Noticiero Telemundo Expands To Weekends.

Network news programming continues to be a dominant force at Telemundo with an incredible resource of top journalistic talent in the United States and bureaus around the globe. The successful launch last year of “Noticiero Telemundo,” the fastest-growing evening network newscast in total households, now expands to the weekends, providing the latest developments on major national and international news stories seven days a week beginning September 8, 2001 at 6:30PM (ET\PT).

Veteran Colombian journalist and anchorwoman Ilia Calderón joins the “Weekend Edition” of the broadcast, “Noticiero Telemundo del Fin de la Semana,” along with Emmy Award winning weekday anchors Pedro Sevcec and Maria Elvira Salazar, to form one of the most experienced teams of correspondents in Spanish-language television. Their integrity, experience, reputation and diverse backgrounds in all facets of news broadcasting make TELEMUNDO the first in news among Hispanics by bringing information, insight and compassion to the day’s newscast.

“The expansion of “Noticiero Telemundo” to weekends underscores our commitment to news, and reflects a continuing momentum of dramatic growth in our news programming,” said Joe Peyronnin, Telemundo’s Executive Vice President of News and Information Programming. “Telemundo is dedicated to being the first with quality news that relevantly reflects the lives and interests of our audience.” Peyronnin concludes, “We’re pleased to launch the weekend edition with seasoned broadcast journalist Ilia Calderón, who brings a new dimension to our news team.”

“Noticiero Telemundo” also features compelling human-interest stories and special segments on health (“Su Salud”), finance (“Su Bolsillo”), and entertainment. Moreover, the nightly newscast has excelled in its coverage of breaking news that directly affects Hispanics living in this country and abroad.

“Noticiero Telemundo” has additionally distinguished itself through special projects that peek into the daily events of the community. “Crónicas de la Frontera,” (Chronicles from the Border) by journalist Gustavo Mariel gave viewers a chance to travel along with those crossing the border between Mexico and the U.S. who risk their lives in search of a better future. With “Ecstasy Un Viaje al Infierno” (Ecstasy, A Voyage into Hell), “Noticiero Telemundo” alerted parents and their children to the dangers of this so-called party drug.

“Noticiero Telemundo del Fin de Semana” will include the collaboration of the same team of high caliber journalists who already bring “Noticiero Telemundo” into the homes of millions of Hispanic viewers in the U.S. Reporters will include the likes of Guillermo Descalzi, Carlos Botifoll, Gustavo Mariel, Lori Montenegro, Cristina Londoño, Isolda Peguero, Mariela Salgado and Pablo Gato, who will add their brand of interesting and insightful reporting to the network’s weekend edition of the news.

Diana Maldonado is the executive producer of “Noticiero Telemundo del Fin de Semana” and will be working directly with Berta Castañer, senior executive producer of special news and projects at Telemundo.