Hemisphere Media Group Announces Launch of New Canal 1 in Colombia
Fully Rebranded Channel with Fresh New Look and Feel
New Canal 1 will feature 70 hours of Live Programming Per Week
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HMTV) ("Hemisphere" or the "Company"), the only publicly traded pure-play U.S. media
company targeting the high growth U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets with leading television and digital content platforms,
announced in partnership with its Colombian content producers, the launch and rebranding of the new Canal 1 in Colombia on August
14th. The new Canal 1 features a new programming strategy that includes 70 hours of live programming per week, a fresh and new
on-air look, and a talented executive team.
“We and our partners are extremely excited to announce the launch and rebranding of the new Canal 1, with more than 1.7 million
Colombians watching Canal 1 during its first day on air,” said Alan Sokol, Chief Executive Officer of Hemisphere. “Drawing on our
expertise and success in creating market-leading TV networks, we have built a strong foundation for the launch of an exciting new
broadcast TV network, in a very compelling and high growth market.”
“In addition to a full rebrand of the network, we have entered into content licensing agreements for premiere programming
windows with some of the world’s leading program suppliers, including NBC Universal, Fox, Paramount, Telemundo and TV Globo. We
also have a strong slate of fresh and differentiated locally produced programming, including a world-class and independent-minded
news product. We are excited to bring this new and differentiated offering to the market and are confident Colombians will find it
compelling.”
In addition to a revamped news product, the new Canal 1 will feature two original prime time entertainment series,
Guerreros, or Warriors, a unique live primetime reality show competition, and Infieles, or Unfaithful, Canal 1’s
first original scripted series.
Guerreros will air on Canal 1 Monday through Friday from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Infieles will air on Canal 1 Tuesdays and
Thursdays at 8:00 PM and will also be aired on Hemisphere’s networks in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and syndicated throughout the rest
of the world.
About Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HMTV) is the only publicly traded pure-play U.S. media company targeting the high growth
U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets with leading broadcast and cable television and digital content platforms. Headquartered
in Miami, Florida, Hemisphere owns and operates five leading U.S. Hispanic cable networks, two Latin American cable networks, and
the leading broadcast television network in Puerto Rico, and has ownership interests in a new broadcast television network in
Colombia and a Spanish-language OTT service in the U.S. Hemisphere’s portfolio consists of:
- Cinelatino, the leading Spanish-language movie channel with over 20 million subscribers across the
U.S., Latin America and Canada, including 4.6 million subscribers in the U.S. and 16.1 million subscribers in Latin America,
featuring the largest selection of contemporary Spanish-language blockbusters and critically-acclaimed titles from Mexico, Latin
America, Spain and the Caribbean.
- WAPA, Puerto Rico’s leading broadcast television network with the highest primetime and full day
ratings in Puerto Rico. Founded in 1954, WAPA produces approximately 70 hours per week of top-rated news and entertainment
programming.
- WAPA America, the leading cable network targeting Puerto Ricans and other Caribbean Hispanics living
in the U.S., featuring the highly-rated news and entertainment programming produced by WAPA. WAPA America is distributed in the
U.S. to 5.1 million subscribers, including digital basic subscribers.
- Pasiones, dedicated to showcasing the most popular telenovelas and serialized dramas, distributed in
the U.S. and Latin America. Pasiones has 4.6 million subscribers in the U.S. and 13.4 million subscribers in Latin America.
- Centroamerica TV, the leading network targeting Central Americans living in the U.S., the
third-largest U.S. Hispanic group, featuring the most popular news, entertainment and soccer programming from Central America.
Centroamerica TV is distributed in the U.S. to 4.1 million subscribers.
- Television Dominicana, the leading network targeting Dominicans living in the U.S., featuring the
most popular news, entertainment and baseball programming from the Dominican Republic. Television Dominicana is distributed in
the U.S. to 3.4 million subscribers.
- Canal 1, a partnership with leading Colombian content producers, is one of only three national
broadcast television networks in Colombia. The partnership was awarded a 10-year renewable broadcast TV concession for Canal 1 in
Colombia in 2016. The concession provides the partnership with a rare opportunity to access one of Latin America’s most robust
and stable economies with an attractive television advertising market. It also provides Hemisphere the opportunity to produce
high quality content which can be repurposed on HMTV’s channels and syndicated internationally. The partnership began operating
the network on May 1, 2017.
- PANTAYA, a cross-platform Spanish-language digital subscription service that is well positioned to be
the dominant player in the Spanish-language digital/OTT space. Launched August 1, 2017, the service will allow audiences to
access many of the best and most current Spanish-language films. It will include content from Hemisphere's movie library,
Pantelion's U.S. theatrical titles, Lionsgate's movie library, and theatrical releases in Mexico.
- REMEZCLA, an influential digital media company targeting English speaking and bilingual U.S.
Hispanics aged 18-35 through innovative digital content. Hemisphere’s investment is a complementary extension of its portfolio,
broadening the Company’s footprint and its reach with the highly coveted Millennial audience.
Sloane & Company
Erica Bartsch, 212-446-1875
ebartsch@sloanepr.com
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170817005956/en/