Maximum TV and Caracol Bring Top Telenovela Content to US Hispanic Market via the Internet

HOUSTON, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Maximum TV, in partnership with Caracol International, is expanding its telenovelas catalog delivered via the internet to US-based Hispanics.


The very successful Caracol novela "La Saga" will be available at www.maximum.tv All 100-plus episodes for this novela will come online, and can be enjoyed in stunning video quality, in a full-screen experience.


With "La Saga," once "Best Soap Opera" at the Cartagena Film festival, Maximum TV brings another top novela to US Hispanic consumers via the internet in an unprecedented way.


"Telenovelas from top producers like Caracol are sought after by Hispanic consumers on the internet. Recent studies from the Internet Advertising Bureau show that US Hispanics are over-indexed for broadband and online usage; the web is a natural way for them to enjoy favorite novelas, like 'La Saga,' on their broadband-connected computers, notebooks and netbooks," said Erik Vanderlaan, Chief technology Officer of Maximum TV.


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US Hispanics Will Spend $257 Billion on Telecommunications Services over the Next Five Years, Says Insight Research Corp.

BOONTON, N.J., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the next five years, US Hispanic communities will spend $257 billion on telecommunications services, accounting for 17 percent of all residential telecom expenditures, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation. Early analysis of Census 2010 data suggests that Hispanics will surpass the 50 million mark and that they will command over $1 trillion in buying power. Hispanics are the youngest race/ethnicity segment and, more importantly, have the largest percentage of people under the age of 18, a market demographic that the study says will be crucial to the survival of telecommunications providers over the next five years.


Insight Research's market analysis study, "US Hispanic Use of Telecommunications Services 2010-2015", takes a close look at the purchasing habits and telecommunications usage patterns of the Hispanic segment of the US population, as well as other ethnic communities in the US. The study emphasizes that the US Latino market tends to over-index in mobile content and also notes that US Hispanics are accessing the Internet through more and varied devices than non-Hispanics.


"If the future of mobile carriers depends on their getting consumers to buy their data plans, then the US Hispanic community is right in the sweet spot, and will be receiving increasing attention from both wireline and wireless carriers' marketing departments," says Robert Rosenberg, Insight Research. "Our study demonstrates that Hispanics are one of the most social groups online, and given the youth-orientated demographic of the US Hispanic community, they become a prime target for the newer 3G and 4G cellular services," Rosenberg concluded.


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Verizon FiOS Presents UFC Pay-Per-View Spanish-Language Event

NEW YORK, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is once again enhancing FiOS TV's Spanish-language programming and offers by presenting the Ultimate Fighting Championship's heavyweight pay-per-view event in Spanish. The event, "UFC: 116 LESNAR VS. CARWIN," will be broadcast on Saturday (July 3) at 10 p.m. ET and includes graphics, commentators and more. The event will also be available on a FiOS TV English-language PPV channel.


"As Verizon continues to grow our customer base, we're seeing more and more Hispanic families sign up for FiOS TV, and we want to make sure they receive the best that FiOS can offer, in Spanish," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of consumer strategy for Verizon. "This UFC heavyweight championship event is just one example of our outstanding Spanish-language programming and packages. We look forward to offering our customers more events like this from the UFC."


In what's being described as the biggest heavyweight title fight ever, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will be defending his title against interim title holder Shane Carwin. In addition, the night offers 10 other UFC fights including legendary "Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva taking on Yoshihiro Akiyama in the middleweight bout. When aired on FiOS TV's Spanish-language PPV channel, the event will include all graphics in Spanish as well as a live Spanish broadcast with commentators Troy Santiago and Vic Davila calling the fight and presenting on camera.


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Quepasa Adds $3 Million to Signed DSM Advertising Campaigns for 2010

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Jun 24, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Quepasa Corporation /quotes/comstock/11k!qpsa (QPSA 3.91, -0.19, -4.63%) , creator of Quepasa.com, one of the world's fastest-growing Latino social networks, announced that it has increased its signed DSM advertising campaigns by $3 million from its previously announced signed engagements. That brings the total signed contracts during 2010 to approximately $7.3 million. Quepasa DSM is a social media advertising solution that allows advertisers and brands to target and distribute their marketing message across all social media sites.


"Ad agencies and brands are expressing tremendous enthusiasm for Quepasa DSM, based on the flexibility it affords users to participate on their social network of choice, its performance-based pricing, and real-time analytics," said John Abbott, Quepasa's CEO. "To date, all of our DSM campaigns have delivered tangible value to our client and engagements for our customers well beyond our expectations. To achieve our current level of engagement we estimate that the cost of an equivalent online banner campaign would be 10-30 times that of a typical DSM campaign. As we upgrade our DSM platform, we expect to improve on the economics we can offer advertisers versus traditional solutions. Additionally, we have received significant interest from other portals to resell our product to their existing customers thereby expanding their offerings to their customer base. We expect to announce these relationships in the coming months."


