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by Staff -- Multichannel News, 3/9/2009 2:00:00 AM
Univision Inks 50 Retrans Deals
Tonia O’Connor and her team have been busy.
Univision’s executive vice president of distribution sales and marketing and the media company’s affiliate group have finalized more than 50 retransmission-consent deals with video providers, adding Insight Communications and AT&T’s U-verse to its roster with multiyear agreements.
The U.S. Spanish-language media leader — which recently concluded a retransmission-pact with satellite-TV giant DirecTV after reaching a contract with top cable operator Comcast in January — also said that it now has accords with such distributors as Atlantic Broadband, Baja Broadband, Etan Industries, Grande Communications, Guadalupe Valley Communications, Qwest Communications, Service Electric and TVMAX.
Deal terms were not disclosed, but Univision has been seeking cash.
In 2008, Univision officially disclosed that for the first time it would seek retransmission consent, rather than must carry for its stations. During a press conference following its 2007 upfront presentation to advertisers in New York, Univision Communications CEO Joe Uva declared that the company would seek license fees of $1 per subscriber for its stations.
While it’s unclear what terms the company has reached, some cable operators have indicated that Univision has lowered its license-fee asking price substantially.
Next up could be a deal with Time Warner Cable. Univision’s carriage contract with the nation’s second largest operator expires at the end of March, according to sources.
— Mike Reynolds
NAMIC Names 2009 Leaders
New York — The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications has announced its 2009 Next Generation Leaders Awards.
Chosen by NAMIC and editors of Multichannel News, the awards recognize business leaders who demonstrate exceptional practices of diversity and inclusion in the communications industry. Awards are given in three categories: MSO, Programmer and Technology.
This year’s Next Generation Leaders are Cesar Conde, chief strategy officer and executive VP, Univision Communications; Kashif Haq, strategic execution officer, Bright House Networks; and Toni Stubbs, VP of field information technology, Cox Communications.
Also are being honored are ten Luminaries, representing a distinguished group of professionals emerging as future industry leaders. Among them are Bernadette Aulestia, senior VP of affiliate marketing and product strategy, Home Box Office; Wally Bakare, VP and general manager, Time Warner Cable; Brenda Freeman, chief marketing officer, Turner Broadcasting System; Glenn Goldsmith, VP of programming, Mediacom Communications; Naz Haider, VP of business management, ABC Family; Juan Herrera, VP, office of global inclusion, MTV Networks; Susan Jin-Davis, VP of corporate development and voice services, Comcast; Flavio Morales, VP of programming, Mun2; Michael Parker, area VP for Connecticut and New York, Comcast; and Michael Smith, SVP of marketing, creative and brand strategy, Food Network.
This year’s award recipients will be honored during the NAMIC Annual Awards Breakfast, which is being presented as part of Cable Connection — Spring on Friday, April 3, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.
Robert Miron, chairman of Advance/Newhouse Communications, is serving as honorary chair for the awards breakfast, with T.J. Holmes, anchor for the weekend edition of CNN Newsroom, hosting.
— George Vernadakis
Hearn to Head ACA’s D.C. Efforts
Washington — The American Cable Association, a trade group representing some 900 independent cable operators, has brought Ted Hearn on board in the newly created position of vice president of communications.
Hearn most recently was the Washington news editor for Multichannel News, a position he had held since 1994.
He will report directly to ACA CEO Matt Polka.
In an e-mailed statement, Hearn said, “I’m really pleased to be joining ACA and working closely with Matt Polka to help ACA members achieve their goals in Washington, D.C.”
Said Polka in a statement: “ACA is extremely happy that Ted will be joining our team. He knows the issues, he knows how Washington works, and he knows how to tell people about it. His work will be invaluable to telling the story and unique challenges of independent cable operators and their customers.”
Based in Pittsburgh, the ACA represents small and midsize independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7 million cable subscribers.
— Todd Spangler
MTVN’s Digital Chief to Depart
New York — Mika Salmi, president of MTV Networks’ Global Digital Media group, will leave the company at the end of the month.
Salmi’s departure was reported last week by PaidContent.org, which indicated that MTVN does not plan to find a replacement for him. MTVN spokesman Mark Jafar confirmed the report.
Salmi had been founder and CEO of Atom Entertainment, an Internet-entertainment startup acquired by MTVN in August 2006 for about $200 million.
As head of MTVN’s Global Digital Media, Salmi was tasked with working across the programmer’s brand portfolio to further its strategy of building music, games, entertainment, networking and interactivity. Among other projects, he led the company’s deal last year to buy Flux Networks, which had developed a social-networking Web platform used by MTVN sites.
In an internal memo, MTVN CEO Judy McGrath thanked Salmi and said he’s on “to write the next chapter in his eclectic career.”
— Todd Spangler
FiOS Pushes Spanish-Language TV Package
New York — Verizon Communications is offering FiOS TV customers the option to receive its Spanish Language Package free for 30 days and is waiving the $35 activation fee.
The promotion is set to run through April 19. Existing customers who upgrade their packages and sign up for either new TV or new Internet service from Verizon also are eligible for the new offer. According to the telco, the free programming and waived activation fee represent a $46 savings.
The FiOS TV Spanish Language Package comprises 27 Spanish-language channels, including CNN en Español, Discovery Familia, ESPN Deportes, Gol TV and Toon Disney en Español, as well as other news, sports and entertainment programs.
Last fall, Verizon for a limited time offered the Spanish Language Package 12 months free to new video subscribers in five states.
— Todd Spangler
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