ABC NEWS, UNIVISION NEWS Multiplatform News, Lifestyle Network for U.S. Hispanics to be based in Miami

ABC News and Univision News today announced that their joint venture news and lifestyle network for U.S. Hispanics will be based in Miami, Florida. The new company will be dedicated to informing, empowering and inspiring Hispanic Americans in English while providing all audiences uncompromising coverage of current events with a unique perspective.

“This is a continuation of Univision’s investment in Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida,” said Cesar Conde, president of Univision Networks. “The Miami-based operation will be the largest of its kind, with state-of-the-art production capabilities that will generate new jobs and attract television’s brightest talent to South Florida.”

“We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Miami-Dade community and its robust and rich media culture,” said Ben Sherwood, president, ABC News. “From our new headquarters in South Florida, we’ll build the network of the future to serve the many millions of Hispanics all across America.”

ABC News and Univision News also announced today that seasoned digital media executive Miguel Ferrer will be the first executive producer, Digital, for the new company. He will oversee all digital properties and work closely with the ad sales, distribution and editorial teams. Mr. Ferrer was most recently the managing editor of the Huffington Post’s Black Voices, Latino Voices (English-language) and Voces (Spanish-language) sites. He starts October 30 and will divide his time between New York and Miami. The president and CEO and other executives on the management team are expected to be announced later this year.

The currently unnamed television network is expected to launch in 2013. Editorial coverage will focus on the issues most relevant for U.S. Hispanics, including the economy, entertainment, music, food, immigration, education, politics, health and wellness and more.

The landmark joint venture capitalizes on Univision’s news leadership and expertise in reaching U.S. Hispanics and on ABC’s global news leadership to serve more than 50 million Hispanics, the youngest and fastest-growing demographic in the country. Currently Hispanics represent 16 percent of the total population in the United States, a number that is projected to double to 30 percent by 2050. Hispanics wield considerable spending power of over $1 trillion, and have an increasing impact on social, economic and political trends.

The joint venture will have the support of Enterprise Florida, the State of Florida’s economic development agency, as well as The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s economic development partnership.

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