Television

Discovery U.S. Hispanic announced its networks’ 2015-2016 Upfront slate, expanding on popular genres such as adventure and motors for Discovery en Español as well as beauty, home and cooking on the female-focused Discovery Familia.

Azteca America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, S.A.B de Cv., announced its 2015-2016 programming line-up at its annual upfront presentation in New York at the Best Buy Theater.  Azteca presented its most ambitious programming slate, featuring an exclusive stellar Liga MX soccer line-up, “La Hora Ganadora” (The Winning Hour), a new hour of interactive family entertainment, a global novela sensation, updated returning favorites and strategic alliances with major digital industry players.

NBCUniversal Hispanic Group’s annual Upfront presentation was at New York’s Frederick P. Rose Hall and hosted by NBC’s “Today” news anchor Natalie Morales and TELEMUNDO entertainment anchor and “La Voz Kids” host Jorge Bernal.  Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales for NBCUniversal’s News and Hispanic Groups, Mike Rosen, unveiled the company’s go-to-market strategy– “All Together. Latino.”– to connect with U.S. Hispanic audiences across all of NBCUniversal’s networks and platforms. Executives also introduced an impressive array of digital opportunities for advertising partners and unveiled the 2015-2016 programming line-ups for TELEMUNDO and NBC UNIVERSO, featuring more than 1,000 hours of original content.

NBC UNIVERSO announced the network’s 2015-16 programming highlights, which were unveiled tonight at NBCUniversal Hispanic Group’s annual Upfront presentation at New York’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.

ESPN Deportes announced at its Upfront in New York City today new initiatives focused on strengthening the network’s digital video offerings, original content lineup and diverse programming. Special guests included Spanish soccer star David Villa, who recently debuted with MLS’s newest team New York City FC,  and ESPN Deportes’ on air commentators including Hugo Sanchez, Alejandro Moreno, Antonietta Collins, Alfredo Lomeli and recent Sports Emmy-award winner Ernesto Jerez.  The presentation emphasized the importance of multimedia, multiplatform content and live programming to engage and reach the avid Hispanic sport fans, underscoring their power and relevance in sports consumption. The network’s success in delivering the most diverse sports programming will be the groundwork for the brand’s focus on live, diverse programming in 2016, highlighted by the return of the UEFA European Championship.

Estrella TV unveiled an innovative programming strategy for advertisers at its annual Upfront Gala at Bryant Park Grill in Manhattan.  From a tented high tech stage setting, clients and advertising agency executives were given a glimpse of the network’s new content curation within the digital and social space.

iHeartMedia announced the return of the iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina Presented by Sprint on Saturday, November 7, 2015. For the first time, the star-studded event will take place at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami and will broadcast on TELEMUNDO.

NBCUniversal’s Hispanic Group, executives from NBCU Hispanic Enterprises and Content announced plans to partner with DEFY Media. The alliance will build upon the combined pioneering expertise of each media company to develop new social and mobile content specifically designed for “Generation M” (Millennial, Mobile, Multicultural). 

Telemundo announces “La Sorpresa de Tu Vida” (The Surprise of Your Life), a weekly two-hour, family-oriented Saturday night show to be hosted by actress, singer and comedian Angelica Vale and multi-talented and dynamic Hispanic television star Raul Gonzalez. 

Pasiones will offer its U.S. audience the exclusive premiere of “Laberintos del Corazón” (Tangled Hearts), one of the biggest hits from top Brazilian producer TV Globo.

TELEMUNDO plans to add to its growing slate of reality fare with “Gran Hermano,” a Spanish-language spin on the worldwide hit format that will feature U.S. Hispanics.

Univision Communications Inc. hosted its annual Upfront presentation to unveil its 2015-16 programming line-up and to highlight how targeting U.S. Hispanics through Univision’s multiplatform portfolio is the way forward for marketers to fuel growth. At the UCI Upfront event, Univision announced that “La Banda,” the music-based, multi-media competition show developed by Simon Cowell’s SYCO Entertainment and Haim Saban’s Saban Brands and co-produced with FremantleMedia Latin America is back for a second season. Simon Cowell as executive producer brings SYCO Entertainment’s trademark talent for finding stars and creating great entertainment to Spanish-language television for the first time this fall. For the second season, “La Banda 2” will scour the U.S. for the ultimate Latina girl super group.

Univision Communications Inc. as part of its award-winning Univision Contigo empowerment platform, last week launched Clave al Éxito (Key to Success). This groundbreaking Spanish-language, mobile-optimized website empowers Hispanic parents and other family members to engage in their child’s education from the earliest years, helping them become college ready.

It seems that the recent hoopla with the end of “Sabado Gigante” has sent ripples across the grid with many alluding that this, in fact, is “the beginning of the end for Univision,” and while I agree that in a way it does symbolize the end of an era/format that is no longer reflective of today’s USH audience, I still don’t hear the fat lady singing. In fact, this is a day they knew would eventually arrive.  Univision Will Be Just Fine Says Alma’s Media Director, Jorge Mercado.

Univision Communications Inc. announced that it will once again celebrate Mother’s Day with a special program, the “Íntimamente… Compartiendo entre Amigas” (Intimately… Sharing among Friends) franchise, co-produced with Televisa and in partnership with The Clorox Company. Guest stars will share their experiences as mothers and grandmothers during the sixth annual special, which will air Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 Central).

WAPA América has acquired exclusive U.S. rights to premiere the Colombian hit telenovela “Niche, lo que Diga el Corazón” (Beats of Love, Niche). The novela, produced by Caracol Televisión, is set to premiere on Monday, May 11, at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

TELEMUNDO plans to add “Gran Hermano,” the first-ever Spanish-language U.S. reality show based on the worldwide hit format, to its growing slate of reality fare.

Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, Chairman and Founder of El Rey Network (ERN), announced the creation of the El Rey Diversity Council, an advisory group comprised of leading national Latino advocacy organizations that have collaborated with the 24-hour, English language cable network since its early days of development in late 2011.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) announced that Francisco (Frank) J. Lopez-Balboa has been named chief financial officer, effective immediately.

ESPN Deportes was recognized at the Sports Emmys, presented for the 36th year by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The network claimed its first win in the Best On-Air Personality Spanish-language category with the honor going to baseball play-by-play veteran Ernesto Jerez.