About Quepasa Corporation Quepasa Corporation /quotes/comstock/11k!qpsa (QPSA 3.91, -0.19, -4.63%) , headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL with offices in Los Angeles, CA, Scottsdale, AZ, Miami, FL, and Hermosillo, MX, owns Quepasa.com (www.Quepasa.com), one of the world's largest, trilingual, Latino social networks. Quepasa.com is an authentic Latino community that provides fun, interactive, and easy to use social tools, and rich multimedia content in English, Spanish and Portuguese to embrace Latinos everywhere, and empower them to connect online, compete in contests and games and share their interests, ideas, and activities.


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Why Mobile Offers a Good Chance to Connect with Hispanics

Like many Americans, Hispanics love their mobile phones and take them everywhere, more than non-Hispanic whites and, in many cases, more than blacks.


“Hispanics cannot imagine daily life without their mobile phones and credit the technology with strengthening relationships and keeping them connected to their social world, not just friends and family,” said Lisa E. Phillips, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report “Hispanic Mobile Users and Usage.” “Marketers who are just turning to mobile will find a market well ahead of them.”


Hispanic mobile phone users are younger than the Hispanic Internet population, according to eMarketer estimates and comScore: 50.7% of mobile phone users are between 18 and 34 years of age compared with 35.6% in the same age group among Hispanic Internet users. The Hispanic mobile phone population skews even more male than the general population: 55.6% of mobile phone users are male, compared with 51% of males in the Hispanic population.


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Sears Provides Even More Convenience and Choice to Puerto Rico Customers

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. and SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 24 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- After serving generations of customers in Puerto Rico through its stores, home services and licensed businesses, Sears Holdings is proud to announce the launch of Searspr.com (http://www.searspr.com/ ), the island's first transactional website by a major U.S. retailer designed to cater specifically to the Puerto Rico market. By developing and launching this exciting new website, Sears is providing customers in Puerto Rico with the power of choice - the choice to determine how they want to shop - either online or in-store - whatever is most convenient for them.


With Searspr.com, customers are not just getting the convenience of an added shopping channel, but also gaining access to hundreds of thousands of new items. Searspr.com features items carried in local Sears stores, as well as online-only extended assortments in categories like apparel, footwear, jewelry, home fashions and more. Searspr.com provides customers with more product and brand choices than ever before. And if customers can't find what they are looking for, they can use our unique and convenient Personal Shopper program. Simply e-mail or call our personal shopper, tell them what you are seeking and they will do their best to find the product you are looking for - whether Sears carries it or not.


Searspr.com is centered around choice - the customer's choice. Customers can not only choose from multiple brands and products, they can also choose a delivery option that best suits their needs. Customers can choose to have their items delivered to their home or office or they can enjoy same-day gratification using the buy online, pick-up in store service. For customers who want or need their product today, the buy online, pick-up in store option is both easy and convenient. Buy online, pick-up in store is a great solution for everyday life situations and needs. Forgot a gift? No problem - buy it online on your lunch hour and pick it up on the way home. Need a new television to watch the big game tonight? Go ahead and research televisions online, find the television that best suits your needs, place your store pick-up order and your new television will be waiting for you at your local Sears store that very day.


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Mobile Content Services Growing Fast in Latin America, Finds Frost & Sullivan

SAO PAULO, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The mobile content market, distributed by mobile operators, reached around $2.4 billion USD in Latin America in 2009 and has about 63 million users across the region. Mexico and Brazil present the largest portion of mobile content users, with 38% and 31%, respectively, from the total market.


The total mobile services market in Latin America is nearing saturation in terms of number of subscribers. In Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, the mobile penetration rates were 92.2, 84.3, and 77.2 percent, respectively.


In these countries, the mobile content services market is expected to grow by a double-digit rate. One of the main drivers is the penetration of smartphones and other capable handsets, which enable advanced contents. Another driver is the increase in the adoption of mobile broadband.


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Sample supplier uSamp acquires AOL's DMS Insights

DMS – also known as Digital Marketing Services – will keep its name and the firm’s management and production team will remain in place.


The combined panel offering from the two business totals 2.7 million respondents – including DMS’s 100,000-strong Hispanic panel.


According to uSamp, AOL will remain a “strategic partner” of DMS and continue to use the firm as a provider of online research services.


