Vme offers experiential Upfront.

Today at Vme’s experiential upfront event, the 2011-2012 programming line-up was introduced to a packed house. At the Samsung Experience in New York’s Time Warner Center, Vme underscored its commitment to serve the diversity of today’s Hispanic market, introducing a slate of original programming in all genres and a deep pipeline of exclusive world-class programs that speaks to the hearts and minds of today’s diverse Hispanic market.

Vme Contigo – Keeping the Promise

“For the past four years, Vme has developed an extraordinary palate of culturally-relevant content offerings across a wide variety of genres designed to deliver exactly what we promised to do when we launched the network -inspire, empower and entertain and to be Contigo (along side) with the ever-evolving Hispanic family. But don’t take our word for it, listen to Vme’s diverse viewers and this is exactly what you will hear,” said Carmen DiRienzo, president and CEO.

Engaged Viewers Validate Vme’s Promise

As the fourth largest Spanish network in the U.S. reaching more than 10 million Hispanic homes, Vme reaches bicultural and bilingual Latinos as well as those who are Spanish-dominant. In a recent viewer engagement study conducted by Nielsen, Spanish TV viewers placed Vme ahead of the three largest Spanish networks saying:

– “Hispanic audiences see Vme as a network that really speaks to them and their culture in a unique and intelligent way;”

– “Vme carries a very strong positive brand image within the Spanish-speaking community, and audiences seek out programming on Vme because they feel no other network offers this type of programming.”

– “Audiences perceive Vme as being more culturally relevant to them, and in line with their values and lifestyle, they also find Vme programming to be more engaging…which bodes well for creating a loyal following.”

“This study and the positive trends we see from our early Nielsen ratings, validates what Vme has been saying since the beginning – that the Hispanic market demands new and better and deserves new and better and its size, buying power and increasing biculturalism warrant new and better. Vme is dedicated to providing what the market demands,” added DiRienzo.

Ten Brand Entitlements

With its extensive original programming line-up, Vme is offering ten brand entitlements where brands can organically integrate into the set, become part of the program and share in the name of the show. With programs in every genre, Vme is creating a forum in which brands can showcase their attributes and connect with Hispanic consumers of all ages and demographics through relevant content.

“In today’s landscape, brands are looking for content and properties that they can own and Vme has answered this demand with more entitlement opportunities than any other Spanish-language network,” said Patty Marrero, SVP and director of sales. “With production studios in Miami, Vme also has the capability of doing branded integrations, customized vignettes, prommercials and hosted pitches all of which provide numerous branding options and value to our marketing partners.”

Vme’s 2011-2012 Programming Line-up

“Vme places a premium on providing cutting-edge and distinctive content,” said Guillermo Sierra, SVP. “For the new TV season, Vme has assembled the finest line-up yet that offers a fresh roster of innovative and culturally-relevant shows, original programs and genres you can only experience on Vme. The line-up has something to offer to everyone in the Hispanic family – adults, women, men and kids and will appeal to a diverse Hispanic market of bilingual and bicultural consumers as well as those who are Spanish dominant.”

Reaching Bicultural, Bilingual Consumers

While still providing programming in Spanish, Vme serves up a weekly strip of hip new shows that connect with the bilingual and bicultural young Hispanic consumer.

E3, a new original production coming July 18, will deliver the latest entertainment news with an all-access pass to today’s entertainment headliners. Not your typical gossip show, E3 show covers the world of entertainment from all angles to keep viewers plugged into pop culture and Hollywood headliners. Hosted by Roser Cabanas, E3 will be the foremost authority for real entertainment news in Spanish.

Nota Musical, one of the most popular original shows on Vme is returning for another season. Hosted by industry insiders Ceceliz and OZ, Nota Musical brings the latest from the world of music. With intimate interviews of Latin music’s hottest stars and up and coming artists, Nota Musical is already the go-to destination for some of the biggest names in the industry.

Hosted by Keyla Medina, En Pantalla presents the latest news in cinema as well as highlights of movies from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to indies, exclusive interviews with Hollywood insiders and the latest movie and DVD releases and upcoming premieres.

With Hispanics over-indexing in the use of video games of all kinds, especially bilingual, bicultural young Hispanic males, Vme has developed, in partnership with 40 Principales, another market first – a weekly interactive show for gamers. Premiering later this year, GAME40 will look at the hottest new releases in the video game market in a fast-paced interactive fashion.

For a new twist on extreme sports, Vme presents Red Bull’s Cliptomaniacs the most original, unique extreme sports show ever. Hosted by professional adrenaline junkies who don’t just present extreme sports — they live them. Each week Cliptomaniacs will present a different hair-raising stunt from locations around the globe.

Exclusive Blockbuster Series and Specials

Vme’s blockbuster new series and specials offer fresh, original and distinctive programming that is always superior quality and can’t be found anywhere else in Spanish television.

With a production budget of more than $1 million per episode, Piratas is Vme’s newest high-caliber drama. Set in the eighteenth century and recorded almost entirely in natural settings in Spain, Piratas charts a course for adventure and misadventure as an unabashed and philandering member of the nobility is enrolled by force in a mission to infiltrate the pirate crew of the legendary Captain Bocanegra. Filled with beautiful ships, sword duels, dungeons, executions, rescues, battles and the race for treasures, Piratas has all the ingredients of a great pirate drama.

