Mexican Music Network Gains U.S Toehold Via Comcast

TeleRitmo Available As Part Of Op’s Spanish-Language Package In Houston

By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 9/19/2008 11:43:00 AM

Mexican music network TeleRitmo has scored its initial U.S. berth, as part of Comcast’s Spanish-language pack in the Houston market.

TeleRitmo, which is based in Monterrey, offers norteno and regional music that have migrated from south of the border to the States over the past decade. The network has been available since Sept. 3 on Comcast’s Canales Selecto offering in the Houston DMA on channel 531.

Gustavo Mena, a former distribution executive at CBS Cable and Telemundo, who is heading distribution for Multimedios Television’s cable and satellite distribution in the U.S., said the company has secured “hunting licenses” with Comcast for TeleRitmo and Multimedios, a general-entertainment service that has yet to crack the U.S. market. Deal terms were not disclosed as the company continues to pursue launches in other markets served by the nation’s leading cable operator.

Mena said the company is nearing a deal with another top cable operator that could result in launches in several top Latino markets.

Multimedios Television, the third-largest producer of original Spanish-language programming in Mexico, is part of Grupo Multimedios. The Mexican media giant assets include: 37 AM and FM radio stations; nine broadcast TV stations; three TV networks; a 150,000-subscriber cable operator that offers television, broadband and telephony; 12 local, regional and national newspapers; a pair of national magazines; outdoor advertising; music concert venues, and amusement parks.