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Blackmagic Design and SQUID Bring World Cup to Argentina’s Top Broadcasters

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackmagic Design Inc. today announced that its Blackmagic Design DeckLink Studio capture and playback cards, in conjunction with XV-Tech’s SQUID broadcast workflow software, are currently being used by Argentinean broadcasters TyC Sports, Telefe and Torneos y Competencias for the airing and playback of FIFA World Cup 2010 games and highlights. The combination of the Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink products and XV-Tech’s SQUID solution has a long history of use in Argentina, which includes TyC Sports’ recent broadcast of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. It is currently being used by more than 60 channels within Argentina.


All three broadcasters are using the joint product as part of a tapeless workflow to allow them to record and playback both SD and HD audio and video of the World Cup games. This end-to-end solution enables them to ingest feeds and integrate signals from all World Cup games for post-production and playback, and will allow for future playback and editing. All footage will be available through archiving systems once the games conclude on July 11.


XV-Tech’s SQUID provides a complete system for the management of video clips for open air and cable stations. The system includes the SQUID LoopRecorders feature, which allows broadcasters to constantly record feeds and manage them for immediate and future use, with media being recorded directly in LoopRecorders and then sent to editing and playout servers without interruption. With the LoopRecorders, DeckLink Studio is being used as the primary capture and playback device for both SD and HD signals.


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ImpreMedia Deploys New Technology to Offer Online Visitors Personalized Experience

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ImpreMedia, the nation's No. 1 Spanish-language online and print news publisher, flips the switch on a new online technology that will alter the way it presents and monetizes its digital content. The company, which publishes La Opinión and El Diario, among other popular titles, has adopted DailyMe’s behavioral tracking and recommendation technology Newstogram to generate data on user’s interests and deliver visitors personalized content, advertisements and e-commerce opportunities.


The Newstogram technology operates in the background of impreMedia’s digital news sites, tracking and analyzing the news users read at a granular level to understand the specific visitor interests and consumption behaviors. The technology does not gather personal information about users. The data generated by this process enables impreMedia to both offer personalized news recommendations based on each user’s news interests, and better understand their audience when it comes to content, e-commerce and advertising.


“We value our audience above all else,” said Monica Lozano, CEO of impreMedia. “The ability to now offer a highly personalized experience on our site is critical to meeting consumer needs. By implementing Newstogram™, we have a detailed understanding of our user’s interests and a better way to present content that promotes site engagement plus marketers looking to reach Hispanics will now have enhanced ad targeting. The news industry is changing, and new technologies like Newstogram are going to keep us ahead.”


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New BrightLine iTV Report Identifies Hispanic Audience as Early Adopters Within the Advanced TV Advertising Universe

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - June 22, 2010) - Hispanic viewers of interactive television are early adopters and more likely to engage with advertisers than the general population, according to a report released today by interactive advertising innovator BrightLine iTV. Analyzing proprietary 2009 campaign data, BrightLine analyzed the media consumption habits of the nation's largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority and found Latinos represent a largely under-tapped "super consumer" force within the advanced television advertising universe. That's despite the fact that it has transformed from a niche to mainstream market, commanding $1 trillion in buying power.


A leader in creating customized, measurable interactive TV ad experiences that achieve instant mass scale and effectiveness for the world's leading brands, in 2009 BrightLine executed more than 40 successful programs for AXE, Tylenol, Burger King, Hellman's, Dove, Turbo Tax, Abreva, and many others. The company also created innovative programming targeting the Hispanic market for brands including Dove, Degree for Men and AXE.


"Early results are encouraging for advertisers seeking game-changing ways to connect with the Hispanic audience," said Jacqueline Corbelli, CEO, BrightLine iTV. "Heavy usage combined with the reach of advanced television has created optimal conditions for leveraging interactive TV marketing and connecting brands with this increasingly valuable Hispanic population."


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Verizon Launches Zona Latina, First Interactive Spanish-Language Destination for FiOS TV Customers

NEW YORK, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon continues to deliver the best in class for FiOS TV customers by launching Zona Latina, the first one-stop shop for FiOS' Spanish-language programming. Available only from Verizon, Zona Latina provides easy, convenient access from the FiOS TV remote to sports, international news, free video-on-demand titles, Hispanic music, Univision's exclusive coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and Verizon's Spanish Language Package.


"Once again, Verizon is demonstrating our commitment to personalize the TV experience by offering customers choices and flexibility," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of consumer strategy for Verizon. "This Spanish-language interactive destination addresses our customers' needs and puts them in the driver's seat, letting them enjoy TV the way they want and expect."


