Telemundo Leads HDTV Charge
Billboard Latin Music Awards to Kick Off Network's High-Def Push
by Laura Martinez -- Multichannel News, 4/21/2009 3:21:45 PM
NBC Universal's Telemundo this week is expected to make TV history as the first Spanish-language network to broadcast nationally in high-definition.
For the occasion, the network has picked the highly rated Billboard Latin Music Awards, now in its 20th year. Ceremonies will air live from Miami's Bank United Center on April 23 at 7 p.m. (ET).
Later this year, Telemundo is also expected to become the first Spanish-language network to broadcast an entire full-length telenovela in HD with the premiere of Más sabe el Diablo.
Also available on HD will be Doña Bárbara (currently on the air) and other primetime programming. However, not all of Telemundo affiliates are expected to join the HD push right away.
According to Telemundo, nine of the network's owned-and-operated stations will deliver its HD signal. High-definition content will initially be available in Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Houston and Puerto Rico.
The remaining O&Os will launch HD programming over the next 12 months.
News of Telemundo's HD plans was followed by Univision's announcement that it will air its entire slate of 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer games from South Africa in HDTV across the Univision network and broadcast brethren TeleFutura, as well as the Univision and TeleFutura station groups.
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