Cine Latino to create US focus channel.

Cine Latino will split its signal from its Mexico City-based headquarters and create a separate channel feed dedicated exclusively to the U.S. Hispanic audience beginning on October 1, 2008.

“Creating a separate U.S. channel is exciting news for Latinos living in the United States, as it will allow Cine Latino to cater its programming to meet the specific needs and interests of the diverse U.S. Hispanic audience,” said James M. McNamara, chairman of Cine Latino. “We are committed to acquiring the best, most recent blockbusters from the U.S., Mexico, Latin America and Spain, and we are preparing to announce some exciting exclusive distribution deals to reinforce our position as the leader in Spanish-language film.”

To kick off the new feed, Cine Latino has an impressive lineup of new programming planned for the first two months, including exclusive first rights to major Mexican blockbusters such as Kilómetro 31 (Mexico/Spain; “Kilometer 31,” in English), last year’s leading box office hit in Mexico starring Illiana Fox and Raúl Mendez, and Así del Precipicio (Mexico; “Over the Edge,” in English), a major 2007 feature starring Ana de la Reguera, Ingrid Martz and Gabriela Platas.

“We are thrilled that our U.S. audience will be able to enjoy more of the best movies from their varied countries of origin,” said Ernesto Vargas, president of Grupo MVS, founding company and co-owner of Cine Latino. “We will continue to work closely with our U.S. partners to ensure we are delivering the best and most current movie titles to the dynamic U.S. Hispanic audience.”