Located on the FiOS TV Widget home screen and in the featured section of FiOS TV Widgets, Zona Latina offers access to Spanish-language programming including an interactive guide, premium movies and video-on-demand (VOD) titles. Music lovers can link to Latin music channels, and soccer fans can follow Univision's exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, including match replays and the latest tournament news.


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LATV and Four Points Media Group in Affiliation Deal for West Palm Beach and Providence

LOS ANGELES, June 22 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- LATV Networks, the 3-year old national Hispanic television network, announced today a distribution deal with Four Points Media Group that will bring LATV to Four Points-owned affiliates in West Palm Beach, Florida and Providence, Rhode Island. The deal expands LATV's reach to 36 markets, representing 76 percent of U.S. Hispanic television households.


LATV's addition of WTVX in West Palm Beach, the number 28 Hispanic television market (97,000 Hispanic households), and WLWC in Providence, the 50th Hispanic television market (44,000 Hispanic households) places the network in 46 million total television households, including 20 of the top 25 Hispanic DMA's (Designated Market Areas). LATV projects coverage of 53 million homes by year-end 2010.


"For the last three years LATV has been the leading alternative Hispanic network to the traditional Spanish language broadcasters," said David Morales, LATV's Vice President of Distribution & Sales. "Four Points had many other emerging network options available to them and they chose LATV, validating our continuing rise in the new TV landscape."


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First Spanish talk Show: America Eres TU

Random Words Marketing firm is launching the First Spanish talk Show in Virginia: America Eres TU. It will be the first Spanish talk show in Northern Virginia to delve into current social and political issues affecting local communities and our nation.

McLean, VA (PRWEB) June 20, 2010 -- Random Words Marketing Group announced today that its new Spanish talk show America Eres TU will go live at 9 a.m., on VIVA 900 AM Radio, Saturday July 10th, with a line-up of well known guests, hosted by Tito Munoz (“Tito the Builder”) from the Conservative Hispanic Coalition. The hour long show will air weekly.


"We're very proud of be part of VIVA 900, the most listened to radio station on AM," said Tito Munoz. "We are looking to contribute to the community, giving the tools they need to understand what is happening in our society. Our talk show will make radio uniquely personal to local listeners."


"It takes a talented staff to create this new Spanish talk show, and we're very proud of the people who will bring America Eres TU to our listeners," said Tito. "We've gathered people around the country and bright new voices in the community to create a unique format."


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Spanish Lessons: Univision Vs. ESPN.com Live Online

Even here in a country where more people know the name of 47-year-old pitcher Jaimie Moyer than they do Diego Maradona (the legendary soccer great (and legendarily insane) Argentina coach (who characteristically came unhinged and made headlines the world over when he attacked Pele in the press this week) there is a tradition of being able to watch the World Cup just about anywhere. From a giant screen in Grand Central Terminal to taxi stands, the inescapable and constant sound of that damn horn has never been far away this week. So far this tournament I have watched everywhere from a wall projection at Heathers (a bar on the Lower East Side more well known for the lesbians who frequent it than broadcasting sporting events) to the outside of a coffeeshop on Jane Street, where a flatscreen has been hastily (and somewhat precariously hung). One place I hadn't watched was ESPN.com.


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Telemundo Chicago WSNS-TV hits ratings and market share high

Among Spanish broadcast TV stations in the Chicago market Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV) has ascended into the #1 position from 9 to 10 p.m. for key demos (including A18-49, W18-49, W25-54, as well as P2+).


This marked growth in prime has been fueled by the mega success of 9 p.m. telenovela, Donde Esta Elisa. This unique “whodunit” drama has achieved the highest ratings the time period has seen since the market went to LPM in 2004. The novela’s primary demo, A18-49, is currently averaging a 1.3rtg NSI, which is an 86% increase since May 2010. Nationally, the telenovela continues to outperform all Spanish-Language broadcast networks on a consistent basis.


The Chicago Telemundo station has also enjoyed impressive growth in ratings and shares for its local news properties. In fact, it’s 10pm newscast, “Noticiero Telemundo Chicago a las 10PM” has averaged a 39% Spanish News Share of A18-49 (which is +16% over May 2010 sweep), and + 11% over 2009 June ratings book.


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Mega TV Debuts Mega News (MN) With Fernando Del Rincon

MIAMI, June 16 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Spanish Broadcasting System Inc., ("SBS") (Nasdaq: SBSA) announced today that Mega TV, its television division, will debut a prime time news magazine program entitled "Mega News" (MN). Mega News will be hosted by Fernando del Rincon, and will start next Monday, June 21st. The show will air Monday through Friday at 5:00 P.M. (ET), 6:00 P.M. (PT and Puerto Rico), and 4:00 P.M. (CT).


