My reaction to this is Telemundo empire building.

Monday, 06/05/06

Channel 4 helps bring Telemundo to Midstate
Spanish-language network to begin airing on June 12

By CHAS SISK
Staff Writer


Vas o no vas?

Channel 4's decision: Vas.




The local NBC affiliate has made a deal with a Florida network and is about to start a Spanish-language station.

Channel 4 will begin broadcasting Telemundo, the nation's second-highest rated Spanish network, on a digital frequency on June 12. The station also
is in final negotiations with
Comcast and Charter Communications to have the channel added to its digital cable systems.

The station would be the second in Spanish in the Nashville area, joining Channel 42, which carries programming under a contract with Univision subsidiary Telefutura.

Univision, the nation's top-rated Spanish network, also is available on local cable systems.

The launch of Telemundo is significant because it will have a signal capable of reaching most of Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Its competitor, Telefutura, has a weaker signal and is available primarily in downtown Nashville, said Marcela Gómez, president of Hispanic Marketing Group.

Nashville Hispanics had been among the few who could not see Telemundo. The network reaches 93 percent of the nation's Hispanic households.

"It became obvious to me when I arrived here in September" that the market could support a Telemundo affiliate, said Elden Hale, Channel 4's general manager. "This is one of the fastest-growing Hispanic markets in the country."

Telemundo will broadcast on channel 4.2, a frequency available only to people who have digital televisions. Cable subscribers will need a digital cable box to see the channel.

The Telemundo affiliate will begin by picking up programming from the national network, but eventually the station will start producing some of its own news and programming, said Hale. Besides Telefutura, Telemundo will join at least three Spanish-language radio stations and nine Spanish newspapers. But market researchers said Nashville should be able to support another television station.

"Once they're settled in and everyone sees there's enough advertising to go around, I think everyone will be OK," said Eva Melo, president of Latin Market Communications.

Channel 4 is owned by Meredith Corp.



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