Univision’s Programming Line-Up For 2001-2002 Season, U2 & Cross Platform Selling.

Univision Communications, Inc. unveiled its programming lineup for the 2001/2002 season at Lincoln Center during its Fifth Annual Upfront Programming Presentation, entitled “Constellation Univision.”

Univision also announced that it will launch a new Spanish-language Network in January 2002, which will immediately reach 80% of Hispanic Households, 24-hours a day. The new network, which will be led by Jorge Delgado, the former General Manager of Univision station, KUVS, will counter-program traditional Spanish-language television schedules in order to reach Hispanic viewers seeking an alternative choice. The new network will aggressively target Hispanics who currently watch a significant amount of English-language television.

“With Univision’s exclusive World Cup coverage; new compelling teen, adult and family novelas; successful U.S. productions; additional blockbuster and first-run movies; and enhanced formats which build on our proven franchise personalities, 2001/2002 promises to deliver outstanding, culturally relevant programming for our viewers as well as record ratings for our advertisers,” said Ray Rodriguez, President and Chief Operating Officer of Univision Network. “We’re also excited that, for the first time in the history of U.S. broadcasting, a major English-language television group is being converted to a new Spanish-language network. Univision’s explosive growth parallels that of the U.S. Hispanic community, which has been documented by the 2000 Census.”

At the Upfront presentation, Tom McGarrity and Dennis McCauley, Co-Presidents of Network Sales said, “Results of the 2000 Census have clearly documented the need for companies to change the way they market and advertise their products to Hispanics. With the No.1 Spanish-Language Network, No.1 Station Group, No.1 Cable Network, No.1 Internet Portal, a new Spanish-language music association as well as a new Spanish-language Network, Univision is now ideally positioned to offer corporate America cross-platform opportunities to directly target this previously underserved community.”

2001/2002 Season Highlights: In the 2001/2002 season, Univision will, for the first time in its history, produce more than 50% of the Network’s schedule in the U.S. No Spanish-language broadcaster or cable network in the U.S. produces more hours of first-run original programming than Univision. Univision will also continue its programming alliances with the top producers from Latin America, including Producciones Iguana from Peru, Venevision from Venezuela, and Grupo Televisa from Mexico, the highest-rated and No.1 producer of Spanish television in the world. These alliances exemplify Univision’s winning recipe.

Univision’s new network will aim to grow Spanish-language viewership with exciting first-run program choices, including prime-time special event programming, a wide selection of youth-targeted program blocks, and popular live sporting events, as well as a dynamic daily sports program. The new network will feature additional Hispanic and Latin American talent as well as alternative programming sources.

Mario Rodriguez, President of Entertainment, Univision Network, said, “We are extremely excited about this upcoming season, in which Univision’s two broadcast Networks and our cable Network will deliver a daily 72-hour schedule, reflecting the preferences of the majority of U.S. Hispanic viewers. We expect the new network to deliver solid ratings from the start, as schedules and individual programs will be cross-promoted on Univision, Galavision, as well as Univision.com, and the talent will cross-promote the three Networks as if they were one home.”

New Programs: In the Fall, Univision will launch “Los Metiches,” a Univision produced, original weekly evening comedy hour. This is the first time this format will be seen on Spanish-language TV. The show will parody everything from current events to politics to entertainment news. Also coming next Fall, on weekday nights, Univision will build on the success of legendary television-personality Don Francisco in a one-hour variety show, “Noche De Gigantes,” which will bring viewers the hottest guest stars and performers. In addition, Univision will broadcast “Pica y Se Extiende,” a weekly evening gossip/variety show featuring the popular “El Gordo” and “La Flaca,” who will entertain audiences with their on-screen chemistry and endless supply of celebrity scoops. Now entirely produced in Miami, this Fall “Marta Susana” will become Univision’s second U.S.-produced talk show, providing viewers with real-life insight and solutions each weekday morning. In addition, Univision’s hit reality-based monthly program, “Ver Para Creer,” will now air weekly on Sundays.

Novelas: The new primetime season this Summer and Fall will include teen novela “Amigas y Rivales” (Friends and Rivals), which follows the lives and experiences of four young and beautiful women who meet at a private university. The family drama “La Intrusa” (The Intruder) is the story of a beautiful governess who marries her dying employer and must then face the resentment of his children. Adult novela “El Derecho de Nacer” (The Birthright) is a remake of the most famous Spanish-language novela of all time. This new version of the 1950’s classic, which tells the story of a young woman seduced by a gambler, has been updated to address the issues and mores of the 21st century.

Daytime on Univision heats up with “El Noveno Mandamiento” (The Ninth Commandment). This compelling novela brings to life the conflict and turmoil created when love pits siblings against each other. Daytime will now also feature a one-hour novela block broadcasting only U.S. productions. The first of these novelas will be “Secreto de Amor” (Secret Love) which will be produced by Venevision’s U.S. production house, Fonovideo.

New Movies/Specials: These acquisitions will be scheduled as weekday primetime specials as well as on Sundays. Univision will debut more than 10 original titles in its motion picture line-up, as well as the U.S. broadcast premieres of highly acclaimed award winning films, “Cilantro y Perejil” (Parsley & Coriander) the romantic comedy that was a box office sensation and winner of 13 Mexican “Academy Awards;” “Sin Remitente” (Return to Sender), the tender and compelling drama about love and redemption that earned three Mexican “Academy Awards;” and “Hasta Morir” (Until We Die) the urban tale about friendship and love and betrayal. Also slated for the 2001/2002 season is the humorous and witty feature film “Mujeres Insumisas” (Defiant Women) and the comic tale “El Pais de No Pasa Nada” (The Country Where Nothing Ever Happens). In addition, the long-awaited miniseries on the life of Gloria Trevi will be launched in 2002 as two, 2-hour series.

Sports: In the upcoming season, Univision, together with its cable network, Galavision, and its new network, will be the only Spanish-language television networks to broadcast the World Cup. In addition to the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments, the three networks have the rights to other FIFA events, including the Women’s World Cup 2003, the FIFA Confederations Cup, the Under-17 and Under-20 World Championships, and others. Univision also has the exclusive rights to the Copa America tournament, which is second only in popularity to the World Cup, the 2002, 2004 and 2006 Gold Cup and the exclusive rights to 190 live Mexican League games. In addition to these outstanding sports events, Univision’s popular two-hour sports infotainment program, “Republica Deportiva,” will return along with “Accion Extra,” a summer anthology series.

News and Newsmagazines: In the upcoming season, Univision’s marquee news program, Noticiero Univision, will return at 6:30 p.m. This award-winning, national nightly newscast is hosted by Jorge Ramos, who is considered the most influential Hispanic in the U.S., as well as by Maria Elena Salinas, who is celebrating her 20th anniversary with Univision. In addition, returning newsmagazines include “Primer Impacto,” the No.1 newsmagazine among Hispanics airing daily and weekly, “Aqui y Ahora,” the dominant weekly investigative newsmagazine, and “Ultima Hora,” a nightly newsmagazine providing viewers with the last word on the day’s most important events.

Returning Favorites: For the 2001/2002 season, the Network’s strategy includes continuing to build on the strong Univision franchises, such as “Despierta America,” Hispanic America’s preeminent morning show and “Sabado Gigante,” the longest running and most successful show on Spanish-language television. Spanish television’s longest-running talk show, “Cristina,” will also return, and on Sunday nights, everyone’s favorite fashion designer will entertain audiences in the hit sitcom “Disenador Ambos Sexos.”