Azteca America Upfront 2012-2013 Programming [UPDATE].

Azteca America announced the presentation of its 2012-2013 upfront strategy with strong new exclusive programming added to returning favorites. The current season plans also include an increased marketing and promotional focus, as well as HD transmissions beginning in May.

New programming includes the ground-breaking new series, Fábrica de Huevos. Combining animated sketches of the hilarious hit movie from Mexico, Huevo Cartoons, with live-action segments depicting how Latinos really live in America. Azteca America delivers humor, grit and originality as never before seen in U.S. Spanish-language media. Another new comedy show is El Pelado de la Noche, a daily, late-night series mixing stand-up, comedy sketches, music and interviews with a unique Azteca America flavor.

There is no better companion to comedy than music. Quiero Ser un Grupero is Azteca’s battling of bands. This competition reality series pits aspiring performers of grupero music against one another as they vie for top honors in the best selling genre of music in the country. Grupero culture and more are also present in Échale Primo and Trayectoria al Éxito. More competition reality comes by way of La Isla, where celebrity contestants use strategy, cunning and sheer will to topple each other toward becoming master of their domain and the last survivor.

Our returning series – Extranormal, Al Extremo and our popular musical reality show La Academia consistently offer viewers the drama, surprise, and spectacle that distinguish Azteca from other brands. And the greatest gift of all – sports, sports, sports – keeps the normally elusive male viewer coming back to Azteca year after year. The network’s exclusive rights to air select soccer matches of the FLM soccer league, as well as some of the finest boxing bouts in the U.S. and Mexico, are supported by thoughtful analysis in Azteca’s newsmagazine favorites, Deporte Caliente and Antesala Deportiva. Soon to also join Azteca’s air is one of the fastest growing sports for younger male viewers: mixed martial arts.

Finally, the network’s distinguished news division, Azteca Noticias, with bureaus across the U.S. And Mexico, keeps viewers properly informed of events that affect us on a local, national and global level. In 2012, Azteca’s award-winning news team has placed special emphasis on presidential elections taking place during the same year in the U.S. and Mexico for the first time in 12 years.

The new programming initiatives have been carefully selected following focus groups and qualitative studies and include fresh formats, vertical nights and a continued focus on counter programming focused on families and adults. The promotions and marketing team at Azteca America has been strengthened with new hires that include LA-area veterans and production teams that can leverage the best of Azteca America’s parent company Azteca. Promotional activities will be especially focused on top markets including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, Dallas and San Francisco.

Beginning on May 31, Azteca America will begin HD transmissions in top markets. The networks footprint will be further boosted by a distribution agreement with a major cable company in New York.

Expanding Azteca America’s multimedia capabilities, the network has also signed an important agreement with Hulu Latino for online distribution of primetime long-form programming. Comedy, music, sports, reality, news and much more in between. Azteca America: an innovator of U.S. media, fearless in its commitment to provide outstanding media to a diverse and savvy audience.