LatinEyes Wins Award

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 15, 2005

LatinEyes

(San Francisco, CA) LatinEyes, an award-winning weekly half-hour English-language entertainment television show that highlights the diversity of the U.S. Latino,  recently won the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s 2004 30th Anniversary Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll in the category for Best Locally Produced TV The show was.nominated for the prestigious Imagen Award and twice for an Emmy.

The show reaches urban television viewers in the U.S. including Washington D.C., Salt Lake City, the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Dayton, and Oklahoma City. Produced in the San Francisco Bay Area (the fifth largest television market in the nation), LatinEyes features stories related to entertainment, art, culture, music, food and travel about Latin culture and the U.S. Hispanic.

With a fast-paced, magazine format, each show features stories on the best of Latin culture, music, travel, food, books, fashion and personalities. Programs have included travel segments to Latin American countries, such as Perú, Guatemala, Cuba and Belize.  In addition to international travel, LatinEyes tapes shows throughout the U.S., including Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, New York, and other locations.  It also offers a mix of music videos and interviews with celebrities, including Benjamin Bratt, Andy Garcia, Thalia, Alejandra Guzman, Juanes, Lila Downs, Nelly Furtado.  LatinEyes reporters and producers are first and second generation U.S. Latinos from diverse countries such as El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba. 

Hispanic Business Announces Top 40 Companies for Hispanics

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 6, 2005

Santa Barbara, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — 09/01/2005 Hispanic Business magazine announced its selection of companies with policies favorable to Hispanic employees. The Hispanic Business directory, based on "in- depth analysis of 30 critical statistics" looks at how companies reach out to Hispanics in recruitment, promotion, procurement, philanthropy, and marketing.  McDonald’s Corporation tops the list and attributes its success to franchisees, staff and suppliers. Its education program allows Spanish-speaking employees to learn English and English-speaking employees to learn Spanish. This Hispanic Business editors indicate makes McDonald’s leaders in the nation and shows the company’s commitment to cultural diversity and understanding.

Hispanic Business does not reveal details of its scoring or exact criteria, who among its editorial staff makes the selection, or what the source of the information is for the selection. While companies may share diversity oriented goals on their Top 40 list, the approach can vary by industry. PG&E for example, number 13 on the list, was cited for attending minority business events to meet suppliers and purchasing $300 million on goods or services from Hispanic suppliers last year.

Hispanic Business indicated that "the accomplishments of the Top 40 companies are impressive." As an example, their news release cited that 51 percent of SBC Communications’ new hires were people of color. For the complete list of the Top 40 companies visit the magazine’s website at http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/top40companies/

Celebrating more than a quarter century as a publishing and information services company, Hispanic Business Inc. provides information about and of interest to employees in large Hispanic owned companies and top tier Hispanic professionals and entrepreneurs. Hispanic Business magazine is the company’s flagship publication.  Other products and educational services include Hispanic Business Events including EOY (Entrepreneur of the Year) Awards Gala, BOE (Board of Economists) U.S. Hispanic Economic Summit and WOY (Woman of the Year).

Univision’s NYC Station Highest Ranking in August

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 30, 2005

Univision’s New York station WXTV was the number one prime time station in the market in August 2005 based on Nielsen Media Research ratings. This was the first time a Spanish-language TV station outranked the other stations in New York, considered by many the top U.S. TV market.

The station placed first among the two key demographic groups, adults 18-49 and 25-54 during the survey period, July 28 through Aug. 24.  Among 18-49 year-olds, WXTV had a 2.2/6. WCBS, a Viacom owned station and CBS flagship was next with a 2.0/6. WNBC. Third was NBC with a 1.9/5; followed by WABC, an ABC station with 1.8/5. WXTV scores for its 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts were also very competitive, placing in second place after WABC among Adults 18-49 and 25-54. 

SiTV Names Michael Schwimmer CEO

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 29, 2005

Michael Schwimmer

Los Angeles (August 22, 2005) – Sí TV, the first English-language Latino television network,  named Michael Schwimmer Chief Executive Officer. The announcement was made by Jeff Valdez, co-Founder and chairman of Sí TV.  Schwimmer, who most recently was executive vice president of Programming and Marketing for DISH Network, will take the helm as Sí TV’s first CEO on September 6th.

