Univision, Time Warner Cable strike new distribution deal
Spanish-language media giant Univision Communications and Time Warner Cable have signed a new, multiyear distribution deal that includes carriage of several of Univision’s new networks including the highly anticipated El Rey Network.
The companies unveiled the agreement Wednesday afternoon.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the pact came well in advance of the expiration of the companies’ current arrangement and was not contentious.
The arrangement provides continued distribution for the main Univision broadcast network, its secondary network UniMás and cable entertainment channel Galavisión, plus a slate of new networks: Univision Deportes, telenovela network Univision tlNovelas, and FOROtv, a feed of the Mexico City-based news network owned by Grupo Televisa, which holds a minority stake in Univision.
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Time Warner Cable will also be among the first cable companies to offer El Rey Network, which is being developed by Hollywood filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and FactoryMade Ventures.
El Rey, which is expected to launch by year’s end, is a departure for Univision as it will be programmed in English in a play to attract second- and third-generation Latinos who primarily watch English-language TV.
Univision said the multiplatform deal also will provide Time Warner Cable’s customers access to content for digital platforms, including its video-on-demand service and “TV Everywhere” offering that allows subscribers to watch shows when they are away from home on their tablets or laptops.
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The companies said they have reached a first-of-its-kind local news partnership to better serve Latino audiences in Los Angeles, New York and other shared markets. Next year, Time Warner Cable plans to launch a channel dedicated to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It also owns two Time Warner Cable Sports channels, including one programmed in Spanish, that feature the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Hispanics represent a significant growth opportunity for distributors and our goal in this highly competitive environment is to build long-term partnerships, that tap into the power of our brand, deliver top quality programming and leverage our exhaustive range of multi-platform offerings,” Tonia O’Connor, Univision’s president of content distribution, said in a statement.
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