Fox International Channels and the RCN Television Group (RCN),jointly announced initial affiliation agreements for MundoFox, the new Spanish-language broadcast network scheduled to launch in 2012. To date, MundoFox has secured affiliates in 20 DMAs covering nearly 40% of US Hispanic households.
“Only six weeks have passed since we announced MundoFox, and we have exceeded our expectations by securing affiliate partnerships in many of the key U.S. Hispanic markets,” said Hernan Lopez, President and CEO of Fox International Channels. “In the last 20 years, no U.S. broadcast network has secured such a large footprint so quickly without assistance from O&O stations. Interest in MundoFox has been tremendous, and we now expect to exceed our original goal of securing distribution in 75% of U.S. Hispanic households by launch.”
The initial affiliate list includes flagship station KWHY (Channel 22) in Los Angeles (#1), owned by the Meruelo Group and WJAN (Channel 41) in Miami (#3) owned by America CV Group. The roster of current affiliates also includes stations in San Antonio (#7), San Francisco (#8), Phoenix (#9), Sacramento (#11), Fresno (#14), Tampa (#20), Las Vegas (#23), West Palm Beach (#28), Bakersfield (#31), Monterey (#34), Fort Myers (#37), Palm Springs (#39), Odessa (#43), Santa Barbara (#45), Lubbock (#51), Boise (#71), Abilene (#78) and San Angelo (#92). All affiliates in the top 10 markets are Full Power stations or are fully distributed in cable and satellite. Hero Broadcasting, Cocola Broadcasting and Prime Time Partners are also among the affiliates. While, the Californian, Texas and Florida markets are covered by the new affiliation agreements, the New York market has not been taken care of yet.
“The positive response and increasing interest by affiliates is a true testament to the goal of MundoFox, which is to fill the gap in Latino entertainment in the U.S. and bring quality content and differentiation from the options currently available to Spanish-speaking viewers,” said Gabriel Reyes, CEO of RCN. “We plan on keeping the momentum going in the upcoming months and are confident we’ll be widely distributed prior to our fall launch.”
Distribution agreements in the remaining top 50 Hispanic markets across the country are still being finalized.
