New Spanish Network Planned

The network, which hasn’t yet been named, is scheduled to begin broadcasting in January 2002 on 17 television stations Univision is acquiring from USA Networks. The network will target Hispanic viewers who regularly watch English-language television.

Although the $1.1 billion deal, announced last December, has yet to be cleared by the Federal Communications Commission, Univision says it hopes to gain the agency’s approval by mid-year.

The new network would reach about 60 percent of the U.S. Hispanic population, although company spokesmen say they hope to increase coverage to 80 percent through additional station purchases.

Yesterday’s announcement came during the company’s annual programming presentation to advertisers. While on stage, network heads hyped 2000 census figures showing the U.S. Hispanic population jumped to 35.3 million in the past decade — a 60 percent increase.

Univision already reaches more than 90 percent of U.S. Hispanic homes through its broadcast and cable offerings. The new network will overlap with Univision in several large Hispanic markets, including Miami, New York and Los Angeles.

“We are extremely excited about this upcoming season,” said Univision entertainment chief Mario Rodriguez. “We expect the new network to deliver solid ratings from the start, as schedules and individual programs will be cross promoted on Univision [and] Galavision [the company’s cable network], as well as Univision.com.”

Rodriguez told reporters the new network would carry the 2002 World Cup soccer tournament, prime-time special events, a nightly sports show and youth-oriented programming. Unvision says a full program lineup is still in the works.