Television

beIN SPORTS unveiled its 2014-2015 programming schedule today during its first-ever Upfront event. The network presented its solid line-up of premium sports content to advertisers and marketers during the presentation held at Rockefeller Center’s, 620 Loft & Garden in New York.

EstrellaTV has unveiled an ambitious slate of new original programming at its annual Upfront event, held Monday, May 12, before a capacity audience at Manhattan’s Hudson Hotel Rooftop Terrace.  

NUVOtv is accelerating the momentum it began last year when Jennifer Lopez joined the network as its Chief Creative Officer by announcing new series and specials and the renewal of several shows embraced by NUVOtv viewers. The 2014-15 programming slate was unveiled May 12 at the Edison Ballroom in mid-town New York and hosted by Ms. Lopez, NUVOtv CEO Michael Schwimmer, EVP Programming Bill Hilary and SVP Advertising Sales Craig Geller.

  By Lee Vann / Captura Group

Earlier this year we saw the closure of two major efforts by the mainstream media to connect with Hispanics in the U.S.

CNN launched “CNN Latino” last year. The goal of the cable news network was to build an audience around syndicated news and entertainment shows in Spanish. Broadcast TV stations in several markets with large Hispanic populations – including WDFL in Miami and KBEH in Los Angeles – carried the programming.

Telemundo network announced it acquired the exclusive media rights for the United States of all the home games of the Mexican first division soccer team Pachuca, beginning with the league’s Apertura tournament in June. As “The Official U.S. Network of Pachuca,” Telemundo will have the exclusive Spanish-language rights across all its platforms – broadcast, online and cable – to all of the pre-season, regular season and, if they qualify, the playoff home games of the popular team.  

Set to premiere Tuesday, July  15th at 9 pm ET/PT, irreverent and action-packed, Matador chronicles the unlikely rise of Tony “Matador” Bravo (Gabriel Luna), a popular soccer star who comes to be known as much for his playboy antics off the field as his dynamic moves on it. But what his fans and family don’t realize is that it’s all a cover—in truth, he is a skilled covert operative executing missions for a little-known branch of the CIA. “Matador” has the kind of fame and notoriety that affords him access to powerful circles of corruption and villainy. But, in balancing the dueling roles in which he’s been cast, he will be forced to confront the question of his true identity… and it is this mission which will prove to be his most dangerous

Beginning, Wednesday, May 7th, 2014 Mira TV launched the Rick Sanchez Show, to run Monday through Friday at 10:00PM, as part of an entirely new evening programming block that is sure to captivate local audiences.

Both the universe of U.S. television homes and the potential TV audience in those homes continue to grow. According to Nielsen’s 2015 Advance National TV Household Universe Estimate (UE), there are 116.3 million TV homes in the U.S., up 0.4 percent from the 2013-2014 estimate of 115.6 million. Nielsen estimates that nearly 296 million persons age 2 and older live in these TV homes, an increase of 0.5 percent from last year.

NBCUniversal’s Hispanic Enterprises and Content announced that Ruben Mendiola, has been named President of its cable channel, mun2. He will report to Joe Uva, Chairman, Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament may not kick off in Brazil until next month, but viewers are already planning on how they’re going to watch the matches. And based on polling conducted by Instant.ly for YuMe, digital devices are reshaping game viewing.

Americans have no shortage of options in every aspect of their lives. The proliferation of devices for consuming content has enabled more choices than most can count. But the “problem” of having too many options—including a growing expanse of content—doesn’t seem to be having an impact on our TV viewing preferences.

Discovery U.S. Hispanic, home of Discovery en Español and Discovery Familia, confirmed the participation of key talent as part of its annual Upfront presentation to advertisers on May 13 in New York City.

The FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014™ kicks off on June 12, 2014; Univision Deportes will provide 24-hour coverage for 31 days across all of its broadcast and digital platforms, including live telecasts and streaming of all 64 matches plus live pre- and post-game commentary and reporting from Brazil’s 12 tournament cities
 

¡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.

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.

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.