“Michael is one of the most respected executives in the industry with a unique understanding and successful track record regarding the large and rapidly growing Latino marketplace that we address,” said Valdez.  “Michael has been a member of the board of directors since the inception of our network in March 2004 and he knows the company well.  We look forward to his experience and leadership.”

“I am thrilled to be joining Jeff and his team, who have created one of the most exciting new networks in many years, and I’ve seen just about all of them,” says Schwimmer.  “It’s amazing that, as an independent network, Si TV has already created award-winning original programming for an underserved English-speaking Hispanic audience representing more than 50% of all Hispanic households in the country.”

Sí TV is a television network dedicated to bringing entertainment to Hispanic audiences in English.  As the U.S. Hispanic population continues to grow exponentially, one of its most coveted segments is the 18-34 demographic described by some as “Generation Si,”  who are second and third-generation acculturated Hispanics. Most of them speak little or no Spanish and watch English-language media. At the same time they identify strongly with their Latino heritage and respond positively to Latino-oriented television programming.

Sí TV is an English-language, Latino network featuring hip and irreverent, culturally-relevant programming targeting the growing young Latino and multi-cultural TV audience. Voted by Multichannel News as one of the “Top 10 Next Networks,” Si TV reaches 10 million homes nationwide. The network has forged affiliation agreements with Comcast Cable, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Adelphia and Grande Communications, while EchoStar’s DISH Network features Sí TV as part of its “America’s Top 120” package. Investors in the network include Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:  TWX), SYNCOM Funds, Columbia Capital, Rho Ventures, DND Capital Partners, Llano Partners, company co-founder Barshop Ventures and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH). Co-founded and chaired by Jeff Valdez, who was recently named a “Top 10 Player” in Hispanic media by Ad Age Magazine, Sí TV was established in 1997 as a production company to develop, produce and distribute original English-language, Latino-themed entertainment. For more information visit SiTV online at www.SiTV.com .

Univision Radio Miami Launches La Jungla en La Kalle

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 26, 2005

La Jungla en la Kalle Hosts

Miami, Florida– Univision Radio Miami launched a new morning show for La Kalle 98.3 FM, La Jungla en La Kalle, which includes the humor and charisma of Miguel “El Flaco” Gonzalez, Jesus Salas and Alberto Sardiñas. The high-energy “wild boys” plan to transform morning radio into “a jungle of original and interactive entertainment that best mirrors South Florida’s vibrant and diverse nature.” WRTO La Kalle 98.3 FM’s music mix primarily features mainstream Reggaeton hits with a blend of top Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Latin Pop. La Kalle executives hope the program’s combination of rhythms positions the station as innovative and cutting-edge in the marketplace.

More information at www.Univision.com, Uniclave: La Kalle 98.3

LATV To Air Month of Live Performances from LAMC

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 19, 2005

Aterciopelados

Singled out by The New York Times for its support of the Latin Alternative Genre in a recent cover story entitled “Latinos Say Rock is More Than Just Reggaeton,” LATV will air artist interviews and performances from the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) throughout August. Artists profiled and featured during the special espisodes of “LATV Live” include Coheed & Cambria, Aterciopelados, Javier Garcia, Plastilina Mosh, Natalia y La Forquetina, Sara Valenzuela, Los Amigos Invisibles, and JD Natasha.

The Los Angeles-based bilingual youth network LATV will bring on the rock in August with interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and live performances from the recent Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in New York.  Singled out by a recent New York Times cover story as one of the leading outlets for the exposure of Latin rock in the United States, LATV has broadcast from the conference since 2001. 

“LATV has been an integral part of the Alternative Latin Music genre and continues to be a great outlet for this music” says conference co-founder Tomas Cookman

With its groundbreaking mix of English and Spanish language music and lifestyle programming, LATV has solidified itself as the leading network among bicultural Latinos in Los Angeles, America’s top Hispanic market.  The Network’s content is predominantly in English, targeting bilingual Latino youth.  Each week, LATV has a live in-studio audience.  LATV is the only network airing on basic cable in Los Angeles that reaches the highly sought-after bicultural demographic. 

LATV Live recently won an Imagen Award for Best Television Variety Special, beating out programming from networks like SiTV and Fox Deportes en Espanol.  The Awards, presented in 17 categories by the Imagen Foundation, were established in 1985 to encourage and recognize the positive portrayal of Latinos in all media, and to increase Latino representation at all levels of the entertainment industry.  LATV had the greatest presence of any network in the category, with nominations for both LATV Live and also Mex 2 The Max. 

