ESPN Deportes Added to Comcast’s Basic Digital in Miami
ABC-owned ESPN Deportes on Friday, Sept. 28, was officially added to Comcast’s digital-basic platform in South Florida. Until that date, the 24-hour Spanish-language channel had been featured on Comcast’s Spanish-language tier. ESPN Deportes GM Lino Garcia confirmed the news, which came on the heels of the channel’s debut on Time Warner Cable’s digital basic tier in New York and New Jersey markets, effective Oct. 15
Cable Positive Launches Bilingual Campaign
New York-based Cable Positive has tapped several Latino celebrities to launch an educational, bilingual campaign to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS. Steve Villano, president and CEO of Cable Positive, showcased a series of PSAs featuring telenovela star Lorena Rojas, former miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera and movie actress Rosie Perez, among others, speaking to Latinos about the importance of being tested for AIDS.
Telemundo’s Talent to Cross Over to NBC
On Oct. 25 viewers of NBC’s comedy My Name is Earl will find an unusual addition to the sitcom. Miguel Varoni, Telemundo’s telenovela star, will make a cameo appearance in a dream sequence. Varoni’s appearance is part of an NBC-Telemundo “experiment” whereby talent from both networks will show up on the other’s, creating opportunities for cross-promotion.
Azteca America introduces Issues: Caras y voces
On Oct. 1 Azteca America debuted Issues: Caras y voces, a weekly political forum hosted by journalist Armando Guzmán. The first installment of the show featured an interview, in Spanish, with presidential hopeful Bill Richardson. The weekly forum will air every Monday during the national newscast of Noticiero Azteca America.
¡Sorpresa! Acquires Mexico’s Burundi’s Programming
Juniper Content’s ¡Sorpresa! has acquired exclusive exhibition rights from Mexico City-based BouncyNet for a three year U.S. broadcast of Mexican children’s program EL Reto Burundis and its two animated movies Enredos y Marañas and Navidad con Angel. The show began airing on the ¡Sorpresa! network in the afternoons beginning in October. The movies will be out at the end of this month. El Reto Burundis was launched in Mexico and targets children ages 6 to 12 years old. The agreement also allows ¡Sorpresa! to distribute the content online through sorpresatv.com.
Univision Promotes Conde, Hires Macin to KMEX-TV
Univision’s CEO Joe Uva has wasted no time in making his mark, and in yet another important executive shuffle he has promoted Galavision veteran César Conde to the position of executive VP, CSO of the Spanish-language network. The appointment was announced on Oct. 2 and is effective immediately. Prior to this position, Conde had been VP and operating manager of the Galavision Network.
Also this week, the Spanish-language network appointed Maelia Macin to the position of VP and GM of Univision Television Group’s Los Angeles stations, overseeing KMEX-TV Chabek 34 and TeleFutura station KFTR-TV Channel 46, including sales news, marketing, online initiatives and community outreach. Macin will report to Univision Communications president and COO Ray Rodriguez.