"Mega News" will deliver news to the Hispanic community in the United States through a unique format that gives the audience an opportunity to interact with Mr. Del Rincon through all forms of social media. This strategy proved to be successful with the launch of "Mega News Nocturno" and is now offered during all news shows on Mega TV.


MN will feature a variety of news topics, including politics, social issues, economic, legal and entertainment. But most importantly, MN will be an interactive news show that will include the audience in every way possible. Hispanic communities coast to coast now have a voice and can suggest ideas for the show's content that will specifically address the needs of their communities.


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Mobile Marketing Association Appoints Marco Lopes as Managing Director for Latin America

NEW YORK, LONDON, SINGAPORE and SAO PAULO, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) (http://www.mmaglobal.com/) today announced the appointment of Marco Lopes as managing director of the MMA's Latin America (LATAM) branch. In his new role, Lopes is responsible for driving the association's charter to build a sustainable ecosystem for the mobile marketing industry in the region, and positioning the MMA as the region's leading association.

The LATAM branch is one of four business units established in 2010 to enhance the MMA's ability to anticipate and address the unique needs of each world region: Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America and North America. Each business unit's managing director has autonomy to foster strong member communities, launch new in-region local councils and perform MMA Forum events with full P/L responsibility while overseeing adherence to the MMA's Consumer Best Practices (CBPs) guidelines. These expanded responsibilities guarantee that the business units will operate according to the MMA vision, maintain consistency and encourage the exchange of success cases and best practices across the globe.


"The MMA has played a key role in fostering the LATAM region's mobile marketing ecosystem, including identifying emerging opportunities, creating industry-standard best practices and protecting the consumer experience," Lopes said. "I'm honored by the opportunity to lead the MMA's initiatives in the region."


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Univision Interactive Media’s Popular Soccer App Continues to Engage Fans, Now across All Top Mobile Platforms

NEW YORK, NY – June 15, 2010 – Univision Interactive Media, Inc., the digital division of the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States, Univision Communications Inc., today announced the launch of its Univision Fútbol App across additional popular mobile platforms, including BlackBerry App World, Google Android ™ Market and Nokia’s Ovi Store.


“Hispanics continue to over-index against all U.S. Smartphone users across key categories, including mobile video streaming, Web usage, games and applications. Our soccer app meets this fast growing demand head-on by delivering a great experience around a tremendous passion point for our audience,” said Kevin Conroy, president of Univision Interactive Media, Inc. “The expanded roll-out of our soccer app will build on the success we’ve seen so far and will provide even more fans with a terrific mobile World Cup experience.”


The Univision Fútbol App was developed in partnership with July Systems, which provides mobile Internet and advertising solutions for many of the nation’s largest sports, media, and entertainment companies. The app provides access to Univision’s World Cup coverage directly from South Africa, as well as news, photos, videos and match results. The app’s “Mi Fútbol” is a personalization tool that gives fans the latest games and goal information from their favorite soccer teams and players.


Beyond the World Cup, the Univision Fútbol App will keep users updated with the latest from their favorite leagues and tournaments including Brasileirao, Bundesliga, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, the Mexican Soccer League, Spanish La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League, among many others.


The Univision Fútbol App is available for free. See here for download information across platforms.


Source for Smartphone usage among Hispanics: Nielsen Mobile Media Marketplace, U.S.A., 1Q10


About Univision Interactive Media, Inc.
Univision Interactive Media, Inc. is the digital division of Univision Communications Inc., the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Univision Interactive Media, Inc. includes Univision.com (http://www.univision.com/), the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S., and Univision Móvil, the industry’s most comprehensive Spanish-language suite of mobile offerings. Univision Communications Inc. also owns and operates Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces telenovelas, reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for all of the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 63 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 68 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico. 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/.

World Cup 2010: As viewers go online, so do ad dollars

By Alissa Figueroa.


As the US men’s national soccer team battles out its first World Cup 2010 game Saturday against England, advertisers hope that Americans will get as wrapped up in the game - and the Cup - as the rest of the world.


Companies have invested heavily in ad campaigns for the month-long tournament, after all, and this year they’re trying to reach broader US markets.


“The World Cup and soccer has, in many companies’ minds, been a Hispanic marketing play [in the US],” says John Guppy, owner of the Chicago-based firm Guilt Edge Soccer Marketing. “Companies are looking beyond the Hispanic market this year. It’s probably the first time this has been a trend with direct corporate investment.”


