Azteca America Network Gains NYC Affiliate.

TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. announced that Azteca America, the company’s wholly owned broadcasting network focused on the U.S. Hispanic market, has signed a new affiliate in New York City, with no associated equity investment from TV Azteca.

With the addition of WXNY Channel 39 in New York City, Azteca America now reaches 53% of the U.S. Hispanic market. “With an antennae atop the Citicorp building in Manhattan, the Azteca America signal will reach more than 10 million viewers, more than 2.5 million of whom are Hispanics,” said Luis J. Echarte, President and CEO of Azteca America. “Our engineers estimate that our coverage area includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as neighboring communities of New Jersey, who will now be able to enjoy some of the finest Spanish-language programming,” added the executive. According to the 2000 US Census, Hispanics comprise 27% of the total population of New York City.

“New York brings us to our goal of network coverage for 2002 with a month remaining in the year,” said Pedro Padilla, TV Azteca’s CEO. “We are now in a position to leverage our excellent Madison Ave. sales team for preseason
sales.”

Azteca America’s markets including Albuquerque, Austin, Bakersfield, Fresno-Visalia, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Palm Springs, Reno, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Salt Lake City, San-Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Santa Barbara, West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce and Wichita.