Bebe in Central Park

Time Purchases Large Mexican Publisher

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 18, 2005

Time Inc. acquired Grupo Editorial Expansión (GEE), a Mexico City-based company which owns 15 magazines in Mexico. Time publishes People en Español and Sports Illustrated Latino. Grupo Editorial Expansión’s flagship publication is the business magazine Expansión. Other publications include Obras about architecture; Balance, about women’s health and fitness; and Quién, a magazine about celebrities. Grupo Editorial Expansión, founded in 1966, also publishes Vuelo, Mexicana Airlines’ in-flight magazine.

Time Inc. is one of the world’s leading magazine publishers, publishing 140 titles that are read more than 300 million times worldwide on a monthly basis and account for nearly a quarter of the total advertising revenues of U.S. consumer magazines. Time Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., a leading media and entertainment company, whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed entertainment, television networks and publishing.

Editorial Televisa Executive Updates

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 12, 2005

Editorial Televisa recently announced changes in their north region (U.S., Puerto Rico and Central America).   David Taggart was named General Manager for the "Zona Norte" (north region) in addition to his current role as group publisher. In his new role he will oversee the commercial and operating divisions in the company’s north region.  

At the same time, Ernesto Cervantes was appointed director of planning and strategy for Editorial Televisa. In this role he will assume the responsibilities of acquisitions and partner business management as well as his current position of chief pperating officer for the "Zona Norte."

Guillermo Plehn, currently regional sales manager for the East Coast, will be sales director for the U.S. overseeing all ad sales and marketing operations.

Hispanic Business Presents 100 Fastest-Growing Companies

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 10, 2005

 Santa Barbara, CA–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–August 9, 2005–The July/August issue of Hispanic Business magazine focuses on the 100 Fastest-Growing Hispanic Companies in the United States. Topics covered range from an examination of the leading entrepreneurs of the U.S. Hispanic economy to reports on finding capital for business growth. The 100 companies are chosen each year based on financial data submitted to HispanTelligence(R), Hispanic Business Inc.’s research division. At least 51percent of the ownership of each company accepted must consist of Hispanic U.S. citizens and must maintain headquarters in any one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.

Now celebrating a quarter century as a publishing and information services company, Hispanic Business Inc. is a leading source of information for and about Hispanic professionals and entrepreneurs. Hispanic Business magazine is the company’s flagship publication, and other products and educational services include: SúperOnda magazine, HireDiversity.com, and Hispanic Business Events including EOY (Entrepreneur of the Year) Awards Gala, Hispanic Business BOE (Board of Economists) U.S. Hispanic Economic Summit, and WOY (Woman of the Year).  The entire top 100 article can be found on Hispanic Business’s web site at http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?fpa=0&id=24535

Edmunds.com Partnered with Terra

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 9, 2005

 Miami, FL–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–August 8, 2005–Terra.com, a leading U.S. Hispanic Internet portal, recently unveiled its latest enhancement to its interactive Auto Channel. Edmunds.com partnered with Terra, making this the first time that an integrated, co-branded automotive resource like Edmunds.com is recommended by a Spanish-language portal.

“Close to 90 per cent of Terra users claim they use the Internet as an information source for automobiles”, said Jose Luis Carrete, Director of Business Development at Terra.com. “One third of Terra visitors surf us daily. Approximately half of our users go to Terra Autos to scope out features and information on specific brands. Fifty seven percent visit the site for our photo galleries,” added Carrete.

“Car-shoppers who use the Internet for automotive research are likely to save money and be more satisfied with the purchase process,” according to Phil Reed, author of Edmunds.com’s “Strategies for Smart Car Buyers.”

Terra is a leader in Spain and Latin America in the three principal areas of its business operations: access, portal and value-added services. Terra’s network of sites spans Spain, Latin America and the Hispanic market of the United States, and via Lycos Europe, has a presence in Europe. Terra’s wide network of sites includes: Atrea.com, Azeler.es, Educaterra.com, Ifigenia.com, Invertia.com, DeRemate.com, Maptel.com, Rumbo.com, OneTravel.com and Uno-e.com among others. Terra Networks S.A. has its headquarters in Barcelona and numerous operating centers throughout the world. It trades on the Madrid Stock Exchange (TRR) and on the Nasdaq (TRLY).