Univision Deportes Network launches
March 9, 2012
Univision Deportes Network, the new all sports network from Univision, is set to kick off on Saturday, April 7 on DishLATINO and DISH’s America’s Top 200. The new network launches at 3 p.m. ET with an exclusive live Major League Soccer match. At 7 p.m. ET the network will premiere “Futbol Central,” a new show hosted by legendary sportscaster Fernando Fiore featuring the top highlights from the day in soccer and previewing the night ahead which features the Liga Mexicana double-header of Santos vs. Estudiantes Tecos at 8 p.m. ET and Monterrey vs. Tigres de la UANL at 10 p.m. ET – a rivalry dubbed the Clasico Regiomontano. The night ends with “Univision Deportes Extra,” a new nightly, hour-long, fast-paced wrap-up of the day in sports, created and produced exclusively for Univision Deportes Network.
“We have created a programming lineup that will connect and inform sports fans all day long on the teams and leagues they follow so passionately,” said Eric Conrad, vice president of Programming, Univision Deportes. “Univision has been bringing many of the most-watched matches to Hispanic viewers for 50 years and created Univision Deportes Network to bring expanded access to the content we know our viewers can’t get enough of. And through our partnership with Televisa, we are now able to offer U.S. audiences access to even more sports content.”
Univision Deportes Network is offering unprecedented access to Liga Mexicana soccer games and daily sports coverage of all the action involving their favorite teams and athletes. The new network counts on more than double the amount of exclusive Liga Mexicana matches than any other network in the United States, with rights to the home games for 12 of the 18 teams within the Liga Mexicana, plus away games for the rest of the league’s teams. The network will also feature live Liga Mexicana playoff matches each season.
In addition, viewers will be able to turn to Univision Deportes Network for coverage of marquee sports events, from the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the qualifiers starting this June, to matches of the U.S. and Mexican national soccer teams, Major League Soccer, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA 2013 Confederations Cup, FIFA Under-20 World Championships, and FIFA Under-17 World Championships, to action-packed boxing and the latest from the NFL, NBA, MLB and more.
The original programming lineup of the new network is anchored by “Univision Deportes Extra,” a daily sportscast produced from the network’s new state-of-the-art studios in Miami. The hour-long show will be led by a dynamic team that includes sports commentator Claudia Trejos, former Televisa sports newscaster Alejandro Berry, reporter and former soccer athlete Antonietta Collins, and sports anchor Jorge Calvo. In addition, Jaime Motta, Lindsay Casinelli and Iván Kasanzew will serve as correspondents from Los Angeles, New York and Miami, respectively. “República Deportiva” the leading Univision Network sports entertainment program, will also air on the sports network.
Jorge Calvo, Antonietta Collins, Claudia Trejos and Alejandro Berry (left to right) are the anchors of “Univision Deportes Extra,” a new nightly, hour-long, fast-paced wrap-up of the day in sports created exclusively for Univision Deportes Network.
Photo Credit: Univision Interactive Media
In addition to its original programming, the following Televisa Deportes Network programs will be broadcast daily or weekly on Univision Deportes Network:
“Tribuna Interactiva” A live, interactive discussion and debate about the latest sports news with viewers.
“Futbol en Serio. Punto” In-depth coverage of top headlines and review of soccer matches from around the world.
“Pasión” Sports experts discuss and analyze the world of sports.
“Estadio Total” Reports and interviews on the latest in sports.
“Acción” Quick and thorough recap of international sports.
“Recortando La Jornada” Review of the week in the world of Mexican soccer.
“Ahí va el Agua” A fresh and entertaining look at the world of sports with opinions and humor.
“Zona Águila” Fan headquarters for the Liga Mexicana club América.
“Zona Puma” Fan headquarters for the Liga Mexicana club Puma.
“Zona Tricolor” Fan headquarters for the Mexican National Team.
“Zona Azul” Fan headquarters for the Liga Mexicana club Club Cruz Azul.
“Zona Chivas” Fan headquarters for the Liga Mexicana club Guadalajara.
Univision will also launch Univision Deportes Dos Network on April 7, exclusively for DishLATINO subscribers. Designed to super-serve Hispanic sports fans, in 2012 Univision Deportes Dos Network will feature 10 exclusive Liga Mexicana soccer matches, as well as encore presentations of the best soccer Univision Deportes has to offer. In addition, “UDX 360” will be produced exclusively for Univision Deportes Dos Network and will recap all the news and highlights from the most recent weekend in Liga Mexicana.
In anticipation of the network launch, for the first time ever Univision aired a one-minute simultaneous promo across Univision Network, TeleFutura and Galavisión earlier this morning. Featuring Fernando Fiore, the “road-block” promo shares the excitement to come on the Univision Deportes Network, along with a sneak peak at an exclusive interview with soccer superstar “Chicharito,” Javier Hernández Balcázara, the forward for Manchester United and the Mexican National Team. The promo will also run throughout Univision’s cable networks – Univision tlnovelas, De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit throughout April 6. To view the promo, click here.
To mark the network launch, UnivisionDeportes.com has been enhanced and will complement the programming on the new network and serve as the central information hub for passion-filled sports fans looking for sports content across Univision platforms and networks. The online and mobile site offers content from soccer leagues and tournaments worldwide, including live game streaming of popular tournaments, leagues and teams, such as the Mexican National Team; action-packed baseball, boxing and UFC coverage; and the official Spanish-language destinations for football and basketball through partnerships with the NFL and NBA.
The revamped site also features richer video content, live modules highlighting the sports programming and soccer games on the new network, Univision Network, TeleFutura and Galavisión; a twitter box with a live feed; and exclusive videos, photos and information from “Univision Deportes Extra.”
In addition, sports fans who can’t get enough of their favorite teams can get more content via Univision’s mobile apps Univision Marcador, with real-time scores and stats, and Univision Deportes that delivers the latest news from their favorite soccer leagues, tournaments, and sports from around the world. On social media, sports updates are available on the Univision Deportes forums, Facebook.com/UnivisionDeportes and on Twitter via @UnivisionSports.
For more information visit http://UnivisionDeportes.com
