with TV Brasil is planned, aiming to add another 150 titles by the broadcaster.[2]
Users are required to login using a gov.br account to access the service.[2] A mobile app is also planned.[2]
Profiles
The platform is divided into two profiles: a Citizen Profile (Perfil Cidadão) and a Directed Profile (Perfil Direcionado). The Citizen Profile is the one accessible to individual users, and works as other regular streaming platforms.[10]
The Directed Profile, dubbed Rede Exibidora Tela Brasil (lit. 'screening network') is aimed at collective screenings, allowing for not-for-profit culture centers – e.g. libraries, museums, schools, festivals – to disseminate Brazilian works to the general public without licensing fees.[10][11]
Collection
The platform launched with over 500 Brazilian films in its collection. Among them are several Academy Awards nominees and winners, such as:
- Orfeu Negro (1959)
- O Quatrilho (1995)
- O Que É Isso, Companheiro? (1997)
- Carandiru (2003)
- O Menino e o Mundo (2013)
- O Sal da Terra (2014)
Usage statistics
After less than a week of its launch, the platform had gathered over 295 thousand users, reaching 53 thousand simultaneous spectators at peak usage.[1] The most watched films were A Hora da Estrela (1986), Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (1964), Carandiru (2003), O Menino e O Mundo (2013) and O Que É Isso, Companheiro? (1997).[1] In these initial days, the platform saw most of its users come from the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Bahia.[1]
See also
- MEC Livros
- JFF Theater, a similar service from Japan, made available worldwide
- Tubi
