Hispanic Nets Ready Inauguration Coverage
Laura Martínez -- Multichannel News, 1/13/2009 8:50:00 AM
Hispanic TV networks will be major participants in what looks to be the most comprehensive TV coverage of a presidential inauguration ever, when Barack Obama is sworn in on Jan. 20.
The nation’s largest Spanish-language broadcasters, Univision and Telemundo, this week began running promos for their upcoming inauguration coverage, which in both cases involves mobilizing news and production resources to broadcast special programs live from Washington, D.C., along with reactions from other major cities, including New York and Chicago. Unlike previous inaugurations, this time the Web and mobile devices will play an important role.
Univision will have evening news anchors Jorge Ramos and María Elena Salinas hosting the nightly Noticiero Univisión from Washington for three nights, starting Monday Jan. 19. Ramos and Salinas will broadcast live from the rooftop of Univision’s bureau in the city and will be joined by a group of political commentators providing analysis and background information on the inauguration process.
The Univision news team will be on hand to cover events including the inaugural address and the departure ceremony for George W. Bush.
For the first time, Univision Online (which this month was renamed Univision Interactive Media) will provide users with updates, videos and photo albums directly from Washington, and will feature user commentary and advice for the incoming president from Hispanics around the world. On the mobile front, Univision Móvil is offering up-to-date news coverage and photos for on-the-go users.
NBC-owned Telemundo will also kick off coverage on Jan. 19 with anchors Pedro Sevcec and María Celeste Arrarás anchoring from Washington, and continue with the 2-hour special Haciendo Historia: La Era Obama on Jan. 20 (11 am ET/8 am PT.) Both, Sevcec and Arrarás will feed their respective blogs on the recently re-launched page of Telemundo.com.
On the cable front, Time Warner Cable-owned NY1 Noticias, of New York City, is sending news anchor Juan Manuel Benitez to report live from Washington, starting Sunday Jan. 18. On inauguration day, NY1 Noticias will present live coverage of the inaugural ceremony and address, while anchor Philip Klint will be live throughout the morning, alongside special commentators. Stressing the importance of local audiences, NY1 Noticias will be live in Times Square and outside the State Office Building in Harlem, as New Yorkers watch the event unfold.
