Television

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.

Telemundo 47 received an Emmy in the Evening Newscast: Larger Markets (1-49) category in recognition of “Noticiero 47 Telemundo: Tormenta de Nieve.”

TuYo  IPTV network will provide a la carte and pay-per-content channel bilingual and multicultural entertainment options for viewers when it debuts in July.

NBCUniversal’s Hispanic Enterprises and Content announced the appointment of Ana Salas Siegel to General Counsel. 

NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations announced that Ric Harris has been named President and General Manager of NBC10 / WCAU and Telemundo62 / WWSI, the local stations owned by NBCUniversal that serve viewers in the Philadelphia area.

WXTV Univision 41 was honored by the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) with five Emmy Awards.

Azteca America announced tthat it has signed two additional affiliate agreements with Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. for KGBT-TV, to be broadcast in Harlingen-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas, and with Lazer Broadcasting for KSTV, Channel 32, located in Sacramento, California.

Univision Deportes announced “Zona NBA” (NBA Zone), a new Sunday morning sports magazine show with highlights of the league’s basketball games and news on UniMás & UDN (Univision Deportes Network).

Univision Network’s hit morning show “Despierta América” threw itself a Disney-themed party today when it turned 18. Highlights of the anniversary show, which airs daily at 7:00 a.m. ET/PT (6:00 a.m. Central), included William Valdés spending a day as a Walt Disney World cast member before setting the audience on fire with his debut as a soloist with the song “Más.”

Centroamérica TV has entered into a wide ranging agreement with an affiliate of TCS (Telecorporación Salvadoreña) to acquire exclusive U.S. rights to the best programs from the top broadcast stations in El Salvador (Channels 2, 4 and 6). TCS programming will air on Centroamérica TV beginning on Friday, May 1.

KMEX Univision 34 Los Angeles has been awarded the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award by the Radio Television Digital News Association for its 6 p.m. newscast – Noticias 34 a las 6 p.m.

A top-rated Univision Network  program, “El Gordo y La Flaca,” as well as popular entertainment host Carlos Calderón, received Daytime Emmy Awards from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) during its 42nd annual ceremony this weekend. Also this weekend, Univision Senior Vice President for Special Events Francisco “Cisco” Suárez received the NATAS Suncoast Chapter’s prestigious Silver Circle Award for extraordinary contributions to the television industry.

As part of the network’s ongoing dedication and commitment to servicing the U.S. Hispanic audience, Azteca America announced today that it has signed an affiliate agreement with KDKJ, to be broadcast on channel 27.2 in Tyler/Longview, Texas.  

NBC UNIVERSO, the modern general entertainment cable channel for Latinos, premieres the second episode of the scripted mini-series from Mexico, “Crónica de Castas,” this Sunday, April 26 at 10pm ET/PT.