Univision to add new networks

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Televisa’s programming needs additional destinations: Univision has plans to launch at least two new Spanish-language networks (and likely multicast channels) here in the US in the next year. The first new channel, built around telenovelas, and tentatively called UniNovelas, will launch as early as Q3. Univision Deportes, a new sports channel, will focus on Mexican league soccer. It is being readied for the first half of 2012.


Also under serious consideration: A 24-hour news network in Spanish, which would be called Univision 24-7, reported WSJ.

Univision, along with the Univision network, also runs Telefutura and Galavision.

The company has said it will spend $20 million to $30 million in the coming year on new TV networks and sales efforts. It also expects to spend $40 million on new licenses for soccer tournaments.

“We want to increase our shelf space. We want to super-serve our audience,” Univision COO Randy Falco told the paper.

As mentioned, the new effort can be partly attributed to the $1.2 billion deal late last year where Grupo Televisa took a 5% stake in the company. The deal extended Televisa’s agreement to supply Univision with telenovelas it produces in Mexico. It also gave the company new rights to use Televisa’s library of telenovelas and other programming.