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Hispanic Moms’ Online Shopping Habits

Isidra Mencos of BabyCenter en Español leads a team of writers, editors, translators and physicians in providing cultural, lifestyle and medical content tailored to the needs and sensibility of the Hispanic population in the US. Ms. Mencos spoke with eMarketer about Hispanic moms’ shopping habits and preferences, their levels of brand loyalty and findings related to Hispanic moms’ online behavior from BabyCenter’s “21st-Century Mom” study, released in 2009.


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SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc (PINKSHEETS:SMKG) Announces New Sales & Distribution Agreement with Latin Phone for Open-Loop Prepaid Debit Cards

SAN ANTONIO, TX, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc.(PINKSHEETS:SMKG) CEO Massimo Barone Stated "We are very pleased to announce a significant joint marketing campaign with a major telecom company in the Hispanic marketplace, Latin Phone. They will market our open-loop (accessible on major payment networks and atm's worldwide) prepaid debit cards to their existing customer base of over 800,000 customers."


The company's prepaid products are preferred by consumers who are traditionally un-banked or under-banked. Mr. Barone added, "The extended recession has brought more focus on our prepaid cards." Tim Sloane, Vice President and Director of the Prepaid Advisory Service at Mercator Advisory Group, recently said about prepaid cards: "No other payment market is riding out the current economic downturn as effectively as prepaid, and I can't think of any better payments market to be in during a recession."


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Yahoo! and Latin Interactive Group Increase Opportunities for Central American Advertisers

MIAMI, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Yahoo! today announced an advertising sales agreement with Latin Interactive Group, a digital media company that specializes in the Central American market. The collaboration gives Yahoo! an immediate local sales presence throughout Central America, and adds Yahoo!'s display inventory to Latin Interactive Group's robust local online advertising portfolio. Together, the two companies will sell Yahoo!'s online and mobile advertising in Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, taking advantage of Yahoo!'s audience reach and targeting technologies. This enables businesses with multi-country presence to run campaigns across Yahoo!'s network in one or more Central American countries, consolidating and simplifying their advertising purchases.


"Through our partnership with Latin Interactive Group, only Yahoo! can bring science, art and scale to Central American advertisers," said Armando Rodriguez, general manager, Yahoo! Hispanic Americas. "The Central American advertising market is maturing; local businesses are shifting more of their advertising budgets online as they look to increase the effectiveness of their campaigns. Advertisers are going to benefit from the powerful combination of Latin Interactive Group's expertise in delivering interactive advertising campaigns across online and mobile platforms, with the ability to connect with Yahoo!'s highly-engaged audience."


"At Latin Interactive Group we strive to represent the best site publishers in Latin America, and in so doing, offer advertisers and agencies the most effective means of communicating interactively with target audiences," said Gustavo Ortiz, president of Latin Interactive Group. "Our association with Yahoo! provides us with access to the world's foremost expert in digital advertising, a broad user base and the powerful Yahoo! brand that is synonymous with personally relevant Internet experiences."


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ESPN Deportes Kicks off Coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Using a full collection of its multimedia assets, ESPN Deportes will provide comprehensive Spanish-language news and information coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup from South Africa June 11 - July 11, 2010. ESPN Deportes' month-long news and information World Cup coverage will originate from a picturesque view of Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg, as well as from studios in Buenos Aires, Dallas, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami and Bristol, Connecticut.


In addition, to complement its comprehensive Spanish-language news and information coverage of the quadrennial sports event, ESPN Deportes will provide Portuguese-language telecasts of 56 live World Cup matches, starting with the opener as host nation South Africa plays Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg June 11 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Highlights:


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New Spanish Language Website Offers One-Stop Shop for Nation's Fastest Growing Market: Latinos

BALTIMORE, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Free advice is one thing, but there's no disputing the heavyweight value of a website that offers "a ton of advice" in Spanish. That's the idea behind this first-of-its-kind Spanish language site called 1001 Consejos. Translated into English, the name means "a ton of advice," exactly what this one-stop online shop offers to Latinos "consejos." Imagine what would happen if Facebook met Fandango, YouTube merged with Real Simple and Craigslist converged with both Ticketmaster and Amazon. Add news, weather, sports, lottery results, postcards, latest music, discussion groups, advice and much more -- all in Spanish. The result is www.1001Consejos.com.


