Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group announced that it will roll out more than 100 hours of original programming on Spanish-language channel Discovery en Español.
“This year, we are deepening our commitment to Hispanic audiences by increasing our investment in Spanish-language original productions that showcase fascinating and inspiring stories from Latin America and the United States,” said Luis Silberwasser, senior vice president and general manager of Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group.
For starters, the network builds on its first original program -- immigration-debate documentary Objetivo: El Norte -- with Viviendo en las Sombras, chronicling the life and challenges of illegal immigrants living in the United States.
Other new content in the fold: Mas Que Una Fiesta, featuring parties and festivals that celebrate Hispanic heritage, and Voces de Cabio, a series on Hispanic artists, including Carlos Santana and Edward James Olmos, and their efforts to give back to their communities.
Edgier material coming to the network includes Maras Sin Fronteras, a look into modern Maras gangs from El Salvador to Los Angeles, and Collision Over the Amazon, investigating the worst air accident in South American history. There will also be a hypothetical historical program called Proyecto Malvinas, which examines what might have happened if Argentina had defeated the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands War.
On the gastronomic front, the network will debut Con Gusto y Sazon, with host Andrés Garcia exploring how American restaurants are transforming Latin dishes, as well as Relatos con Sabor, in which chef Marcela Valladolid reveals traditional family recipes by visiting Hispanic homes around the country.
Another show, Espacio Vital, will chart the latest breakthroughs in beauty treatments.
New original content joins Discovery staples customized for Spanish-speaking viewers, such as travel show Discovery Atlas:MexicoRevealed.
According to Discovery en Español, the network achieved the highest primetime-ratings gains of any U.S. Hispanic network in 2006, including a 54% increase among total households and a 50% increase among adults 18-49. For the first quarter of 2007, the network reported a 42% gain in households and a 33% gain among adults 18-49, marking five consecutive quarters of year-on-year gains.
As of the first quarter of 2007, Discovery en Español was in 40% of all U.S. Hispanic pay TV homes within the Nielsen Hispanic Home Index, reaching a total of 8.3 million subscribers nationally.
