Fox Hispanic Media Hosts First-Ever Upfront

NEW YORK: News Corporation’s Fox Hispanic Media held its first Upfront yesterday in New York, showcasing the lineups at the sports channel FOX Deportes, the recently launched female lifestyle network Utilísima and the upcoming nonfiction entertainment service Nat Geo Mundo, which makes its debut July 1.

"We’re bringing something the U.S. Hispanic market needs more of: choice,” said Hernan Lopez, president and CEO of FOX International Channels. "Our three content platforms are built around key U.S. Latino values of accomplishment, advancement and inspiration—and come from the company that changed television in the U.S. and around the world."

Nat Geo Mundo will primarily feature shows from the National Geographic Channel in Latin America that have never aired in the U.S., plus newly commissioned and acquired original series and specials. The channel will also run key National Geographic Channel brands repurposed for a Hispanic audience. Highlights include Out of This Mundo: Originals, Nat Geo Planet, The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, Mega Estructuras and Tabú.

Utilisima, which rolled out in July of last year, is the fastest-growing Spanish-language cable network among women 25 and over. For 2011, highlights include original programming by celebrity chefs Aaron Sanchez and Aquiles Chávez.

The Upfront presentation also saw the debut of new tools for Fox Hispanic Media’s clients: a new insights study on the U.S. Latino DNA; Fox Creative Solutions, which will create original branded content; and FHM.com, a destination featuring insights, best practices, and creative solutions.

"Spanish-language cable is getting 22 percent of the viewers yet less than 10 percent of the ad dollars,” said Tom Maney, senior VP of advertising sales at Fox Hispanic Media Group. “Now that Fox Hispanic Media is bringing choice to the marketplace, advertisers have a new way to follow viewers with their investment".