Oct. 29, 2012
NEW YORK—Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, announced the launch of UVideos, the bilingual digital network for Hispanic America with one of the most fully integrated, comprehensive social experiences available in any language in the U.S.
Available via UVideos.com and the UVideos mobile app on iOS and Android compatible devices, U.S. Hispanics will have access to their favorite Univision content, including popular Televisa programming – in Spanish or subtitled in English – when and where they want it and across any device. The announcement was made by Kevin Conroy, president of Univision Interactive and Enterprise Development.
“UVideos offers a compelling new way for U.S. Hispanics to connect with Univision Networks and watch their favorite shows anytime, anywhere, while also creating new opportunities for advertisers and distributors,” said Conroy. “It provides our audience with new ways to experience their favorite programming, and engage new viewers, many of whom prefer English language experiences, with easy access to the best story telling on television.”
Fueling Univision’s decision to create this product was research on U.S. Spanish-speaking Hispanic consumers commissioned by Univision and conducted by Nielsen, a global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy. According to the research, more than one-third of Spanish-speaking U.S. Hispanic consumers say that the ability to consume content on multiple devices when and where it is convenient are among the most important factors when considering a digital video service. Additionally, a majority of respondents said their top three most important factors when considering any digital video service offered in the U.S. are: variety of content, cost, and the ability for everyone in the household to easily search for or find desired content.
“Spanish-speaking U.S. Hispanic consumers are clearly embracing digital technologies and are actively looking for more cross-platform video content that can be accessed from a variety of devices,” said Jonathan Carson, general manager of Digital for Nielsen. “These findings are yet another compelling argument for the tremendous opportunities that exist among media companies and marketers to reach and engage with the sizable, growing U.S. Hispanic audience.”
More than 60 percent of Spanish-speaking U.S. Hispanic consumers surveyed said they like to share clips with friends online. Similarly, more than 60 percent of those consumers surveyed said they have a desire for more Spanish-language digital video content.
In addition, Conroy announced that “Te Presento a Valentin” (I Present You, Valentine), the first webnovela co-produced by Univision and Televisa, will premiere today on the new digital network.
“UVideos further delivers on our commitment to leverage the power of digital platforms to serve audiences in new and innovative ways,” Conroy added. “Univision has been entertaining and informing U.S. Hispanics for more than 50 years and continues its leadership with the launch of UVideos, the first bilingual digital video product offering viewers the convenience of discovering, watching, and sharing the very best programming, all in one place.”
UVideos.com and the UVideos mobile app have many unique elements including a time-syncing feature powered by Arktan, the leading provider of social curation and real-time conversation products. When viewers watch videos of shows after live programming, they are able to see all the social and on-site comments played back to them as they occurred during original broadcast. This means that friends can experience shows together, even if they’re not watching at the same time. Once users begin consuming content on UVideos, Digitalsmiths provides search and recommendation functionality so users can find the most relevant content for them, whether it be similar telenovelas, sports, news or entertainment programming. Content on UVideos is available for free, generally 24 hours after airing. As part of the Univision Starcom Mediavest Group Upfront deal, UVideos will be launching with many SMG advertisers including Allstate, Microsoft and Wendy’s.
For more information, please visit UVideos.com or download the UVideos mobile app via iTunes or Google Play on any iOS or Android compatible device, respectively.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching 88% of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a new 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of six cable offerings – De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Clásico TV; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive Media, a network of national and local online and mobile sites includingUnivision.com, which continues to be the #1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Móvil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI 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 Univision.net.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50457225&lang=en
Media Contact
Univision Communications
Marielena Santana, 212-455-5233
msantana@univision.net