Media

¡HOLA! TV will launch on DIRECTV channel 430 on May 1.

Univision Communications Inc. announced the appointment of Alberto Mier y Terán as executive vice president of Univision Television Group (UTG). Mier y Terán will continue as general manager of flagship stations KMEX-TV Univision 34 and KFTR-TV UniMás 46 in Los Angeles, and now joins the executive team of UTG.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) announced the appointment of Friday Abernethy to senior vice president, Content Distribution. She will be based in New York and report to Sarah Madigan, executive vice president, Content Distribution.

Telemundo Media announced the second season of the original social media novela, “Secreteando”, starting April 28th. The online novela was the first drama series directed to Hispanics where viewers were active participants in the storyline through social media platforms such as Google+, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

ImpreMedia announced that coinciding with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, impreMedia will launch “Quiero Más Fútbol” (I Want More Soccer), a glossy soccer publication that will be distributed weekly on Fridays in Los Angeles within La Opinion and in New York within El Diario.

Much of the growth in mobile video has been driven by the YouTube generation – some 40% of all YouTube’s traffic comes from tablets and smartphones now – and that trend shows no signs of stopping. While that’s great for YouTube, it’s not so great for the marketers that desperately want to reach that audience, but are either unwilling or unable to take advantage of the myriad mobile video platforms that deliver said audience on a silver platter.

NUVOtv announced the co-production of Kia’s Road to Rio, an action-packed travel series showcasing the beautiful sights of South America. Comedians Mark Watson and Henning Wehn will take viewers on a hilarious adventure to Rio for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, as they traverse the continent in various Kia Motors vehicles including the 2014 Kia Soul, Sorento CUV and Sportage Compact CUV. NUVOtv has exclusive rights for US distribution.  The show will premiere on NUVOtv on Wednesday, May 21 at 9pm ET/PT.

Telemundo announced it has granted NBCUniversal Entertainment an option to develop “El Señor de los Cielos” (The Lord of the Skies), the network’s highest-rated novela last season, and USA Network an option to develop the upcoming and highly-anticipated novela “Mujer de Acero” (Woman of Steel). On the heels of multiple cross-company initiatives including the reality competition shows “La Voz Kids” and “Top Chef Estrellas,” the weekly news segment “Access Hollywood Al Rojo Vivo,” and the multiple simulcasts between NBC’s Today show and Telemundo’s morning show “Un Nuevo Dia,” among others, NBCUniversal’s Hispanic Enterprises and Content Division continues to develop business and content opportunities across the company’s multiple brands.

Siempre Mujer magazine announced that the first-ever Siempre Mujer Cover Contest.   Presented by The Lincoln Motor Company, the contest will give the magazine’s readers an opportunity to shine, while highlighting the talent, passion and beauty of Latinas around the country.

This is the year historians will look back upon and recall as the year television changed forever.

Bud light and Telemundo Media announced “Buscando Mi Ritmo,” a new long-form branded reality competition series that will search for the unique sound that turns a singer into an artist – and an artist into a star. The series will put a new spin on the genre by pairing celebrities with up-and-coming musical bands that are looking to establish themselves in the music industry.

A+E Networks Latin America, a joint venture between A+E Networks and Ole Communications, and Sony Pictures Television announced that they will launch Lifetime in Latin America and Brazil. 

Mobile may be winning when it comes to its growing share of time spent with media, but advertising dollars are following behind slower than one may expect, according to eMarketer’s latest forecast of time spent with media by US adults.

Andrés Cantor is on the list of the world’s top legendary soccer commentators published by The FIFA Weekly, the official magazine of FIFA. Cantor is the only US-based, as well as Spanish-speaking commentator, included on the list published by the world’s leading soccer organization.

FOX Deportes announced the addition of renowned Mexican soccer star Luis “El Matador” Hernandez as an analyst to its soccer talk show, La Última Palabra, and as a guest commentator across several of the network’s media platforms.

In 2013, time spent with digital media among US adults surpassed time spent with TV for the first time—with mobile driving the shift. This year, that trend will continue, according to new figures from eMarketer, as time spent with mobile devices continues to grow much faster than usage of all other media.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. announced the inauguration of its new “Vacilon de la Mañana” morning show format called “El Show de El Chikilin” on KLAX (97.9 FM), La Raza along with the on-air arrival of popular radio personality Beto Diaz “El Chikilin”.

In Jacobs Media’s new study of core radio listeners, the impact of digitally delivered media continues its rise, providing both opportunity and challenges to traditional radio broadcasters.  The media habits of 11 different format core audiences, along with five generations, are examined in this mega-survey of radio listeners.  From Boomers to Millennials, different patterns of consumption emerge.

Chris Brandt, CMO at Taco Bell, is calling the quick-service restaurant’s (QSR’s) new breakfast items “innovation with a twist on the familiar.” That’s his plan in marketing too, by using Instagram and soon rolling out a mobile ordering app.

ZGS Communications announced that Alejandro “Alex” Sánchez Sobrino has been named Vice President and General Manager of WTMO Telemundo Orlando effective immediately.   He will report to Ronald J. Gordon, CEO of ZGS.