Discovery Launches First U.S. Spanish-Language Network for Women, Children, Families
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 3, 2005
Discovery Kids en Español and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir) Offer Families Expanded Choices in Educational, Cultural and Lifestyle Television Programming
Miami, FL–(Hispanic PR Wire)–September 26, 2005–Discovery U.S. Hispanic Networks, the leading provider of high-quality, real-world Spanish-language programming, is expanding its product offerings for the U.S. Hispanic audience beyond its existing network, Discovery en Español, by launching two new networks, creating the first Spanish-language channels to focus on the interests of women, children and families. Discovery Kids en Español and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir) will provide stimulating programming in the Discovery tradition of excellence, giving viewers more choices in the family-friendly and lifestyle entertainment categories.
Discovery hopes to build upon its expertise in providing culturally relevant programming in 23 Spanish-speaking countries worldwide, coupled with the popularity of Discovery en Español in the U.S. Network content is closely tailored to meet the viewing preferences of the Hispanic audience. Discovery Kids en Español and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir) will each feature a mix of original productions and some of the best Latin American shows making their U.S. debuts. The networks are not SAP feeds of their English-language counterparts; they are unique channels that directly speak to the U.S. Hispanic audience with “transcreated” programming, corresponding to their interests through language, music, graphics and popular Latin American personalities.
“By expanding our portfolio of Spanish-language networks and services, we are strengthening our commitment to the U.S. Hispanic audience to provide the best and broadest choices in real-world entertainment,” said Luis Silberwasser, senior vice president and general manager of Discovery U.S. Hispanic Networks. “Children’s and educational content and travel-and-lifestyle programming represent two substantial areas of interest that have been unavailable to these discerning viewers.”
Discovery’s effort to provide greater programming diversity for U.S. Hispanics is validated by a recent survey conducted by LatinoEyes, a division of C&R Research, among bilingual and Spanish-dominant Latinos who watch Spanish-language television. A large majority of respondents said they want to see higher-quality programming dealing with travel, history and culture, as well as more educational shows for children. They also want the programming to be culturally relevant and to portray Latinos more accurately. Specifically:
— 91% of respondents rated “Have more educational programs for children to learn about Hispanic culture and language” as a “High Importance” program attribute.
— 86% rated “Have more educational programs for adults to learn about Hispanic culture and language” as being of “High Importance.”
— 85% gave a “High Importance” rating to “Have more family-friendly Spanish television shows.”
— 85% listed “Portray women in a better light” as a “High Importance” item.
Discovery Kids en Español, a safe haven parents can trust for quality, 24 hours a day, is the first U.S. Spanish-language channel to deliver programming for all members of the Hispanic household, targeting preschoolers, tweens and families. The network provides parents with entertainment for their children that reinforces classroom learning while also preserving their cultural heritage. Programs will stimulate and inspire kids’ curiosity and thirst for knowledge, creating lifelong learners, as only Discovery can. The network features these programming genres: Real Discovery for Kids, Signature Discovery content tailored for children; Real Toons, animated series that bring kids real adventure, real content and real fun; preschool Education, programming designed to foster children’s optimism and curiosity to create lifelong learners; educational Interstitials, fun segments providing preschoolers with the building blocks of learning: ABC’s, numbers, shapes and colors; Animals and Nature – Heartwarming programs focused on the emotional connection between humans and animals.
Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir) is an in-home getaway for adults who want to experience the best the world has to offer. Providing an alternative to existing Spanish-language programs in areas of interest to Hispanic women and their families, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir) identifies itself as the first U.S. Spanish-language network to feature travel, lifestyle, well-being, food, design and décor subject matter. The programming hopes to encourage viewers to enhance and enrich their everyday lives by pursuing their own unique interests and experiences. Upcoming Discovery Travel & Living programs include: Around the Globe which shows viewers the most remote places on the planet where they can experience some of the rich cultures, diversity and natural wonders the world has to offer; Bricomania, which offers simple and practical tips for bricolage (the art of putting something together using whatever materials happen to be available), providing easy steps to fix, recycle, build and create furniture and accessories; Casas, which showcases exceptional homes, haciendas and estates in Latin America. Some of them have important architectural and historical value; others are merely magnificent examples of cultural expressions.
The 24-hour-a-day networks, including the existing Discovery en Español, are operated out of Discovery Networks’ Miami-based region. The region has a 10-year track record of earning consistently high marks from viewers in Latin America for its children’s and lifestyle programming.
Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Military Channel, Discovery en Español, FitTV, Discovery Kids en Español and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir). The unit also distributes BBC AMERICA.
