Television

Just two short years after its launch in March, 2007 – a powerful content offer and an innovative distribution strategy tied to the digital transition have catapulted the V-me TV network to the top ranks of America’s Hispanic TV options.

In 35 U.S. markets, V-me is both a free over-the-air digital broadcast and a basic digital cable channel, as a result of its partnership with public television stations. In addition, V-me is carried nationally via satellite in both the basic and Hispanic packages of Dish Network and DirecTV.

National Cable Communications (NCC announced the promotion of Greg Schaefer to President and Chief Executive Officer. Schaefer came to NCC in November 2002 as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer and was elevated to President on January 1, 2004.

For marketers looking to maximize efficiency in their Hispanic media buys, Hispanic Marketers’ Guide To Cable is the must-have resource of the planning season. Released by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB), the book provides a wealth of local and national demographic information as well as “cultural cues” that give deeper insight into who key viewing segments are and how they watch television.

Univision Communications Inc. announced a multi-year carriage agreement with DIRECTV. The agreement includes carriage of Univision’s owned and operated broadcast stations and distribution of the cable network, Galavisión, and the network feeds for Univision and TeleFutura. This agreement includes, in certain markets, carriage of affiliated stations owned and operated by Entravision Communications Corporation, Equity Media Holdings Corporation and Fisher Communications, Inc..

The third season of Univision’s popular reality competition, “Nuestra Belleza Latina” (Our Latin Beauty; Sunday, March 1, 8pm – 10pm ET/PT; 7pm – 9pm Central) attracted nearly four million Total Viewers 2+. With the premiere of “Nuestra Belleza Latina”, the Spanish-language network took the #4 spot in the time period, beating CBS among Adults, Men and Women 18-34 as well as Persons 12-34.

ZGS Communications announced that Mike Gillespie will lead national sales for the ZGS station group.

Gillespie currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Telemundo New England managing the Telemundo stations in Boston, Hartford/Springfield and Providence.

Throughout the week of March 2, “NBC News With Brian Williams” will take a look at the issues facing Hispanic Americans in a new series “We The People.” The series will cover a wide-range of issues and include pieces about areas adapting to the growth of the Hispanic population, to companies who are trying to benefit from it. Additionally, there will be reports about how new immigrants are surviving during the recession, health issues among the Hispanic community, and challenges surrounding education.