With Parent’s BK Exit Set, EstrellaTV Adds Three Local Newscasts

0

On April 18, the parent company of EstrellaTV saw its “Third Amended Plan of Reorganization” get approved in a Delaware federal bankruptcy court.


Now, with an emergence from debtor-in-possession status set to hand HPS Investment Partners 100% of the new equity interests in the company, LBI Media has given its broadcast TV network the green light to launch local newscasts at three of its owned-and-operated stations.

Starting Monday (4/29), new local newscasts will come to KZJL-61 in Houston, KMPX-29 in Dallas and WGEN-8 in Miami.

The local newscasts will air in the late afternoon and at night.

Corporate news director Rubén Olague will direct the stations’ newscasts, with local teams reporting to the Dallas-based executive. His news experience includes a short stint running Liberman Broadcasting’s former KKHJ-AM as “Radio Noticias.” Olague has also worked with CBS, Televisa, Univision and CNN.

LBI Media CEO Lenard Liberman said, “We are committed to continue bringing excellence in the newsroom and the best team of on-the-ground media professionals who are in tune with the local communities they serve.”

Olague, along with Carolina Sulbarán, will anchor WGEN’s Noticias 8 at 5pm and 11pm, pitting the station directly against Telemundo and Univision.

They will also anchor KZJL’s Noticias 61 4pm and 10pm — with reporters and assignment desk editors in both Houston and Miami.

Joining Olague on the KMPX newscast for Dallas is Carolina Pereira. This station’s newscast will air at the same time as that of KZJL; one of the newscasts will be pre-recorded, a company spokesperson tells RBR+TVBR.