Telemundo Communications Group has introduced a comprehensive news strategy to enhance and expand its news content across key day parts and multiple platforms. The expanded news strategy will involve network shows “Noticiero Telemundo,” “Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste” and “Levantate.” It will feature an increased investment in local newscasts at the Telemundo stations and an invigorated multimedia news strategy across all its platforms. In addition, Telemundo will launch a weekly public affairs show featuring high-level newsmakers to address the issues that are important to Hispanics today.
“The media business is going through enormous changes, we are in a technological revolution and our audiences are consuming news and information in dramatically different ways. They are telling us what they want, when they want it and how they are going to get it, 24 hours a day,” said Don Browne, President of Telemundo. “For 55 years Telemundo has been a pioneer and innovator in media and has been driven by our founder Angel Ramos’ original vision, to create content with quality and integrity that informs, empowers, inspires and entertains our Hispanic community. In that spirit, we are expanding our news platforms in order to reach all of our audiences at a time when news and information are important to our country and essential in serving our community.”
The network announced news veteran Jose Diaz-Balart will replace Pedro Sevcec on “Noticiero Telemundo.” Díaz-Balart is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience having served as host of various news programs at the Telemundo network and stations. He was the first journalist in the US to anchor daily newscasts in both Spanish and English and is a veteran of international news broadcasts, having served as Washington bureau chief for Telemundo Network and, prior to that, as its European bureau chief. Before joining Telemundo, Diaz-Balart was co-anchor of “CBS This Morning.” He is the recipient of two Emmy Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.
Diaz-Balart will also host the network’s new weekly half-hour public affairs show starting on the first quarter of 2010. The public affairs show will offer a dual screen concept, dealing with critical issues in the lives of Hispanics and featuring influential political figures, business and community leaders, and everyday Hispanics who make public service part of their life.
In addition, as part of the new strategy, Telemundo recently announced that renowned journalist Carmen Dominicci will join the network news team and will contribute to Telemundo’s news shows “Noticiero Telemundo” and “Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste.” In addition to Carmen, Vanessa Hauc will also be a key contributor to “Noticiero Telemundo,” coupled with her current work with “Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste.”
On the local news front, Telemundo will allocate resources to strengthen its local newscasts to better serve the local markets through relevant local, national, international and entertainment news. The stations will leverage their news assets to increase coverage and create more dynamic local content, supported by a change in formats, editorial strength and pacing. In addition, the station group is creating Content Centers across the country to improve news coverage and provide multimedia news content including lifestyle segments, special series and help lines, supported by an enhanced digital strategy.
Recognizing the increasing need to connect with the Hispanic audience across multiple platforms and mobile devices, especially for news and information, Telemundo named Jose Marquez, architect of mun2 Digital, to focus on the multimedia elements of Noticiero. In his new role of VP Interactive Strategy, Jose will be responsible for the creation and development of new interactive experiences for the main evening newscasts. He will report to Peter Blacker, Executive Vice President of Digital Media and Emerging Businesses.
The overall multimedia news strategy will include:
“Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste:” the daily news show hosted by Maria Celeste Arraras will present a renewed format and segments, a stronger online presence, and a new ensemble team of highly respected journalists, supported by a robust digital media strategy. Maria Celeste has become a highly respected international multi-media presence and is considered one of the most trusted news personalities in television. Most recently, “People en Español” named her “News Anchor of the Year” in its December 2009 issue, following her inclusion earlier in the year among the magazine’s “25 Most Powerful Women of 2009.”
Digital Media: the enhanced online offering will include longer news video segments of “Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste” and “Levantate” on demand, coupled with additional content for its mobile properties. In addition, Telemundo Digital also announced it is planning to offer exclusive made for web and mobile news content, exclusive iPhone and Droid apps and a citizen journalism program. Telemundo will also evolve its news talent and shows social media presence to a cohesive 360 strategy aligned with the TV content.
“Levantate:” Telemundo’s 7-10am ET morning show offers totally integrated national and local news content on a daily basis. In a relaxed, magazine style format, “Levantate” features multiple live news cut-ins from Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Mexico City, loaded with hard and entertainment news for the Hispanic morning viewer.
mun2: Telemundo’s Latino youth network will strengthen its news content by investing in their prestigious Peabody Award-winning news specials. In 2010 mun2 will be producing a one-hour news special on “The New America,” which will be an interactive event and multiplatform consumer experience.