1001 Consejos is the first comprehensive web portal targeted toward the influential Latino market, as well as those who speak Spanish in South America and abroad. It offers unparalleled opportunity. For Latinos, it's a place to look up tasty recipes, find the best deals and bargains, buy tickets to the hottest movies and concerts, find up-to-the minute sports scores, or discover the most affordable travel destinations. Here's a look at some of the many 1001 Consejos around-the-clock offerings:


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Comcast Launches Telefutura and Univision in High-Definition in Washington, D.C. Area in Advance of 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM)

WASHINGTON, June 8 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Comcast continues to expand programming for its Hispanic customers in the Washington, D.C. area with the addition of Telefutura HD and Univision HD. With these launches, Comcast high-definition (HD) customers can watch Univision's exclusive Spanish-language coverage of all 64 games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), the premier international soccer tournament taking place in South Africa from June 11 through July 11, along with other network programming in Spanish and in stunning HD. Univision (WFDC) HD appears on Comcast Limited Basic channel 794 and Telefutura (WMDO) HD appears on Comcast Limited Basic channel 795.


Entravision Communications Corporation (NYSE: EVC) owns and operates Telefutura (WMDO) and manages the marketing and sales operations of Univision (WFDC) under a marketing and sales arrangement with Univision Communications Inc.


"We are pleased to be working with Comcast to offer the first Spanish-language HD networks available to its customers in Washington, D.C., just in time for the World Cup," said Rudy Guernica, Entravision Communications' General Manager of the Univision and Telefutura stations serving Washington, D.C. "Univision and Telefutura are among the most viewed Spanish-language networks in the country, and our stations have long been where the local Hispanic community turns for information and entertainment."


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TV Chile Unveils New Programming Lineup, On-Air Look and Website

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TV Chile, a leading family-oriented general entertainment TV channel for Latinos based in Chile and distributed in the U.S. by Olympusat, announced today a new programming lineup, vibrant on-air look and website that reflect the network’s slogan, “TV Chile Connects Us.” The new lineup features culturally-relevant TV series with multiplatform interactive elements, and includes shows with English subtitles.


“TV Chile has experienced such strong growth around the globe because it is more than a TV network specifically for Chileans. It is constantly reinventing itself, offering dynamic, high-quality programming for every member of the Hispanic family,” said Ivette Mendez-Kelly, VP of Sales & Distribution for Olympusat’s Hispanic Network Group. “With English subtitles, TV Chile can expand its audience in the U.S. and invite English-speaking viewers to experience popular shows that have become a part of daily life across Latin America.”


In addition to top television series from TV Chile’s parent company TVN, over 25 percent of the lineup is original content acquired for TV Chile. The network will also offer Chilean national tournament soccer games every match day. Highlights of the new programming lineup include:


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seccionamarilla.com Expands Its Access Through WAP Portal

MIAMI, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Spanish Yellow Pages publisher, Seccion Amarilla USA, announces the expansion of its products and digital services platform with the launching of seccionamarilla.com WAP access to the market.


Currently, the penetration of mobile phones among the Hispanic population is increasing rapidly, reaching a 24% growth during 2008, compared to an 11% in the non-Hispanic population (Simmons NCS/NCHS Fall 2008&2009, adults 18 and over). Through its new WAP access, seccionamarilla.com expands its connection channels with users, who will have the opportunity to access the site's services and businesses database from their cellular phones in a fast, effective and free way.


"Today, we can assure that Seccion Amarilla USA is more than just a conventional Yellow Pages directory. The incorporation of new access into the digital industry, is allowing us to reach a significant position within the U.S. Hispanic market, as an efficient service tool, accessible to all. In evidence of this is the sustainable growth our portal has experienced during the first quarter of 2010, where we have reached an increase higher than 400% in number of visits, which accounts for the nearly one million monthly visits to our website," stated Juan Reffreger, CEO of Seccion Amarilla USA.


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HBO Latin America Announces Improvements in the Cinemax East Channel, Now Branded MAX in the Caribbean

MIAMI, June 7 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- HBO Latin America Group announced that during the month of June enhancements in the Premium package will take place. Cinemax East will now be branded as MAX, targeting film lovers and visual art connoisseurs.


"Once again, HBO demonstrates its leadership in Premium television, providing subscribers with a daring, fresh and innovative offer. MAX will allow viewers to enjoy independent film productions from all over the world," said Alexander Salas, general manager of MAX Networks Latin America.


Offering the best of independent and international films and documentaries, MAX will transmit programming from different parts of the world that have also been awarded in different film festivals and that might have not been seen otherwise. MAX targets men and women between the ages of 18 and 45. Some of the movies that will be featured during June are: La Camara Oscura, Adoration, Cidade de Deus and Better Things.


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Small Businesses Tap into Growing Hispanic Market Online with Outrank.com Local Placement

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 03, 2010 – AUSTIN, Texas – A small business looking for growth in online customers should look to the Hispanic market for opportunities. A new research report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau indicates that Hispanics are an increasingly important target market online, and Outrank.com suggests its clients develop key strategies and tactics to drive more business from the local Hispanic community.