Vme presents Los Kennedy, an eight-part docudrama, originally created by The History Channel, chronicling the Kennedy family’s key triumphs and tragedies from the 1930s to 1968. The special covers all the historical moments such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs Invasion but it also spends time covering the behind the scenes relationships that made this family so powerful. With an all-star cast including Greg Kinnear, Katie Holmes, Barry Pepper and Tom Wilkinson, Los Kennedy covers several generations of the infamous Kennedy dynasty.

Vme is extending its Nota Musical franchise, with five music specials premiering in July and August:

Nota Musical’s Do you Spanglish? Some of the world’s greatest English language stars have sung in Spanish. This special showcases some of their best (and sometimes most humorous) efforts. Featuring such superstars as Bon Jovi, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Celine Dion, Justin Timberlake and Madonna! Do You Spanglish? Is a fun-filled special of wonderful stars singing some of their greatest hits as you have never heard them before!

Three years in the making, Nota Musical’s Shakira Integral takes an in-depth look at Shakira’s rise from a teen star in Colombia to a global sensation. Through hundreds of interviews with fans, collaborators and other leading artists, Shakira Integral offers a very special look at her career and rise to superstar status. The special will also feature highlights of Shakira’s live performances over the length of her fabulous career.

Nota Musical also presents two specials with Mexican superstar Alejandro Fernandez. In De Gira Por España, Vme takes fans behind the scenes with a backstage pass for the making of a live performance. Also, in 24 Horas con Alejandro Fernandez, our camera’s follow the star through one complete day of his tour – in the hotel, on the bus, relaxing backstage and finally in performance. With special interviews with Fernandez and his crew, Vme shows you what it takes to make it all happen.

Nota Musical’s Bose Por Amaia! provides a special look at Miguel Bose, one of the most beloved, revered and respected artists of all time, as he shares an intimate conversation with fellow pop star Amaia Montero. Bose discusses more than just his music and his legendary poetic lyrics but his sense of fashion, his love of cooking and his passion for his family. This non-typical special, offers a unique perspective on this beloved artist.

Spanish-language Home of the World’s Most Popular Kids Programming

Vme remains the only Hispanic network that dedicates more than four hours a day, six days a week to preschool programming. With the largest slate of preschool programming already on air, Vme will now be the exclusive Spanish-language home for Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Thomas & Friends™. With the addition of these shows to its extraordinary library of programs that include Plaza Sesamo, LazyTown and many others, Vme now airs the six most popular children’s franchises in the world. Created for kids ages 2-6 and their co-viewing parents and caregivers, Vme’s award-winning children’s programs is already the gold-standard for programs that empower kids with innovative, entertaining, curriculum-based content.

Original Programming in all Genres

For the past four years, Vme has developed a reputation for raising the bar in terms of providing superior quality and diverse content for Hispanic audiences and its original programming is no exception.

Vme will be adding the new original program Sazón para el Mundo to its daily cooking block, Vme Cocina. Sazón para el Mundo features Vme’s popular host, Chef Hamlet Garcia taking the best of international cuisine and giving it a Latin flavor. Since taking over as the host of Vme Cocina, Chef Hamlet, has won the hearts of viewers on-air, online and in our local Vme Cocina tours.

Returning this fall, Vme presents a complete line-up of its extensive original top-quality programming in all genres including: TuBeBe, Spanish TV’s only show dedicated to parenting, Planeta Feroz, Vme’s exclusive award-winning nature programming franchise, Mi Mascota, for the pets in our lives, Estelares Vme, presenting the world’s most intelligent, relevant and thought-provoking primetime dramas and comprehensive current affairs and sports programs with Vme Noticias, Vme Deportes, and Jorge Gestoso Investiga.

Popular Primetime Dramas Return

Every night, Vme distinguishes itself with its scripted dramas and big budget productions. Each of Vme’s primetime dramas have consistently been among the network’s top rated shows every week since Vme started with Nielsen. The top shows include:

Africa de mi Corazón a family-friendly drama traces the adventures of a regular family that has chosen to devote their life to living with and protecting wildlife in Africa; Cuentame Como Paso, Spain’s smash hit that is akin to The Wonder Years, this drama for the whole family, follows the small and large moments a middle class family living through the turbulent 60’s and 70’s; Comisario Rex, one of the most popular programs worldwide is a clever twist on primetime police drama with a brilliant K-9 as the protagonist.

Following Vme’s tradition of launching new series throughout the year, the network just began airing Alerta Cobra in April 2011 and will continue this program for another season. In the spirit of The Fast and the Furious, Alerta Cobra, Europe’s top cop show, features the most extraordinary and mind-boggling stunt work of any television program ever.

Finally, another one of Vme’s most popular primetime dramas returns for another season. Águila Roja has been making worldwide history and is already the most popular primetime drama ever in Spain. It’s lush, romantic, swashbuckling good vs. evil story capitates audiences everywhere. And, later this year, it will become a major motion picture.