The Phoenix rises from the ashes of Independent Hispanic TV representation.

From the ashes of the defunct Interep representation company and their HITS and Azteca America Spot TV Sales team, Azteca America has decided to add National Spot Sales to its existing Network sales organization rather than sign over representation to Cross Media, who recently was awarded the rights to purchase certain assets of the HITS and Azteca America Spot TV Sales business from the Interep Bankruptcy/Trustee. At Azteca America’s request the Interep Bankruptcy Court specifically declined to let Cross Media take on the national spot sales business of Azteca America and Una Vez Mas, its largest affiliate group.

Additionally, a new independent Hispanic TV representation company will also rises from the ashes called Spanish Television Sales headed by the top executives of HITS and Azteca America Spot TV Sales who will not be joining the Cross Media team.

“We feel it’s a better strategic fit to move our very own dedicated Azteca America Spot TV Sales Rep firm in-house rather than signing our spot business over to Cross Media, who do not possess the history or background that we have in the Hispanic market”, commented Adrian Steckel, CEO Azteca America.

Within the new organization, effective immediately, Bob Turner, President of Network Sales, will oversee both the Network Sales Team and the newly created Azteca America Spot TV Sales division. Turner is currently in the process of hiring dedicated Spot Sales people who will be in the following offices, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and San Antonio. Azteca America Spot TV Sales is now open for business and expects for all of its offices to be fully staffed in the immediate future. The Azteca America in-house Rep firm will sell on behalf of the owned and operated TV station in Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as representing national Spot Sales for affiliate groups Una Vez Mas, Azteca America’s largest affiliate group and TVC which operate in markets including Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Miami and New York. The newly created Rep firm plans on offering its representation services to all the Azteca America affiliates in a total of 65 markets.

“We believe having network and national spot sales under one roof is the most effective way to better service our agencies and clients”, Turner commented. We want to ensure our clients can easily buy us as we partner with them to achieve their respective marketing needs”.

“We have been coordinating with the other Azteca America affiliates to be certain that business continues to flow in an efficient orderly manner”, stated David Haymore, COO of Una Vez Mas. All Azteca America Affiliates remain committed to serving our clients with exemplary service during this transition phase.

“We believe this strategy for national spot representation for our stations will help us surpass all expectations in near future.” stated Jorge Jaidar, General Manager of flagship station Azteca America Los Angeles, KAZA-TV.