Television

The Telemundo Station Group announced the leadership team for WZDC Telemundo. Janette Luviano will lead the station’s newsroom as News Director, Will Hildebrandt has been named Vice President of Sales, and Nestor Alvarenga will oversee and execute the station’s community affairs strategies as Community Manager.

Fusion Media Group (FMG) announced plans for international expansion into Latin America through a new multi-platform agreement, spanning digital and television, with Grupo Televisa S.A.B. Televisa has acquired a license to the brands and content from FMG’s collection of digital publications for Mexico and will launch a new FUSION branded 24-hour cable network in Spanish.

Herb Scannell, the recently appointed CEO of mitú, announced a new long-form development, production and talent team to be led by accomplished creative executive David Ortiz.

Pasiones  has acquired the Latin American rights to premiere the sensational Mexican drama Soy Tu Dueña (“A Woman of Steel”), which will debuted on Tuesday, December 5.

As TV viewers continue to spend more time watching video content via connected TVs and over-the-top (OTT) video services, advertisers want to make sure that they’re there, too. While programmatic access to such inventory is the exception today, it will ramp up over the next 12 to 24 months.

The Telemundo Station Group and ZGS Communications, Inc. (ZGS) announced they have entered into agreements that, once the necessary Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other governmental approvals are obtained, will result in the Telemundo Station Group acquiring the 13 television stations, serving 10 markets, currently owned by ZGS. 

SiriusXM announced the launch of ‘Telemundo,’ an exclusive channel making the network’s programming available to SiriusXM listeners, beginning December 1, 2017.    

It’s no secret that in addition to traditional television, viewers also have access to a plethora of subscription video on demand content and virtual multi-channel providers. As the options for these streaming services have grown, so have the means by which viewers can view them on their TV screens.  Consumers, in turn, are taking action.

As more advertisers start to explore the benefits of connected TV and over-the-top (OTT) services, buyers and sellers are facing a slew of challenges. eMarketer’s Lauren Fisher spoke with Ryan Reed, director of innovation for TV and video at Lotame, about the major hurdles on both sides of the spectrum, including what’s holding up programmatic trading of connected TV and OTT inventory.

Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. announced that Jose Ramos, President and General Manager of WAPA-TV, plans to retire in the first half of 2018. The Company has named Javier Maynulet as Mr. Ramos’ successor.

HC2 Holdings, Inc. (“HC2”)  announced that its subsidiary, HC2 Network Inc. (“HC2 Network”), has acquired Azteca America, a Spanish-language broadcast network, from affiliates of TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Azteca”) (BMV: AZTECACPO; Latibex: XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world. In addition, HC2 Network has signed a definitive acquisition agreement with Northstar Media, LLC (“Northstar”), a licensee of numerous broadcast television licenses in the United States.

LBI Media, Inc. announced the appointment of Jason Hall as SVP, national sales. He will be based in the company’s New York City office.  As SVP, national sales, he will manage the national sales efforts for LBI’s station group and affiliate stations throughout the country.  Hall will be responsible for leading and organizing all national sales efforts, including recruitment and the direct management of the national sales offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Mexico.

Univision Communications Inc. announced the appointment of Antonio Roman to senior vice president, Local Media New York Sales for Univision New York. Roman will lead the company’s NY-based sales teams across TV, Digital, Radio and Experiential Marketing.

Production has begun in Mexico City for Telemundo’s officially authorized series based on the life of internationally renowned music superstar and Grammy award-winning multi-platinum recording artist, Luis Miguel.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) announced that Roberto Ruiz has been promoted to executive vice president, Research, Insights and Analytics, effective immediately. Ruiz will continue to report to Jessica Rodriguez, chief marketing officer, and will remain based in New York.

Endemol Shine North America’s Spanish-language division Endemol Shine Latino is joining forces with Mexico City-based production company Boomdog to form Endemol Shine Boomdog.

Telemundo Deportes, the Spanish-language home of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, secured the exclusive, Spanish-language media rights of the FIFA Club World Cup, for the next two years.

Azteca America will broadcast for the third consecutive year the most eagerly anticipated beauty pageant of the year: Miss Universe, one of the most famous international competitions now in its 66th year and featuring participants representing over 90 different countries. 

Univision Deportes announced that it has finalized a three-year sublicensing deal with FOX Deportes for Spanish-language rights to matches from Germany’s top soccer league, Bundesliga. 

Veteran Univision news anchor María Elena Salinas is weeks away from retirement. Who will take her co-anchor duties with the equally famed Jorge Ramos on the 6:30pm weeknight Noticiero Univision?  The torch has been passed to Ilia Calderón, who will take over’s anchor chair in mid-December.  Univision calls the appointment historic, as Calderón will become the first Afro-Latina to anchor an evening newscast for a major broadcast network in the U.S.  By Adam R Jacobson / Hispanic Market Overview