Si TV Secures Funding.

EchoStar Communications Corporation, Time Warner Inc., Syndicated Communications Ventures, Columbia Capital, Rho Ventures, DND Capital Partners, Llano Partners and company co-founder Barshop Ventures have invested over $60 million in Si TV, the English-language Latino-themed network that launched this February in over 7 million homes.

Los Angeles-based Si TV, which targets the burgeoning market of 18-34 year-old 2nd and 3rd generation U.S. Latinos, features English-language Latino programming including the latest in music, comedy, drama and fashion.

Over 45% of Si TV’s programming consists of original shows, such as Urban Jungle, The Rub, Latino Laugh Festival, The Drop and Styleyes. The company has completed affiliation agreements with EchoStar, Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Cox Communications and has launched with charter advertisers Wal-Mart, Sears, General Motors, US Army, Earthlink, Conair, and Sony Music.

EchoStar’s Senior Vice President of Programming Michael Schwimmer commented, “EchoStar’s investment underscores our commitment to innovative programming, and we feel that Si TV meets the needs of the widely underserved English-speaking Latino audience. Their programming has universal appeal and we’re happy to make it available to millions of homes.”

Rachel Lam, Vice President and Group Managing Director for Time Warner Investments said, “Time Warner has been committed to the success of Si TV since its early days. Aiming to extend our support of Si TV, we have now made an equity investment in the network, which builds on our existing affiliation agreement through Time Warner Cable. We are excited about the growth
prospects of this innovative network and have great confidence in Si TV’s diverse management team and its ability to better serve the Latino audience — an important market for us.”

Si TV Co-founder and Chairman Jeff Valdez stated, “The fact that these investors have decided to back Si TV is a confirmation of the interest in English-language programming for Latinos and the multicultural audience which is quickly becoming the new general market.” He added, “We could not be more delighted to have the partnership of such a diverse and prestigious group of investors.”