Canal Institucional is a Colombian state-run national television channel launched 2 February 2004. It broadcasts programmes produced by state institutions in order to promote and publicize their activities to the public. It also broadcasts sessions of the Congress, president Álvaro Uribe's weekly "communitarian councils" (consejos comunales) on Saturdays, and re-runs of historical drama series. Canal Institucional replaced Canal A, a state-owned privately run national television network born 1972 (as Segunda Cadena; the Canal A brand was used from 1992).