Univision Communications and AT&T U-verse have reached a multiyear, multiplatform deal that includes carriage of the U.S. Spanish-language media leader's three new cable networks, as well as authenticated access across an array of vehicles.
Under the agreement, financial terms of which were not disclosed, AT&T U-verse will launch the novela channel tlnovelas, sports service Univision Deportes and news network FOROtv. The telco thus will become the second U.S. distributor to offer the new cable channels. Dish Network has rolled out the trio, as well as a second sport channel -- Deportes Dos that it has exclusive rights to during 2012 -- over the past couple of months, as part of its own far-reaching pact with Univision that was struck in January.
In addition, the distribution deal also includes renewals for the flagship Univision network, broadcast brethren TeleFutura and cable cousin, Galavisión, plus the addition of five TV channels - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit - that the media company acquired from programming partner Televisa.
The far-reaching pact also encompasses the delivery of Univision content across all of AT&T's platforms, including online, smarthphones, tablets and U-verse TV, according to the parties. The deal will afford U-verse TV customers access to live feeds of Univision networks in and outside of the home.
"Our agreement with AT&T speaks to the importance of the booming Hispanic consumer demographic and the opportunity to deliver subscriber growth through Univision's platforms," said Chris Fager, senior vice president of Distribution Sales and Marketing, Univision Communications Inc., in announcing the deal. "We are excited to expand our deal with AT&T as they maintain an ongoing commitment to the ever growing Hispanic community. This agreement allows both companies to continue to offer robust content options across all AT&T platforms to U.S. Hispanics."
Noted AT&T executive vice president of content Richard Levine: "We're proud to expand our agreement with Univision to make more of their programming, including Spanish-language content, available to our U-verse TV customers. This agreement helps us with strategic content initiatives, and is another example of how we continue to bring our customers more value with high-quality content available on the screens they watch most."
Dish bowed the tlnovelas channel on March 1, while Univision Deportes and Deportes Dos kicked off on April 7. May 3 saw the No. 2 DBS provider premiere FOROtv, a broadcast-news network from Mexican broadcaster Televisa.
