TuTv Launches Bandamax on DISH Network(R), Striking Deal as
Anchor Tenant of New U.S. DishMEXICO Tier
DISH Network Exclusive Satellite Provider of Bandamax
LOS ANGELES and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov 19, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
via COMTEX News Network/ --
TuTv, a joint venture of Grupo Televisa, S.A. (NYSE: TV; BMV
TLEVISA CPO) and Univision Communications Inc., announced today
that it has entered into an agreement with DISH Network
Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH), the third largest pay-TV provider
and leader in Latino programming in the U.S., to launch the
Mexican regional music network Bandamax. The channel debuted
today on DISH Network's DishMEXICO tier, a new programming
package featuring more than 50 popular channels targeted to
Mexican-Americans. With this agreement, TuTv has a total of four
networks on DishMEXICO and DishLATINO properties: Bandamax,
Telehit, De Pelicula and De Pelicula Clasico.
"DISH Network has been a great partner in helping our networks
reach Spanish-language viewers in the U.S. Now, with Bandamax as
part of their lineup, they have expanded their TuTv bouquet by
offering the premier regional Mexican music network," said Chris
Fager, president of TuTv. "With the Latino population rapidly
growing in the U.S., there is a need for programming variety to
satisfy their viewing needs. TuTv does just that with quality
television made for Latinos by Latinos for every member of the
household."
"DISH Network is committed to expanding the variety of unique
and exclusive high-quality Latino music programming to satisfy
the entertainment needs of this important community in the
U.S.," said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for
DISH Network. "We are very pleased to be the exclusive satellite
TV provider of Bandamax via our DishLATINO and DishMEXICO
packages, providing Latinos living in the U.S. the best
selection of regional Mexican music, and an opportunity to stay
connected to their culture for a low introductory price of $9.99
per month."
DISH Network customers have exclusive access to Bandamax for as
little as $9.99 per month for the first six months via its
newly-launched DishMEXICO package, which includes local channels
(price goes up to $19.99 once promotional period has ended). For
more information about DishMEXICO and other Latino programming
packages, visit
http://www.dishmexico.com or call 1-888-599-DISH (3474).
Bandamax is the most widely distributed network in the U.S.
exclusively dedicated to the most popular Latin music category,
regional Mexican, which accounts for 63 percent of all Latino
music sales. It features the latest music videos including top
talent in the grupero, norteno, banda, tejano and mariachi
genres. Bandamax produces live original programming telecast
daily from Televisa's studios in Mexico City and on location
from rodeos, seaside and rural locations as well as haciendas
all over Mexico. With a cast of 10 different regional Mexican
music personalities, Bandamax gives U.S. Hispanics access to
this fast-growing music phenomenon with the latest celebrity
news, exclusive concerts and daily in-studio interviews with
well-known artists as well as up-and-coming regional Mexican
music talent.
In addition to Bandamax, DISH Network offers the following
networks from TuTv's suite of programming:
-- Telehit - Latin urban and lifestyle channel with celebrity
interviews, live concerts, variety shows, music news and up to
nine hours of new original Spanish-language programming daily as
well as 20 different live shows per week. Targeting the
sought-after 18- to 25-year-old demographic group, Telehit's
unique programming blend also includes Hollywood news and comedy
sketches that appeal to its trend-setting audience.
-- De Pelicula - The number-one rated movie network in Mexico,
De Pelicula offers over 150 films a month from the largest
Spanish-language movie library in the world.
-- De Pelicula Clasico - Featuring over 1,500 movies per year
from the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema, De Pelicula Clasico
showcases the great Mexican movie icons such as Maria Felix,
Jorge Negrete and Cantinflas.
About DISH Network Corporation
DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH), the nation's third
largest pay-TV provider and the leader in digital television,
provides approximately 13.78 million satellite TV customers as
of Sept. 30, 2008 with industry-leading customer satisfaction
which has surpassed major cable TV providers for eight
consecutive years. DISH Network also provides customers with
award-winning HD and DVR technology including the ViP(R)722 HD
DVR, which received the Editors' Choice awards from both CNET
and PC Magazine. In addition, subscribers enjoy access to
hundreds of video and audio channels, the most International
channels in the U.S., industry-leading Interactive TV
applications, Latino programming, and the best sports and movies
in HD. DISH Network offers a variety of package and price
options including the lowest all-digital price in America, the
DishDVR Advantage Package, high-speed Internet service, and a
free upgrade to the best HD DVR in the industry. DISH Network is
included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300
company. Visit
http://www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) for
more information.
About Televisa
Grupo Televisa, S.A., is the largest media company in the
Spanish-speaking world, and a major player in the international
entertainment business. It has interests in television
production and broadcasting, programming for pay television,
international distribution of television programming,
direct-to-home satellite services, publishing and publishing
distribution, cable television, radio production and
broadcasting, professional sports and show business promotions,
paging services, feature film production and distribution,
dubbing, and the operation of a horizontal Internet portal.
Grupo Televisa also has an unconsolidated equity stake in
Univision, the leading Spanish-language television company in
the United States. For more information please visit
http://www.televisanetworks.tv.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language
media company in the United States. Its operations include
Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast
television network in the U.S. reaching 99% of U.S. Hispanic
Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest
Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was
launched in 2002 and now reaches 89% of U.S. Hispanic
Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language
cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and
operates 64 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets
and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language
radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16
of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto
Rico; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language
Internet destination in the U.S. located at
http://www.univision.com. Univision Communications also has
a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast
Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S. Univision
Communications has television network operations in Miami and
television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities
throughout the United States. For more information, please visit
http://www.univision.net.
About TuTv
TuTv is a joint venture between Grupo Televisa and Univision
Communications that distributes five of the most popular
television networks in the Spanish-speaking world. The
programming is delivered via digital satellite, cable and
wireless to viewers nationwide. Produced in Mexico by Televisa,
the channels are De Pelicula, De Pelicula Clasico, Telehit,
Ritmoson Latino and Bandamax which have been distributed for
many years in Mexico, Latin America and Europe. Available in the
U.S. through TuTv, the networks offer a wide variety of
high-quality digital programming ranging from contemporary and
classic films to original lifestyle, music and entertainment
programming reflecting Latino culture. For more information
about TuTv, please visit
http://www.tutv.tv.
SOURCE DISH Network Corporation; Grupo Televisa
http://www.dishnetwork.com