New York -- Broadening its daypart palette, Univision will enter the late-night and Sunday-morning news arenas.
The Spanish-language-TV leader -- which will take the wraps off five new novelas during the 2005-06 TV season -- plans to enter the growing late-night market with Ay Que Noche!, an originally produced show that will feature a live studio audience and intercontinental satellite interview.
Univision -- which made the announcements at its upfront presentation to advertisers here Wednesday -- is currently searching the United States and Central America for a host, who will oversee a personality-driven show that will also showcase musical performances, stage acts and celebrity sessions.
On the news front, Univision will introduce Punto de Encuentro con Jorge Ramos. The noted journalist will host no-holds-barred panels comprising newsmakers, writers, journalists and celebrities, who will discuss news events and topics important to the Hispanic community.
Univision -- which has enjoyed a robust ratings season in which its adult 18-49 and 18-34 viewership are up 25% and 38%, respectively -- will roll out a quintet of novelas from programming supplier Grupo Televisa SA: El Amor no Tiene Precio, Contra Viento y Marea, Alborado, La Esposa Virgen and Barrera de Amor.
Executives also talked up the company’s wall-to-wall coverage of the 2006 World Cup in which Univision (56) and TeleFutura (eight) will show all of the tournament’s matches live. TeleFutura and cable cousin Galavisión will also present replays of the matches from Germany in primetime next June and July.
Elsewhere, Galavisión will offer five original shows, three of which aim to bolster the network’s Saturday-night lineup: Pulso TV, in which viewers can relive the weeks most memorable moments on Spanish-language TV; La Lista, a presentation of top-10 weekly lists covering gossip, celebrities and destinations; and Acceso Maximo, an interactive show in which viewers, through text-messaging and online voting, will be able to select music videos.
With El Rastro del Crimen, Galavisión will jump into the forensic craze, taking viewers to the scenes of real-life murder mysteries. En Profundidad each month will take an in-depth look at the most pressing social issues impacting Hispanics’ lives.