“According to the report, the Hispanic population in the United States is expected to expand 167 percent in the next four decades,” said David Rubin, CEO of Outrank.com. “Many small businesses could benefit by reaching out to this attractive target market, which has considerable purchasing power.”


The new “U.S. Latinos Online” report indicates that of the roughly 60 percent of U.S. Hispanics that are online, 70 percent are employed and the average annual income is $77,000. The report also indicates that Hispanics are more dedicated users of wireless and broadband services and are also more receptive to online advertising than the average user.


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Gabriel Sotelo Named Verizon Reporter for Univision to Cover the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

SAN DIEGO, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- After a two-month nationwide search, Verizon and Univision have selected Gabriel Sotelo as the "Reportero ADE de Verizon" for Univision Television Group. Beginning June 11, Sotelo will be a guest reporter on Univision's sports news team covering the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ soccer matches in Johannesburg and Pretoria.


"It's a huge blessing and a privilege to be part of such a prestigious media company as Univision," said Sotelo. "To be the Verizon Reporter, and get a chance to experience and report live all the excitement of the soccer matches, is an incredible opportunity and honor."


Sotelo, who works as an admissions counselor at a high school in Tijuana, Mexico, helps motivate youth to realize their potential, encouraging them to make a positive impact on their families and community. He has a bachelor's degree in communications and has also worked as a host of a local TV show in Tijuana.


Sotelo will fly to Johannesburg and report on the tournaments, which will be broadcast on Univision's "Accion Deportiva Extra."*


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New E-Commerce Site Finds 'El Amor Latino in All of Us'

AUSTIN, Texas, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Campari Holdings LLC today announced the launch of EstaNoche.com, a new website that offers a hand-picked selection of high quality adult toys, engaging articles and valuable expertise at a destination that is specifically designed for the sexy, sensual Hispanic community in the United States.


EstaNoche was created to offer an unsurpassed level of quality, value, privacy and usability for those who are ready to set their camas en fuego. The site also takes into consideration that many EstaNoche visitors will be fairly new to the space – supporting the site with education, and without any intimidation or judgment.


La gente behind EstaNoche began their venture after realizing that, even as the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population for decades, Latinos weren't being catered to in online retail and the adult toy space. "In a world where 'targeting Hispanics' has typically meant translating English content into Spanish, we know that Latinos are not unique only because of the language they speak," explained EstaNoche chief executive Seth Paskin.


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Moen Launches New Spanish Language Web Site With Interactive, Easy-To-Use Features

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to better serve the Hispanic community in the United States, Moen launched a Spanish language version of its recently revamped English website. Consumers who prefer to browse Moen products and use web based resources en espanol can now log on directly to http://espanol.moen.com/ or click the global access link at the top of the Moen.com homepage to access the site.


The Spanish website is a direct adaptation of the English version. To translate the site into Spanish and keep it updated Moen engaged MotionPoint Corporation and leveraged Hispanic PR partner VanguardComm to oversee content adaptations. MotionPoint combines human translation with technology to deliver a fully enabled, multilingual web experience. VanguardComm ensures that content and adaptations remain culturally relevant.


Now, Hispanic consumers can immerse themselves in the site designed with user-friendly features that will help even the first time do-it-yourselfer feel at home. The new Spanish site will provide consumers with the leading kitchen and bath resource tool on the Internet. They will get inspiration for a kitchen or bath-remodeling project, learn the latest trends, or find the right kitchen or bath faucet.


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Hispanic Networks: Ready for Prime Time

Like a beautiful, bodice-ripped starlet chewing up the scenery on a telenovela, television’s top two major Hispanic networks plan to draw extra attention in this year’s upfront marketplace. That’s a welcome plot twist for media buyers involved in the upfront melodrama.


Univision started its push at an extravaganza at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center earlier in May featuring Latino superstar Ricky Martin and a glimpse of new offerings on the horizon. Telemundo, meanwhile, began wooing buyers through March meetings in Miami using a blend of glamorous talent and what its executives believe is a strong story line about the growing Hispanic demographic.


Univision officials say the Lincoln Center presentation attracted more general-market buyers and more first-time attendees than ever before. Statistics help explain why. Univision cites the U.S. Census in claiming that the country’s Hispanic population is now larger than the total populations of Canada, Spain, Argentina or Colombia—and that Hispanics now make up 16 percent of the U.S. population. One in five young adults is Hispanic, according to Univision’s analysis of Nielsen universe estimates.


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